Maine West High School Alumni
Des Plaines, Illinois (IL)
Recent Members
| Ching Wong | 1971 |
| Chris Hawking | 1977 |
| Daniel Butow | 1967 |
| Elizabeth Zdanowski | 1969 |
| Jeanne Jeanne Benker | 1980 |
| Kenneth Haas | 1968 |
| Mary Mary Somerville | 1977 |
| Miles Miles Pfaller | 2024 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Maine West High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Warriors lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Daniel Rodney Butow
Class of 1968
Air Force, 18 Years
I served 1969-1970 Vietnam, I worked in Explosives, Moved to Minot AFB North Dakota,12yrs. then to Tyndall AFB, Panama City Fl. where I got out I started driving Truck. And now I am driving a Trolly here in Panama City.
Class of 1968
Air Force, 18 Years
I served 1969-1970 Vietnam, I worked in Explosives, Moved to Minot AFB North Dakota,12yrs. then to Tyndall AFB, Panama City Fl. where I got out I started driving Truck. And now I am driving a Trolly here in Panama City.
Don Bauer
Class of 1970
Army, 4 Years
82nd Airborne Division
Sgt-Infantry-Forward Observer
Class of 1970
Army, 4 Years
82nd Airborne Division
Sgt-Infantry-Forward Observer
Frank Vaia
Class of 1963
Army, 3 Years
1st Lt. 1st Infantry Division. Vietnam Aug.'69-Aug.-'70
Class of 1963
Army, 3 Years
1st Lt. 1st Infantry Division. Vietnam Aug.'69-Aug.-'70
James Klamer
Class of 1964
Army, 2 Years
Radio repair, Heilbronn Germany, SP5, 1967- 1969
Class of 1964
Army, 2 Years
Radio repair, Heilbronn Germany, SP5, 1967- 1969
John (Ed) Schwenke
Class of 1963
Army, 3 Years
'69 through '71', Army Medical Specialist Corps,
Class of 1963
Army, 3 Years
'69 through '71', Army Medical Specialist Corps,
Ken Artner
Class of 1967
Navy, 3 Years
U S S Ranger CVA -61, Gulf of Tonkin, 68-69.
Class of 1967
Navy, 3 Years
U S S Ranger CVA -61, Gulf of Tonkin, 68-69.
Marty Monnat
Class of 1973
Marine Corps, 4 Years
1st and 2nd Radio Bn. Participated in evac of RVN 1975. Electronic Warfare and Signal Intelligence. Proud member VVA, American Legion, and Marine Corps League.
Class of 1973
Marine Corps, 4 Years
1st and 2nd Radio Bn. Participated in evac of RVN 1975. Electronic Warfare and Signal Intelligence. Proud member VVA, American Legion, and Marine Corps League.
Michelle Sanchez
Class of 1998
Army, 9 Years
Joined January 1999, and is still serving on active duty today. Works in the communication field.
Class of 1998
Army, 9 Years
Joined January 1999, and is still serving on active duty today. Works in the communication field.
Nick Fininis
Class of 1971
Army, 3 Years
Served with 101st & 82nd Airborne Divisions, Airborne infantry, Rapid Deployment Force, Helicopter Assault team leader, Company Security, Heavy / Light weapons, explosives.
Class of 1971
Army, 3 Years
Served with 101st & 82nd Airborne Divisions, Airborne infantry, Rapid Deployment Force, Helicopter Assault team leader, Company Security, Heavy / Light weapons, explosives.
Norma Jean Just
Class of 1972
Navy, 20+ Years
Active Duty US Navy Flight Surgeon, 1983-1988. Served in Pensacola, FL, Moffet Field, CA, (with deployments to Diego Garcia and Adak, AK) and MCAS Beaufort, SC. Retired from Reserve duty in 2003.
Class of 1972
Navy, 20+ Years
Active Duty US Navy Flight Surgeon, 1983-1988. Served in Pensacola, FL, Moffet Field, CA, (with deployments to Diego Garcia and Adak, AK) and MCAS Beaufort, SC. Retired from Reserve duty in 2003.
Robert (Bob) Bihari
Class of 1966
Army, 2 Years
US Army: Served with the 1st Air Cavalry & the 173d Airborne Brigade, (1/50 Mechanized Infantry) Vietnam 1968
Wounded in action during Tet of '68, and again at the Battle of An Bao on 5-5-68 in the central highlands.
Class of 1966
Army, 2 Years
US Army: Served with the 1st Air Cavalry & the 173d Airborne Brigade, (1/50 Mechanized Infantry) Vietnam 1968
Wounded in action during Tet of '68, and again at the Battle of An Bao on 5-5-68 in the central highlands.
Scott Gengler
Class of 2000
Army, 9 Years
Still on active duty serving as a Military Police man at Macdill AFB, Tampa, FL
Class of 2000
Army, 9 Years
Still on active duty serving as a Military Police man at Macdill AFB, Tampa, FL
Stephen Joseph Friend
Class of 1984
Army, 20+ Years
Signal Corps, Armament, Airborne.
Class of 1984
Army, 20+ Years
Signal Corps, Armament, Airborne.
Tom Adrahtas
Class of 1979
Army, 20+ Years
Served as Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Schoolhouse NCOIC. Served as an Airborne Infantryman and Multiple Launch Rock System.
Class of 1979
Army, 20+ Years
Served as Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Schoolhouse NCOIC. Served as an Airborne Infantryman and Multiple Launch Rock System.
Tom Zwolinski
Class of 1969
Air Force, 16 Years
After graduation I joined the Air Force Reserve. I was sent to firer fighting school and was assigned to O'Hare IAP. I was in from 1970 through 1984.
Class of 1969
Air Force, 16 Years
After graduation I joined the Air Force Reserve. I was sent to firer fighting school and was assigned to O'Hare IAP. I was in from 1970 through 1984.
Wayne Fuhlbrugge
Class of 1964
Army, 3 Years
US Army Engineers Germany
lots of Winter camping
Class of 1964
Army, 3 Years
US Army Engineers Germany
lots of Winter camping
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Maine West High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Warriors.
School News
Reunion Class of '64?
Anyone know of class reunion plans? This is the big 50!
Read More »
Our Maine West High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Maine West High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Des Plaines are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!