Mendota Township High School Alumni
Mendota, Illinois (IL)
Recent Members
| Cindy Castaneda | 2003 |
| Melody Hamann | 1974 |
| Rich Thomas | 1976 |
| Richard Johnson | 1958 |
| Steve Manning | 1988 |
| Tifanie Haberman | 2000 |
| Tim Volkert | 1990 |
| Ximena Molina | 2018 |
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 Mendota Township High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Trojans lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Bill Patterson
Class of 1993
Army, 13 Years
Staff Sargent, Paratrooper, 2 tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Recieved multiple awards including the Bronze Star
Class of 1993
Army, 13 Years
Staff Sargent, Paratrooper, 2 tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Recieved multiple awards including the Bronze Star
Bret J. McIntyre
Class of 1977
Navy Reserves, 24 Years
Signed up August of 1976 junior year. Four days after graduation left for boot camp. Served on the USS Nimitz for four year. For the next 13 years USS JFK. Two years Adak AK, three years Rota Spain, and four year NAS Brunswick, Maine. Retired 01-01-2001 12:01am. Best thing I have ever done.
Class of 1977
Navy Reserves, 24 Years
Signed up August of 1976 junior year. Four days after graduation left for boot camp. Served on the USS Nimitz for four year. For the next 13 years USS JFK. Two years Adak AK, three years Rota Spain, and four year NAS Brunswick, Maine. Retired 01-01-2001 12:01am. Best thing I have ever done.
Brian Dewey
Class of 1975
Navy, 4 Years
Entered Navy June 1975, After going to "Bootcamp" in Great Lakes. Transferred to USS Oklahoma City homeported in Yokosuka Japan until May 1978. Transferred to USS Chicago in San Diego CA from June 1978 to May 1979.
Class of 1975
Navy, 4 Years
Entered Navy June 1975, After going to "Bootcamp" in Great Lakes. Transferred to USS Oklahoma City homeported in Yokosuka Japan until May 1978. Transferred to USS Chicago in San Diego CA from June 1978 to May 1979.
Charles Sondgeroth
Class of 1985
Army, 20+ Years
Currently stationed in Austin TX - Fort Hood. Will be retiring fall 2007
Class of 1985
Army, 20+ Years
Currently stationed in Austin TX - Fort Hood. Will be retiring fall 2007
Colonel Lee Buland USMC (Retired)
Class of 1972
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
US Marine Fighter/Attack Pilot June 1976 to July 2006. Commanding Officer Marine Attack Squadron 311 from July 1993 to May 1995. Commanding Officer Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 from June 1995 to June 1997. Commanding Officer Marine Air Group 13 from June 1999 to June 2001. Acting Commanding General Marine Corps Bases East from March 2005 to February 2006. Commanding Officer Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point from February 2006 to July 2006. 6300 mishap free flight hours including 3700 hours in the AV-8B Harrier with qualifications in 30 different aircraft.
Class of 1972
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
US Marine Fighter/Attack Pilot June 1976 to July 2006. Commanding Officer Marine Attack Squadron 311 from July 1993 to May 1995. Commanding Officer Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 from June 1995 to June 1997. Commanding Officer Marine Air Group 13 from June 1999 to June 2001. Acting Commanding General Marine Corps Bases East from March 2005 to February 2006. Commanding Officer Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point from February 2006 to July 2006. 6300 mishap free flight hours including 3700 hours in the AV-8B Harrier with qualifications in 30 different aircraft.
David Miller
Class of 1978
Air Force, 4 Years
Served in Grissom AFB as a Firefighter and a paramedic
Class of 1978
Air Force, 4 Years
Served in Grissom AFB as a Firefighter and a paramedic
James Walzer
Class of 1967
Army, 2 Years
Basic Training @ Fort Polk, La
155 mm Howitzer Training @ Fort Hood, TX
Military Police Corp, Ghelnhausen, Germany
Class of 1967
Army, 2 Years
Basic Training @ Fort Polk, La
155 mm Howitzer Training @ Fort Hood, TX
Military Police Corp, Ghelnhausen, Germany
Jason Foster
Class of 1995
Army, 13 Years
Jason has to this point served 9 years as
enlisted Field Artillery and two as a Drill Sergeant, then switched over and is currently serving at Fort Hood, TX as a Medevac pilot flying UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters.
Class of 1995
Army, 13 Years
Jason has to this point served 9 years as
enlisted Field Artillery and two as a Drill Sergeant, then switched over and is currently serving at Fort Hood, TX as a Medevac pilot flying UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters.
John L. Broughton
Class of 1958
Army, 3 Years
I attended school for Morse Code at Ft. Devens, Mass. after basic training for six months. I was an 058, Morse Code Interceptor, in the US Army Security Agency upon graduation and stationed at Rothwesten, a small village outside Kassel, Germany. It was interesting, when visiting Mendota on leave after basic, to have folks tell me the FBI hjad been around asking questions about me for my background check. I held a top secret, cryptographic clearance. After marrying my first wife from Kassel, I lost my clearance and got transferred to an ordnance battalion in Wertheim, Germany, where I was a personnel clerk. Visited Rothwesten and Kassel in Sept. 2017 on a trip to visit my wife's second cousin in Ebstorf, Germany. Have two family ties to Germany.
Class of 1958
Army, 3 Years
I attended school for Morse Code at Ft. Devens, Mass. after basic training for six months. I was an 058, Morse Code Interceptor, in the US Army Security Agency upon graduation and stationed at Rothwesten, a small village outside Kassel, Germany. It was interesting, when visiting Mendota on leave after basic, to have folks tell me the FBI hjad been around asking questions about me for my background check. I held a top secret, cryptographic clearance. After marrying my first wife from Kassel, I lost my clearance and got transferred to an ordnance battalion in Wertheim, Germany, where I was a personnel clerk. Visited Rothwesten and Kassel in Sept. 2017 on a trip to visit my wife's second cousin in Ebstorf, Germany. Have two family ties to Germany.
Joseph Mitchell
Class of 1969
Army, 6 Years
Viet Nam Veteran, combat 1970-1972...instructor, military training Fort Wolters, Texas...Fort Campbell ,Kentucky, Fort Lee, Virginia, Military Police, Sandia Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1974.
Class of 1969
Army, 6 Years
Viet Nam Veteran, combat 1970-1972...instructor, military training Fort Wolters, Texas...Fort Campbell ,Kentucky, Fort Lee, Virginia, Military Police, Sandia Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1974.
Julie Etheridge
Class of 1979
Navy, 4 Years
Hospital Corpsman/Operating Room Technician
Class of 1979
Navy, 4 Years
Hospital Corpsman/Operating Room Technician
Octavio Barriga
Class of 1990
Army, 3 Years
3 1/2 years United States Army Airborne Infantry.
2/502nd Infantry Air Assault, Ft. Campbell, KY
5/87th Infantry Light, Ft. Kobbe, Panama
Class of 1990
Army, 3 Years
3 1/2 years United States Army Airborne Infantry.
2/502nd Infantry Air Assault, Ft. Campbell, KY
5/87th Infantry Light, Ft. Kobbe, Panama
roger baxter
Class of 1967
Navy, 4 Years
2nd class radarman vietnam vet 69-72 servrd on USS camden and plankowner on USS Shasta
Class of 1967
Navy, 4 Years
2nd class radarman vietnam vet 69-72 servrd on USS camden and plankowner on USS Shasta
Sherry Booth
Class of 1975
Coast Guard, 5 Years
Went in as an enlisted, 1991, went to college got my degrees, came out as an 0-4, 1995. Married a military member who retired from Navy, also from Ill. Was over in Japan same time as Brian Dewey and Dan Edgecomb..never crossed paths.
pic submitted is me holding our "Cutter" flag.
Class of 1975
Coast Guard, 5 Years
Went in as an enlisted, 1991, went to college got my degrees, came out as an 0-4, 1995. Married a military member who retired from Navy, also from Ill. Was over in Japan same time as Brian Dewey and Dan Edgecomb..never crossed paths.
pic submitted is me holding our "Cutter" flag.
Sherry Booth-Boyer
Class of 1975
Coast Guard, 5 Years
Started in 1991as a enlisted, went to college and made it to an 0-4. ended in 1995. Married to a military man who served 20 years in Navy, and retired. Also from Illinois.
In pi..holding the flag!!
Class of 1975
Coast Guard, 5 Years
Started in 1991as a enlisted, went to college and made it to an 0-4. ended in 1995. Married to a military man who served 20 years in Navy, and retired. Also from Illinois.
In pi..holding the flag!!
Stan Gehler
Class of 1958
Army, 19 Years
Troop and Company Commander, Viet Nam, Korea, Germany, Armor Battalion Executive Officer
Class of 1958
Army, 19 Years
Troop and Company Commander, Viet Nam, Korea, Germany, Armor Battalion Executive Officer
Stan Gehler
Class of 1958
Army, 20+ Years
Entered Army in 1963 after graduation from the University of IL. Was commissioned in 1963, became on Armor Officer/ served in Cavalry in Viet Nam. Another area of expertise was logistics. Received a Bronze Star in Viet Nam. Retired in 1983. Went to work for Civil Service, and saved Government million of dollars, for which he received a Presidential letter from George Bush 41.Is now retired from both. Submitted by his wife, Sandra Gehler.
Class of 1958
Army, 20+ Years
Entered Army in 1963 after graduation from the University of IL. Was commissioned in 1963, became on Armor Officer/ served in Cavalry in Viet Nam. Another area of expertise was logistics. Received a Bronze Star in Viet Nam. Retired in 1983. Went to work for Civil Service, and saved Government million of dollars, for which he received a Presidential letter from George Bush 41.Is now retired from both. Submitted by his wife, Sandra Gehler.
Terri Green(POLSON)
Class of 1977
Army, 4 Years
I was in for 4 years. Worked in ammuntion and supply. Got out as an E4 on the list for E5
Class of 1977
Army, 4 Years
I was in for 4 years. Worked in ammuntion and supply. Got out as an E4 on the list for E5
Tim Rollins
Class of 1978
Army, 4 Years
Went to college on a federal Army ROTC scholarship and was commissioned on graduation. Received an educational deferment to attend law school. After graduating from law school, served 4 1/2 years on active duty in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, stationed mostly in the Pentagon, but later in downtown D.C., first assigned to Defense Supply Service-Washington, then the Contract Law Division of the Office of the Judge Advocate General, and finally in the Office of the Chief Trial Attorney.
Class of 1978
Army, 4 Years
Went to college on a federal Army ROTC scholarship and was commissioned on graduation. Received an educational deferment to attend law school. After graduating from law school, served 4 1/2 years on active duty in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, stationed mostly in the Pentagon, but later in downtown D.C., first assigned to Defense Supply Service-Washington, then the Contract Law Division of the Office of the Judge Advocate General, and finally in the Office of the Chief Trial Attorney.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Mendota Township High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Trojans.
School News
Norm Parks
By the pictures of the class of 58 it is simply amazing to find out how much everyone looked alike. Must have had name t...
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Our Mendota Township 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 Mendota Township High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Mendota are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!