Frank was drafted on his 21st birthday in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army 28th Infantry Divisions 110th Regimental Combat Team as first gunner of a light artillery crew during the fourth wave of the Normandy landings in July of 1944, just a few weeks after D-Day. From Normandy, the 28th Division engaged in difficult hedgerow to hedgerow fighting as they pushed across western France to join in the liberation of Paris and moved on the day following the liberation parade to fight some of the most important battles of World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge the last major German offensive campaign on the Western front and the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by American troops in the war. The fury of the 28th divisions assaults led the German Army to bestow its soldiers with the title Bloody Bucket Division. During the Battle of the Bulge, Frank was captured and spent from December 1944 to April 1945 as a prisoner of war in German prison camp Stalag IV B. He was honorably discharged in October of 1945. Frank revisited the battlefields of Normandy in 2018, and in 2019 was recognized by France as a Knight in the National Order of the French Legion of Honor, the highest award granted to foreign nationals for military service on French soil, for his actions during the Invasion of Normandy in liberating France. Frank is 98, and is the father of Frank Martells wife Donna.
Manny enlisted in the Army after one year of college and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1968 as a Tank Commander and Tank Section Leader. In 1969 he was awarded a Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart. While engaged with a large well-concealed enemy force, his tank fell into a tank trap and lost a track. Exposed to deadly Viet Cong fire, Manny dismounted to snap the track back on its sprocket and remobilize the tank. In disregard for his safety, he maneuvered the tank through the bullet swept area to assault an enemy bunker where it sustained a direct rocket propelled grenade hit, wounding him so seriously in both legs he could not walk for over a year and his mobility remained limited. Manny studied business and finance at the University of Denver and from 1976 to 1999 worked as a banking and Metlife Capital executive. With Veterans Administration assistance, in 2009 he formed EG Montanez Construction to focus on building federal and military installations, universities, and public works as a service-disabled veteran-owned general contractor. Mannys success has allowed him to serve in volunteer leadership and financial supporting roles for the Disabled Veteran Business Alliance, CalVet Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise, Veteran Strong USA (founded by Manny and his sister Guadalupe), and Fruitful Futures Project (as CEO) dedicated to helping homeless veterans, and many OC charitable causes including Childrens Hospital of Orange County, CHOC at Mission, Boy Scouts of America, Orangewood, and several Catholic charities. The SBA OC/Inland Empire District honored him as its 2020 Veteran Champion of the Year. Manny resides in Coto de Caza with his wife Lynn.
Dr. Thomas Velling was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy in 1986 after receiving a Health Professions Scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC). He attended Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, RI, and following graduation from USC in 1989 was commissioned a Lieutenant. Dr. Velling completed a one-year General Surgery internship at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, where he was named “Intern of the Year”. Dr. Velling qualified as a Submarine and Diving Medical Officer and was subsequently assigned to a submarine tender and deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. During his service in the Persian Gulf, Dr. Velling earned qualification as a Surace Warfare Officer. He served in other capacities at Naval Medical Center San Diego until being discharged in 2001. Dr. Velling remained active for two more years in the U.S. Navy Reserves. He started his career with Hoag Hospital in November 2001. Dr. Velling was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Navy Battle “E” Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Gold Star), and Expert Pistol and Rifle Shot Medal. The Hoag Classic is proud to honor Dr. Thomas Velling.
John received a four-year Naval ROTC Scholarship from Villanova University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration- Finance. Upon graduation, John was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy to join the Pacific Fleet in San Diego. With tours as a Communication Officer and Damage Control Assistant on board the USS David R. Ray, as a Lieutenant John served in the Persian Gulf during the early stages of Operation Desert Shield. After serving another 16 years of duty in the Naval Reserve, John retired in 2010. His decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (3 ), National Defense Medal (2), Southwest Asian Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. John is the Director of Regional Operations, Central Region for Generations Healthcare, and also the Director of Operations for Generations Healthcare’s newest facility in Henderson, Nevada.
Brian is a graduate of Villanova University (B.S. ’98), earned graduate degrees from the USAF Air Command and Staff College and Princeton University (Master’s Public Policy ’15), received his commission through NROTC (’98), and completed SEAL Training in Coronado (’99). As a Naval Special Warfare Officer, he completed 10 combat deployments to the U. S. Pacific Command, U. S. European Command, U.S. African Command, and U.S. Central Command on various combined, joint, and inter-agency task forces including Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan as Director of Current Operations and Deputy Director for Operations in Kabul, Afghanistan, and served in staff officer capacities as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans, Strategy at Naval Special Warfare Group ONE, as Commander of Special Operations Task Force-West in Anbar, Iraq, and as Commanding Officer of SEAL Team ONE. Brian is currently the Chief of Staff for the Naval Special Warfare Center responsible for recruiting, selecting, training, and qualifying candidates to become SEALs or Combat Crewmen, maintaining schoolhouses that provide advanced individual skills qualification to the NSW force, and operation of 135 ranges/training facilities in the NSW training enterprise. Brian has received many individual combat and commendation medals and ribbons in recognition of his military accomplishments.
In 1984 Vic enlisted in the Army Reserve, in 1990 received his ROTC officer commission, in 1991 completed the Military Police Officer (MP) Basic Course, Airborne School, Ranger School, and went on active duty in the 101st MP Company, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) until transitioning to the reserves in 1994. In 2003 he activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom to provide daily convoy security for a 200-mile journey through hostile territory from Kuwait to Tallil Air Base and oversaw construction of three Iraqi police stations and the training of 256 new Iraqi police officers. Returning home, he served the USAR as an MP Operations Officer, a Command Inspector General to ensure the health and morale of 20,000+ soldiers, a Commander of an MP Division securing the top 12 officials in the Defense Department, the author of a plan for response to man-made and natural disasters in the western U.S. including cyber, utility infrastructure, terrorism, and severe weather, and finally as the senior officer of a 127 soldier Ready Force X unit charged with providing communications support to the Army Pacific Command in potentially lethal combat situations on shorter notice than traditional reserve units. Vics medals and badges include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Global War on Terror Service Medal, and Combat Action, Parachutist, and Air Assault Badges. Vic earned a B.S in Criminology from CSU Fresno, a Masters in Homeland Security from the American Military University, and is a Captain in the Costa Mesa Police Department where he has served for 25 years. He and his wife Corey reside in Newport Beach.
Norm enlisted in the Navy in 1942 at 18, graduated from Naval flight school, was assigned to the Marine Corps, and served until 1969, flying 393 combat missions in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Norm’s decorations include a Silver Star (Korea) and a Gold Star in lieu of a 2nd Silver Star (Vietnam) and 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses (PBJ bombers WWII/helicopters Korea). The Korean War Silver Star was awarded for rescuing a downed airman in enemy-held territory. Despite grave hazards, Norm volunteered to fly an unarmed helicopter into an area infested with enemy troops to attempt the rescue. Despite a radio damaged by intense automatic weapons fire, he continued the search until locating the downed pilot. With the enemy 100 yards from the doomed airman, Norm flew directly into continuous ground fire to effect his rescue. His Vietnam War Silver Star was for leading 17 helicopters in 3 successive assaults transporting a Vietnamese battalion into an unsecured landing zone under intense automatic weapons fire from 2 Viet Cong companies. Despite damage to his aircraft and many others from enemy fire during the 1st landing, Norm continued the assault to prevent the annihilation of the Vietnamese troops. Disregarding his own safety leading the 2nd landing, Norm kept his aircraft exposed broadside to the heaviest enemy fire, giving his gunner full opportunity to deliver suppressive fire as wounded troops were evacuated. Although the volume of enemy fire increased, causing numerous casualties, Norm returned a third time with the remnants of his squadron to successfully complete the landing of the assault troops, again taking the most exposed position in the landing zone for his helicopter. Norm’s son Dick Ewers and his grandson Gary Ewers were also career Marine Corps aviators. Norm is 94 years old and resides in Irvine.
Colonel Melvin K. F. Lee was born and raised in Hawaii and attended the University of Hawaii earning a degree in mathematics. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1968 and embarked on a 26-year career filled with challenging assignments, furthering education, and promotions in rank. A highlight of his impressive career was being selected as one of thirty officers to the prestigious Air Force Research Fellow Program, a Washington D.C. “think tank” where Colonel Lee studied and researched Space Ballistic Missile Defense. He retired as a full Colonel and his awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), and the Air Force Commendation Medal (2 awards). He also held the Air Force Master Space Badge and Master Missileer Badge. Colonel Lee has been a Hoag Classic volunteer since 1999, serving as a marshal, Standard Bearer, Uniforms Co-Chairman and is currently the Chairman of the Standard Bearer committee. Please welcome the 2024 Captain Jack Callahan Hoag Classic Veteran Volunteer, Colonel Melvin K.F. Lee.
In 1951, Cas Casillas was drafted into the Army. Not particularly interested in a trip to Korea at the time, Cas instead enlisted into the Air Force where he could pursue his passion for flying. Following basic training, he spent two years in various technical schools and then aviation cadet school. His career spanned nearly three decades and about every fighter from the F-86 Sabre jet to the F-15 Eagle, basically the whole age of USAF jets. He was assigned to locations all over the world. Of note were assignments in Alaska where he flew the F-86, and four years stationed in Germany where he flew many hours on nuclear alert. In Vietnam, Cas flew 105 missions in the F-105 “Thud”. His military career of over 5,000 hours in jet fighters earned him the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with 16 clusters.
