Valley High School Alumni
West Des Moines, Iowa (IA)
Recent Members
| Autumn Longfield | 2025 |
| Betty Swallow | 1955 |
| Carol Mogolov Carol Coppola | 1969 |
| Daniel Kem | 1969 |
| Justin Gienapp | 1995 |
| Mark Hayen | 2000 |
| Mary Sampson | 1967 |
| Matthew M | 2001 |
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 Valley High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Tigers lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Blaine Spreitzer
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served as a firefighter with the Air Force for 21 years and continues to serve as a civilian firefighter with the US Army.
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served as a firefighter with the Air Force for 21 years and continues to serve as a civilian firefighter with the US Army.
Danny Oxenford
Class of 1978
Army, 11 Years
Served with the Nightstalkers as a Flight engineer on CH47's {Chinooks}
Class of 1978
Army, 11 Years
Served with the Nightstalkers as a Flight engineer on CH47's {Chinooks}
David B. Easson Jr.
Class of 1970
Marine Corps, 6 Years
Commissioned 2nd Lt., August 1974.
Class of 1970
Marine Corps, 6 Years
Commissioned 2nd Lt., August 1974.
David Cable
Class of 1984
National Guard, 20+ Years
Started in the Missouri Army National Guard for 2+ years. Then the Iowa Army National Guard for another 2 years, both as a Military Police Officer. Finished my career in the Air National Guard in both Iowa and California as a Firefighter, and am currently employed as a civilian Airport Firefighter at Des Moines International.
Class of 1984
National Guard, 20+ Years
Started in the Missouri Army National Guard for 2+ years. Then the Iowa Army National Guard for another 2 years, both as a Military Police Officer. Finished my career in the Air National Guard in both Iowa and California as a Firefighter, and am currently employed as a civilian Airport Firefighter at Des Moines International.
Jeffery Viers
Class of 1988
Army, 20+ Years
Have served almost 24 years in the Army and plan to retire this year and become a Department of the Army civilian
Class of 1988
Army, 20+ Years
Have served almost 24 years in the Army and plan to retire this year and become a Department of the Army civilian
KC JEFFERIES
Class of 1970
Air Force, 4 Years
Strategic Air Command HQ-1st Aerospace Comm Group. Underground Radio Maintenance - COMMAND POST and SACCA COMMAND and Control Communication HQ, Asst. Suppervisor after attending leadership school. Attended all the basic schools, including Lackland and then sent to Keesler AFB for GROUND RADIO and almost air traffic control. Assigned (awful) Offutt, AFB Bellevue, NE in March of 1974. Completed tour and separtated in March of 1978 as Sergeant
Class of 1970
Air Force, 4 Years
Strategic Air Command HQ-1st Aerospace Comm Group. Underground Radio Maintenance - COMMAND POST and SACCA COMMAND and Control Communication HQ, Asst. Suppervisor after attending leadership school. Attended all the basic schools, including Lackland and then sent to Keesler AFB for GROUND RADIO and almost air traffic control. Assigned (awful) Offutt, AFB Bellevue, NE in March of 1974. Completed tour and separtated in March of 1978 as Sergeant
Larry Kenworthy
Class of 1968
Army, 4 Years
Spec 5, Army Security Agency 1968 - 1972
Class of 1968
Army, 4 Years
Spec 5, Army Security Agency 1968 - 1972
Michael J. Smith
Class of 1979
National Guard, 20+ Years
Iowa Air National Guard 86 to 2007
Class of 1979
National Guard, 20+ Years
Iowa Air National Guard 86 to 2007
Michael Lee Zappia
Class of 1966
Marine Corps, 2 Years
Michael Lee Zappia
Private First Class
H CO, 2ND BN, 4TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV
United States Marine Corps
13 December 1947 - 25 February 1969
Michael died at LZ Neville hill, in Hotel 2/4, Vietnam.
Semper Fi, Marine
http://michaelzappia.com/
Class of 1966
Marine Corps, 2 Years
Michael Lee Zappia
Private First Class
H CO, 2ND BN, 4TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV
United States Marine Corps
13 December 1947 - 25 February 1969
Michael died at LZ Neville hill, in Hotel 2/4, Vietnam.
Semper Fi, Marine
http://michaelzappia.com/
Michael Madsen
Class of 1972
Army, 20+ Years
COL Mike Madsen is an Army Emergency Medicine physician and Flight Surgeon. His assignments have included deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Republic of the Philippines and Bosnia. Combat awards include the Bronze Star and the Air Medal. His currently Commands the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Health Clinic near Casteau, Belgium.
Class of 1972
Army, 20+ Years
COL Mike Madsen is an Army Emergency Medicine physician and Flight Surgeon. His assignments have included deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Republic of the Philippines and Bosnia. Combat awards include the Bronze Star and the Air Medal. His currently Commands the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Health Clinic near Casteau, Belgium.
Richard Shever
Class of 1981
Navy, 4 Years
Served as a Boiler Technician onboard the USS Peleliu LHA-5
Class of 1981
Navy, 4 Years
Served as a Boiler Technician onboard the USS Peleliu LHA-5
Robert Reese
Class of 1984
Navy, 20+ Years
Enlisted in Army Reserves in Oct 1983.
During college age the University of Iowa, joined the Marine Corps, PLC program. Commissioned as a 2nd Lt, upon graduation. Became a Huey helicopter pilot, Forward Air Controller, and finally a T-34C flight instructor in Pensacola, FL, Left the Marines at the rank of Major and joined the Navy Reserves. Currently serving as a CDR/0-5, flight instructor at NAS, Whiting Field in Florida.
Class of 1984
Navy, 20+ Years
Enlisted in Army Reserves in Oct 1983.
During college age the University of Iowa, joined the Marine Corps, PLC program. Commissioned as a 2nd Lt, upon graduation. Became a Huey helicopter pilot, Forward Air Controller, and finally a T-34C flight instructor in Pensacola, FL, Left the Marines at the rank of Major and joined the Navy Reserves. Currently serving as a CDR/0-5, flight instructor at NAS, Whiting Field in Florida.
Steve Clark
Class of 1978
Air Force, 23 Years
Jet Engine Mechanic...retired E-7; Master Sergeant
Class of 1978
Air Force, 23 Years
Jet Engine Mechanic...retired E-7; Master Sergeant
Susan Simpson
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
Enlisted in 1984 and served as a Financial Management Specialist stationed at Clark AB, Republic of the Philippines and Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. Also, served as an Air Transportation Specialist. Retired in July 2007. Continues to serve in civil service as an accountant with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
Enlisted in 1984 and served as a Financial Management Specialist stationed at Clark AB, Republic of the Philippines and Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. Also, served as an Air Transportation Specialist. Retired in July 2007. Continues to serve in civil service as an accountant with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Thomas Dreyer, SN
Class of 1964
Navy Reserves, 6 Years
Maintenance Data Collection Coordinator for USS Charles F Adams, DDG2, the namesake for this class of DDG's & only remaining ship and is now a museum saved in Jacksonville, FL
Class of 1964
Navy Reserves, 6 Years
Maintenance Data Collection Coordinator for USS Charles F Adams, DDG2, the namesake for this class of DDG's & only remaining ship and is now a museum saved in Jacksonville, FL
Wade Johnson
Class of 1980
Navy, 10 Years
Served in an airwing aboard USS Constallation (CV64) for 6 years and 4 years as a Loadmaster on C130s.
Class of 1980
Navy, 10 Years
Served in an airwing aboard USS Constallation (CV64) for 6 years and 4 years as a Loadmaster on C130s.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Valley High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Tigers.
School News
Do you have any news to share? Keep our classmates informed on news and current events! Please post all reunion information in the reunion area.
Our Valley 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 Valley High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in West Des Moines are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!