Samuel Gompers High School Alumni
Bronx, New York (NY)

Recent Members
Alan West | 1978 |
Carlos Dominguez | 1991 |
Carmelo Melendez | 1990 |
Ellwood Ellwood Gray | 1970 |
Francisco Natal | 1985 |
John Whitehead | 1958 |
Omar Sosa | 2004 |
Richard Morrison | 1956 |
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 Samuel Gompers High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Panthers lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni


carlos a martir Khan r
Class of 1972
Army Reserves, 20+ Years
OCS class 75.commissioned field artillery. Branch transferred to jag. Retired 2000 grade of major. Multiple deployments.
Class of 1972
Army Reserves, 20+ Years
OCS class 75.commissioned field artillery. Branch transferred to jag. Retired 2000 grade of major. Multiple deployments.

Fernando Munoz
Class of 1957
Air Force, 4 Years
Crash & Structural Firefighter at Keesler Field, Biloxi, MS, Otis AFB & King Salmon AFB in Alaska.
Class of 1957
Air Force, 4 Years
Crash & Structural Firefighter at Keesler Field, Biloxi, MS, Otis AFB & King Salmon AFB in Alaska.


James Rogers
Class of 1977
Navy, 20+ Years
AT2 onboard USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) in 1978. Currently MA1 onboard NAVSTA NORFOLK.
Class of 1977
Navy, 20+ Years
AT2 onboard USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) in 1978. Currently MA1 onboard NAVSTA NORFOLK.

John A Marcangelo
Class of 1946
Army, 2 Years
Combat Engrs Punch Bowl Heartbreak Ridge Five months on the front line 38 th Parallel.
Now living in Burlington, Ma.
Class of 1946
Army, 2 Years
Combat Engrs Punch Bowl Heartbreak Ridge Five months on the front line 38 th Parallel.
Now living in Burlington, Ma.

John Banyi
Class of 1955
Air Force, 20+ Years
Started out in 1961 as enlisted person, working in the Aero-Medical Evacuation System. Receiveda BA in Math from SUNY New Paltz and entered Officer Trainining School in 1966, and graduated in August 1966. Went to the basic Air Force Communications School at Keesler AFB, MS, and finished in May 1967. Assigned to the 6595th Aerospace Test Wing at Vandenberg CA, and assigned as the Chief Communications Officer for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory program before it became the NASAs Shuttle program. Then I was assigned to the 2128 Comm Squadron at Tainan Air Base, Taiwan, and assigned as the Chief of Communcations Operations. Then assigned to the 1946th Communications Squadron located at Tempelhof Central Airport, Berlin Germany, as Chief of Communications Operations. RThe U.S. icommunications interface with the Allied Kommanditura. Then I went to the advanced Air Force Communications School at Keesler AFB, MS. Upon graduation assigned to the Concepts, Systems and Studies Division of the Tactical Air Force Intelligence Deputate, at Langley AFB, VA. Functioned as the Chief Communications Engineer, in developing several ground intelligence interpretation systems, and integration of intellegence with ground operations, which were used in Desert Storm Operations. Then assigned to the 1946th Communications Group, Yokpota AB, Japan. Worked several intelligence projects in Japan and Korea. Then assigned back to the Concepts, Systems and Studies Division of the Intelligence Deputate at HQ Tact, Langley AFB, VA. Retired May, 1983.
Class of 1955
Air Force, 20+ Years
Started out in 1961 as enlisted person, working in the Aero-Medical Evacuation System. Receiveda BA in Math from SUNY New Paltz and entered Officer Trainining School in 1966, and graduated in August 1966. Went to the basic Air Force Communications School at Keesler AFB, MS, and finished in May 1967. Assigned to the 6595th Aerospace Test Wing at Vandenberg CA, and assigned as the Chief Communications Officer for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory program before it became the NASAs Shuttle program. Then I was assigned to the 2128 Comm Squadron at Tainan Air Base, Taiwan, and assigned as the Chief of Communcations Operations. Then assigned to the 1946th Communications Squadron located at Tempelhof Central Airport, Berlin Germany, as Chief of Communications Operations. RThe U.S. icommunications interface with the Allied Kommanditura. Then I went to the advanced Air Force Communications School at Keesler AFB, MS. Upon graduation assigned to the Concepts, Systems and Studies Division of the Tactical Air Force Intelligence Deputate, at Langley AFB, VA. Functioned as the Chief Communications Engineer, in developing several ground intelligence interpretation systems, and integration of intellegence with ground operations, which were used in Desert Storm Operations. Then assigned to the 1946th Communications Group, Yokpota AB, Japan. Worked several intelligence projects in Japan and Korea. Then assigned back to the Concepts, Systems and Studies Division of the Intelligence Deputate at HQ Tact, Langley AFB, VA. Retired May, 1983.


Jose R. Diaz
Class of 1987
Army, 8 Years
Served in Gulf War - Dessert Storm, Dessert Shield, Liberation of Kuwait.
Class of 1987
Army, 8 Years
Served in Gulf War - Dessert Storm, Dessert Shield, Liberation of Kuwait.

Leonard Echevarria
Class of 1960
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Enlisted OCT 61 Released from active duty March 1966. I was in the communication field for four years. Did all my duty between Camp Lejeune and MCAF New River, N.C.++
Deployments to the Caribbean and Europe on the USS Boxer LPH. Not as mean, Not as green but always a Marine. Semper fi
Class of 1960
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Enlisted OCT 61 Released from active duty March 1966. I was in the communication field for four years. Did all my duty between Camp Lejeune and MCAF New River, N.C.++
Deployments to the Caribbean and Europe on the USS Boxer LPH. Not as mean, Not as green but always a Marine. Semper fi

Leonard W. Echevarria
Class of 1960
Marine Corps, 5 Years
Boot Camp Paris Island, Oct. 61 - Feb. 62 promoted to PFC out of boot camp. Then to comm. school at Camp Geiger MTC NC then MCAF, NC. Served 41/2 years there except for one deployment on Steel Pike in the Atlantic' Europe and the Caribbean . My last 1/2 year was COG. Released from active duty with the rank of E-4.
My younger brother that is in the picture with me also graduated from SGVOTEC and a Marine,pulled one tour in Vietnam the rest at Camp Legune NC. We are members of MCL #668 Galveston TX. Semper fi
Class of 1960
Marine Corps, 5 Years
Boot Camp Paris Island, Oct. 61 - Feb. 62 promoted to PFC out of boot camp. Then to comm. school at Camp Geiger MTC NC then MCAF, NC. Served 41/2 years there except for one deployment on Steel Pike in the Atlantic' Europe and the Caribbean . My last 1/2 year was COG. Released from active duty with the rank of E-4.
My younger brother that is in the picture with me also graduated from SGVOTEC and a Marine,pulled one tour in Vietnam the rest at Camp Legune NC. We are members of MCL #668 Galveston TX. Semper fi

Lucas Vega
Class of 1968
Air Force, 4 Years
1968-1972...Stationed at Brandywine Transmitter Site in Maryland for Two Years...
Then Two years in Elizondo Spain, Radar Site.
Class of 1968
Air Force, 4 Years
1968-1972...Stationed at Brandywine Transmitter Site in Maryland for Two Years...
Then Two years in Elizondo Spain, Radar Site.


Pedro "Pete" Rodriguez
Class of 1983
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Proudly served in the Marine Corps with various ground, air, and support units in a myriad of duties, jobs, and capabilities and in combat theaters of operation to include "Desert Storm/Desert Shield and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Also served as a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, S.C. from 1994-1996 training recruits to become basically trained Marines.
Class of 1983
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Proudly served in the Marine Corps with various ground, air, and support units in a myriad of duties, jobs, and capabilities and in combat theaters of operation to include "Desert Storm/Desert Shield and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Also served as a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, S.C. from 1994-1996 training recruits to become basically trained Marines.

Peter McLarnon
Class of 1958
Army, 2 Years
Military Police 1966-1967 Ft. Riley Kansas
1967-1968 Viet Nam =
Nah Trang & Phu Bai
wounded May 22, 1968 in Phu Bai
Mostly recovered
Class of 1958
Army, 2 Years
Military Police 1966-1967 Ft. Riley Kansas
1967-1968 Viet Nam =
Nah Trang & Phu Bai
wounded May 22, 1968 in Phu Bai
Mostly recovered

Placido Figueroa
Class of 1962
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant after 27 years of service.to our nation. Enlisted in September 1963 and completed basic training at Lackland AFB, TX.
The training I recieved at Gompers helped me go straight into the communications field at Cape Kennedy Florida. I worked on several man, spcce miissle programs there. I soon served in the Viet Nam Theater for two plus years. I had the pleasure to travel the world and remember the good times I had at Gompers. I retired in February, 1991 in Sacramento, California. I presently live in Montevallo Alabama completely retired.
Class of 1962
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant after 27 years of service.to our nation. Enlisted in September 1963 and completed basic training at Lackland AFB, TX.
The training I recieved at Gompers helped me go straight into the communications field at Cape Kennedy Florida. I worked on several man, spcce miissle programs there. I soon served in the Viet Nam Theater for two plus years. I had the pleasure to travel the world and remember the good times I had at Gompers. I retired in February, 1991 in Sacramento, California. I presently live in Montevallo Alabama completely retired.

Richard Halpern
Class of 1964
Air Force, 4 Years
After graduation I joined the Air Force. I was trained as a aircraft instrumentation and Navigation technician. I worked mostly on F4’s. I was stationed at the following bases. Craig AFB Alabama. Seymore Johnson AFB n. Carolina, Tan Son Nhut Air Base Vietnam. Da Nang Air Base Vietnam. Shaw AFB S. Carolina.
Class of 1964
Air Force, 4 Years
After graduation I joined the Air Force. I was trained as a aircraft instrumentation and Navigation technician. I worked mostly on F4’s. I was stationed at the following bases. Craig AFB Alabama. Seymore Johnson AFB n. Carolina, Tan Son Nhut Air Base Vietnam. Da Nang Air Base Vietnam. Shaw AFB S. Carolina.
Alumni Stories

Read and submit stories about our classmates from Samuel Gompers High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Panthers.
School News
1969 Artisan Yearbook-Dedicated to RFK
RFK was assassinated in June '68, too late for the '68 yearbook to mention him. My yearbook is the only one dedicated to...
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Our Samuel Gompers 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 Samuel Gompers High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Bronx are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!