CTHVAMC News Release - VA Medical Center Salutes Veterans as Grand Marshals of Parade
October 16, 2007

Word Document Format

Two Women and 10 Men to be Honored in Conjunction with Veterans Day

PHOENIX - Valley veterans of service during the Vietnam War and Operation Iraqi Freedom will be honored at the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Phoenix, as it prepares for the 2007 VA Veterans Day Parade, one of the largest such events in the nation.

The Grand Marshals Luncheon with the media will take place:

Thursday, Oct. 18 at Noon
Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, 650 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix
Building 21 Gazebo

The Gazebo is located on the north side of the VA Medical Center campus, which is on
the west side of Seventh Street.  Enter at the VA Medical Center stop light off of 7th street and head north to the event.

From a nurse serving stateside to a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, these men and women all have served their country with courage and outstanding dedication during times of war.

The VAMC - which provide health care to 67,000 veterans in central and northern Arizona - will host the 2007 Grand Marshals Lunch and News Conference to introduce all of the Veterans who are representing their brothers and sisters in arms. Several of the Veteran Grand Marshals also are patients of the VA Medical Center.

The Vietnam Veteran Grand Marshals of the 2007 VA Veterans Day Parade are:

• Major Fred Ferguson, of Chandler, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient – the highest military honor for valor against an enemy force –  US Army helicopter pilot
• Lt. Col. David Althoff, of Chandler, a highly decorated Marine Corps pilot.
• Rita Brock-Perini, of Mesa, who served stateside in the Air Force Nurse Corps, taking care of seriously wounded men who were evacuated from overseas. 
• Michael Grossman, MD, of Phoenix, who served with the Army Medical Corps in Vietnam.
• Col. Len Kirschner, MD, of Litchfield Park, an Air Force flight surgeon who also was a hospital commander in Southeast Asia.
• Thom Meaker, of Laveen, who served with a Rifle Company in the Marine Corps and was wounded in Vietnam.
• Sue Wudy, of Phoenix, who served with the Army's Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) headquarters in Saigon.

The Hearts of Valor Veteran Grand Marshals, who were wounded while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and received Purple Heart medals, are:

• Sgt. Robert Bartlett, of Gilbert, who is still on active duty with the Army, and was severely wounded in the face when an IED exploded through the door of his humvee while driving near Baghdad.
• Eric Castro, of Tolleson, who lost a leg when his company of Army engineers was ambushed outside of Fallujah.
• Tim Hernandez, of Queek Creek, a Cavalry Scout who was wounded twice; the second time a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) ended his hopes of an Army career.
• Brent Phillips, of Queen Creek, A Marine who lost an eye when his convoy was attacked by rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) in Baghdad.

In addition, the parade will feature "Spanky" Spangler, as its Stuntman Grand Marshal. Known as the "Original Fall Guy," Spangler served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne division and was one of the youngest men to serve as a "Green Beret" with the U.S. Army. He has performed more than 22,000 stunts and holds over 30 world records. He has performed stunts in movies such as "Raising Arizona," "A Star is Born," and "Return of the Ninja."

Some of the veterans will make brief remarks during the event and will have war mementos on display.

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Media Note: The Veteran Grand Marshals will be available for interviews, and will have some mementos of their service, such as photographs and citations.

LUNCH will be provided for the media, so please RSVP to (602) 200-6279.

The lunch venue will feature a visual backdrop with flags, military insignias, and large red-white-and-blue star balloons that will also be present on Parade day.

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