Martin Van Buren High School Alumni
Queens Village, New York (NY)
Recent Members
| Andrew Barnett | 1976 |
| James Johnson | 1976 |
| Jessica Jessica Watson-crosby | 1965 |
| Lillian Lillian Melendez | 1984 |
| Roberto Rodríguez | 1984 |
| Selma Oakley | 1976 |
| Vicki Gramm | 1976 |
| William William | 1966 |
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 Martin Van Buren High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Vee Bees lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
CAPT Shari Holtzclaw Kirshner, MSC,USN (ret)
Class of 1972
Navy, 20+ Years
Served 33 years in the US Navy, Medical Service Corps, as a healthcare administrator, specializing in medical supply and logistics support to the fleet and shore commands. Career highlights include assignments as the Chief of Navy Medical Logistics and as the Commanding Officer of Naval Medical Logistics Command.
Class of 1972
Navy, 20+ Years
Served 33 years in the US Navy, Medical Service Corps, as a healthcare administrator, specializing in medical supply and logistics support to the fleet and shore commands. Career highlights include assignments as the Chief of Navy Medical Logistics and as the Commanding Officer of Naval Medical Logistics Command.
Craig B Bergman, CMSgt, USAF retired
Class of 1969
Air Force, 20+ Years
Veit Nam, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom plus; 14 years Special Operations, 13 years Combat Search and Rescue, Europe, Latin and South America.
Class of 1969
Air Force, 20+ Years
Veit Nam, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom plus; 14 years Special Operations, 13 years Combat Search and Rescue, Europe, Latin and South America.
Donald Barry
Class of 1961
Air Force, 4 Years
Loring AFB, Maine & Lowry AFB, Denver
Class of 1961
Air Force, 4 Years
Loring AFB, Maine & Lowry AFB, Denver
harry borges
Class of 1967
Air Force, 4 Years
Crew Chief F4 fighter jets. Served Vietnam,Japan,Korea,Okinawa. 1968-1972
Class of 1967
Air Force, 4 Years
Crew Chief F4 fighter jets. Served Vietnam,Japan,Korea,Okinawa. 1968-1972
Jose T. Martins
Class of 1997
Marine Corps, 12 Years
Marine Corps Security Forces, Marine Reconnaisance,
Class of 1997
Marine Corps, 12 Years
Marine Corps Security Forces, Marine Reconnaisance,
Joseph Tabaco
Class of 1968
Air Force, 21 Years
Weather Observer
Lackland AFB, TX - Basic Training 1968
Chanute AFB, IL - Weather Tech School 1968
Eglin AFB, FL - 1969
USAF Academy Prep School, CO -1970
Reese AFB, TX - 1971
Andersen AFB, GU - 54WRS Typhoon Chaser 1971-74
Keesler AFB, MS - 53WRS Hurricane Hunter 1974-75
NYARNG AASF#1 Ronkonkoma, NY - 201WF, NYANG 1976-79
Keesler AFB, MS - 815WRS, AFRES Storm Tracker 1979-80
Gabreski ANGB, Westhampton Beach, NY - 201WF, NYANG 1981-90
http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/bio/joseph.tabaco
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http://www.tabacofamily.com/jtabaco/jtabaco.html
Class of 1968
Air Force, 21 Years
Weather Observer
Lackland AFB, TX - Basic Training 1968
Chanute AFB, IL - Weather Tech School 1968
Eglin AFB, FL - 1969
USAF Academy Prep School, CO -1970
Reese AFB, TX - 1971
Andersen AFB, GU - 54WRS Typhoon Chaser 1971-74
Keesler AFB, MS - 53WRS Hurricane Hunter 1974-75
NYARNG AASF#1 Ronkonkoma, NY - 201WF, NYANG 1976-79
Keesler AFB, MS - 815WRS, AFRES Storm Tracker 1979-80
Gabreski ANGB, Westhampton Beach, NY - 201WF, NYANG 1981-90
http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/bio/joseph.tabaco
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http://www.tabacofamily.com/jtabaco/jtabaco.html
Joshua I. Riber
Class of 1959
Army, 20+ Years
I served a total 33 years, 24 in the Reserves and 9 on
Active Duty. Originally commissioned in the
Corps of Engineers, upon graduation from CCNY. I eventually retired as a Lt. Colonel, Medical Corps.
Class of 1959
Army, 20+ Years
I served a total 33 years, 24 in the Reserves and 9 on
Active Duty. Originally commissioned in the
Corps of Engineers, upon graduation from CCNY. I eventually retired as a Lt. Colonel, Medical Corps.
Lieutenant Colonel David M. Finkelstein, US Army
Class of 1972
Army, 20+ Years
Colonel Finkelstein graduated from West Point in 1976 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Regular U.S. Army. He held field, command, and staff assignments in the U.S. and Asia (Korea), including command of B Company 40th Signal Battalion. In Korea he served in the DMZ with the UN Joint Secutity Force at Ponmunjom. After many years of field duty in 1983 he was sent to study Chinese language at Nankai University in Tianjin China. He subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Chinese history from Princeton University and served as a China specialist for the Army at the Pentagon for the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman, Joint Cheifs of Staff. He also taught Chinese history at West Point. He is a graduate of the US Army Command & General Staff College, the Army War College, the JFK Center for Unconventional Warfare and Military Assistance, and the US Army Airborne School. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 awards), National Defense Service Medal (2 awards),US Army Parachutists (Airborne) Wings, and 3 awards of the Presidential Meritorious Unit Citation for service with DIA. Colonel Finkelstein retired from the Army in 1998.
Class of 1972
Army, 20+ Years
Colonel Finkelstein graduated from West Point in 1976 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Regular U.S. Army. He held field, command, and staff assignments in the U.S. and Asia (Korea), including command of B Company 40th Signal Battalion. In Korea he served in the DMZ with the UN Joint Secutity Force at Ponmunjom. After many years of field duty in 1983 he was sent to study Chinese language at Nankai University in Tianjin China. He subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Chinese history from Princeton University and served as a China specialist for the Army at the Pentagon for the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman, Joint Cheifs of Staff. He also taught Chinese history at West Point. He is a graduate of the US Army Command & General Staff College, the Army War College, the JFK Center for Unconventional Warfare and Military Assistance, and the US Army Airborne School. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 awards), National Defense Service Medal (2 awards),US Army Parachutists (Airborne) Wings, and 3 awards of the Presidential Meritorious Unit Citation for service with DIA. Colonel Finkelstein retired from the Army in 1998.
Martin F Flanagan
Class of 1959
Navy, 4 Years
Radarman 2nd Class
Served aboard USS Boxer, LPH-4 and t
USS Valcour, AVP-55, 2 deployments in Persian Gulf.
Class of 1959
Navy, 4 Years
Radarman 2nd Class
Served aboard USS Boxer, LPH-4 and t
USS Valcour, AVP-55, 2 deployments in Persian Gulf.
Neil Grossman
Class of 1965
Army, 2 Years
Captain..U.S. Army Fort Bragg North Carolina 1973-1975
Class of 1965
Army, 2 Years
Captain..U.S. Army Fort Bragg North Carolina 1973-1975
Raphael GC Peart
Class of 1979
National Guard, 20+ Years
Enlisted- USMC: 1983-1986
Colonel (Retired) - National Guard: 1986-2014
Class of 1979
National Guard, 20+ Years
Enlisted- USMC: 1983-1986
Colonel (Retired) - National Guard: 1986-2014
Richard Schuiman
Class of 1974
Army, 5 Years
JAG Captain. Stationed Fort Hood, Korea and Washington DC.
Class of 1974
Army, 5 Years
JAG Captain. Stationed Fort Hood, Korea and Washington DC.
Ssgt Samuel Philippe
Class of 2005
Air Force, 4 Years
In support of OIF/OEF @ Al Udied Air Base in Southwest Asia
Class of 2005
Air Force, 4 Years
In support of OIF/OEF @ Al Udied Air Base in Southwest Asia
Tom Sayre
Class of 1968
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired from USAF in 1988 as a SMSgt (E8) with more than 20 years of active duty service. Served around the world Japan, Turkey, California Texas, Ohio. Was the Air Force Recruiting suuperviosor for eastern Queens and Nassau counties from 1979- 1984.
Class of 1968
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired from USAF in 1988 as a SMSgt (E8) with more than 20 years of active duty service. Served around the world Japan, Turkey, California Texas, Ohio. Was the Air Force Recruiting suuperviosor for eastern Queens and Nassau counties from 1979- 1984.
William C. (Bill) Wilson
Class of 1959
Navy, 4 Years
Radioman 2/c, USS Cambria APA-36
NAS Argentia NFLD
Cuban Missile Blockade 1962
Class of 1959
Navy, 4 Years
Radioman 2/c, USS Cambria APA-36
NAS Argentia NFLD
Cuban Missile Blockade 1962
William Hansen
Class of 1974
Navy, 6 Years
1975-81, Stationed in Jacksonville, Fla with HS-1, HS-11 and then HS-1,
Class of 1974
Navy, 6 Years
1975-81, Stationed in Jacksonville, Fla with HS-1, HS-11 and then HS-1,
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Martin Van Buren High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Vee Bees.
School News
Class Of 1983
Reunion On June 27, 2009
Hempstead State Park Exit 18 Southern State Parkway
26th Years Ago A Senior at MV...
Read More »
Our Martin Van Buren 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 Martin Van Buren High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Queens Village are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!