World War II, Vietnam veterans — including 2 over age 100 — honored at annual SLO reunion
A rare gathering of military veterans brought together former servicemen from World War II and the Vietnam War at the San Luis Obispo Country Club on Friday, as the Vandenberg chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars held its annual reunion.
The event reunited a handful of living San Luis Obispo County veterans to be recognized for their service, including a number of recipients of some of the country’s top military honors.
“This is living history,” said former Lt. j.g. Joseph Brocato, the emcee of the luncheon and a retired Navy veteran.
Brocato said besides bringing together old friends, the luncheon is also meant to recognize the sacrifices made by this country’s servicemembers.
“Many gave up all their tomorrows so that we can enjoy the bounty of freedom,” he said. “And that’s what this is all about. Really, it’s recognizing what these people did in the past — whether it was World War II, whether it was Vietnam, Korea. ... And so it’s keeping the flame alive. That’s what we do.”
Guests of honor included military honors recipients, famed local pilots
The guests of honor were a trio of local pilots with notable service records: Former fighter pilots Capt. Harry Moyer, 103, and Capt. Jim Kunkle, 101, were the only World War II veterans in attendance, while Navy pilot Capt. Charlie Plumb served in Vietnam.
During World War II, Moyer flew in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, as well as in China as one of the famed American Volunteer Group, aka the “Flying Tigers,” which defended China from Japan during the war.
Meanwhile, Kunkle earned a Distinguished Service Cross — the Army’s second-highest medal for valor, just one step down from the Medal of Honor — after he was shot down over Germany while fighting on D-Day.
Despite their age, both Moyer and Kunkle appeared spry and healthy during the luncheon as they cracked jokes about their service and shared war stories.
Plumb was also shot down while serving: Just five days before the the end of his tour, he was shot down by the North Vietnamese and taken as a prisoner of war. He would spend the next nearly six years as a “guest of the Hanoi Hilton” — a slang name for the Hoa Lo Prison.
Other notable guests at the luncheon included retired Navy Cmdr. Richard Pottratz, Army Cpt. Richard Hathcock, Army Cpt. Pete Pepper and Marine Cpl. Timothy Haley.
Army Lt. Col. Louis Stout, a Vietnam veteran and commander emeritus of the local Military Order of the World Wars chapter, was also honored during the luncheon, though he was unable to attend because he is a resident of the memory unit at Sydney Creek Nursing Home. His wife Phyllis attended in his absence.
The luncheon was hosted by Mike Mullahey of Mullahey Ford and Mullahey Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram.
