Winter Haven High School Alumni
Winter Haven, Florida (FL)
Recent Members
| Amy Smith | 1990 |
| Barbara A Tew Barbara A Tew | 1963 |
| Desi John Groover | 1975 |
| Donna Mcdonald | 1972 |
| Jean Spears Jean Spears | 1955 |
| Laurence Girabaldi | 1965 |
| Simona Castellano | 1965 |
| Wayne Thomas | 1979 |
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 Winter Haven High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Blue Devils lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Jamison Fogg
Class of 1970
Army, 2 Years
US Army, Vietnam, Veteran 2 years, 1971-1973
Class of 1970
Army, 2 Years
US Army, Vietnam, Veteran 2 years, 1971-1973
Jason Warren
Class of 1994
Marine Corps, 15 Years
Joined Marines right out of High School. Deployed several times to Iraq. Im a Ch46E Helicopter Aircrewman. Currently a junior at Southern Illinois University. Take weekend classes. Married 7yrs now to a great Woman from NC.
Class of 1994
Marine Corps, 15 Years
Joined Marines right out of High School. Deployed several times to Iraq. Im a Ch46E Helicopter Aircrewman. Currently a junior at Southern Illinois University. Take weekend classes. Married 7yrs now to a great Woman from NC.
Jeff Fitts
Class of 2001
Army, 1 Years
Nuclear and Biological Chemical Weapons Specialist-Currently Stationed at Fort Campbell KY, being Deployed to Iraq in January 2007
Class of 2001
Army, 1 Years
Nuclear and Biological Chemical Weapons Specialist-Currently Stationed at Fort Campbell KY, being Deployed to Iraq in January 2007
Jerry Whitehead
Class of 1953
Air Force, 4 Years
Basic Training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. 1954. Tech School at FE Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Deployed to Central Area Material Area Europe, Chateauroux, France for 3 years as Supply Specialist. Honorably Discharged at Manhatten Beach, New York 1958. Rank attained S/SGT.
Class of 1953
Air Force, 4 Years
Basic Training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. 1954. Tech School at FE Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Deployed to Central Area Material Area Europe, Chateauroux, France for 3 years as Supply Specialist. Honorably Discharged at Manhatten Beach, New York 1958. Rank attained S/SGT.
Jerry Whitehead
Class of 1953
Air Force, 4 Years
Basic training at Lackland AFB,San Antonio, TX.
Tech School at F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Deployed to CAMAE Supply Depot, Chateauroux, France. Honorably discharged Manhatten AFS, New York.
Class of 1953
Air Force, 4 Years
Basic training at Lackland AFB,San Antonio, TX.
Tech School at F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Deployed to CAMAE Supply Depot, Chateauroux, France. Honorably discharged Manhatten AFS, New York.
John Bowes
Class of 1965
Marine Corps, 3 Years
22nd & 23rd birthday in Quang Tri, Vietnam. Picture of my buddy Jack & I, April 1969, on my way to Da Nang for my final night in country.
Class of 1965
Marine Corps, 3 Years
22nd & 23rd birthday in Quang Tri, Vietnam. Picture of my buddy Jack & I, April 1969, on my way to Da Nang for my final night in country.
John William (Bill) Plecher
Class of 1965
Air Force, 4 Years
'66-'70, Lackland AFB, basic; Kessler AFB electronic radio communications; Clark AFB 18mos, TDY to VN:QuangTri, Cantoe, Danang, PhuBai, Hue, Dong Ha; McCoy AFB until honorable discharge.
Class of 1965
Air Force, 4 Years
'66-'70, Lackland AFB, basic; Kessler AFB electronic radio communications; Clark AFB 18mos, TDY to VN:QuangTri, Cantoe, Danang, PhuBai, Hue, Dong Ha; McCoy AFB until honorable discharge.
John Wing
Class of 1972
Navy, 4 Years
Gunner's Mate on USS Coontz, DLG-9 / DLG-40. Originally stationed in Boston, transferred down to Norfolk VA (6th Fleet). Served in the Med during the 73 Middle East Conflict on 5"54 forward gun mount. I later transferred to USS Puget Sound, AD-38 where I worked with small arms weapons, security teams, and in training.
Class of 1972
Navy, 4 Years
Gunner's Mate on USS Coontz, DLG-9 / DLG-40. Originally stationed in Boston, transferred down to Norfolk VA (6th Fleet). Served in the Med during the 73 Middle East Conflict on 5"54 forward gun mount. I later transferred to USS Puget Sound, AD-38 where I worked with small arms weapons, security teams, and in training.
Johnny Hayes
Class of 1961
Marine Corps, 2 Years
President of our class, graduated, went to West Point, died in Viet Nam. Our class gives a scholardhip in his name each year.
Class of 1961
Marine Corps, 2 Years
President of our class, graduated, went to West Point, died in Viet Nam. Our class gives a scholardhip in his name each year.
Jonathan Garza
Class of 2002
Army, 4 Years
For the past 4 years I have served under the 25th ID based out of Hawaii as an Army Officer. There I was the Battalion Assistant Intelligence Officer and I was able to deploy to Afghanistan for a year long rotation in support of Operatoin Enduring Freedom.
Class of 2002
Army, 4 Years
For the past 4 years I have served under the 25th ID based out of Hawaii as an Army Officer. There I was the Battalion Assistant Intelligence Officer and I was able to deploy to Afghanistan for a year long rotation in support of Operatoin Enduring Freedom.
Joseph W. Silvers, Major, USAF
Class of 1990
Air Force, 16 Years
Officer and Bioenvironmental Engineer in US Air Force currently serving at Eglin AFB, FL, with wife (Dawn) and three children (Caleb, Cana and Cameron).
Class of 1990
Air Force, 16 Years
Officer and Bioenvironmental Engineer in US Air Force currently serving at Eglin AFB, FL, with wife (Dawn) and three children (Caleb, Cana and Cameron).
Julie Griffiths
Class of 1991
Air Force, 11 Years
Served as a Judge Advocate and Executive Officer
Class of 1991
Air Force, 11 Years
Served as a Judge Advocate and Executive Officer
Kenny Ferrero
Class of 2003
Navy, 3 Years
Aviation Structual Mechanic (AM), Has spent last two years at the Naval Air Station Oceana, and will be going on to sea duty on the "Ike" CVN-69
Class of 2003
Navy, 3 Years
Aviation Structual Mechanic (AM), Has spent last two years at the Naval Air Station Oceana, and will be going on to sea duty on the "Ike" CVN-69
Kevin Kaufman
Class of 1987
Army, 20+ Years
11 years active duty, 13 years reserve component as Parachute Rigger, Combat Engineer, Engineer Officer, and currently Civil Affairs Officer (Major).
Class of 1987
Army, 20+ Years
11 years active duty, 13 years reserve component as Parachute Rigger, Combat Engineer, Engineer Officer, and currently Civil Affairs Officer (Major).
Kristopher J. MacDonald
Class of 2001
Army, 14 Years
Stationed at Walter Reed National Military medical Center. Practical Nurse, Dialysis Specialty Instructor currently. Past Service; Florida National Guard 13B Cannon Crew member, Army Reserves 91W/68W Combat Medic, Regular Army 68CM3 Practical Nurse Dialysis Specialist.
Class of 2001
Army, 14 Years
Stationed at Walter Reed National Military medical Center. Practical Nurse, Dialysis Specialty Instructor currently. Past Service; Florida National Guard 13B Cannon Crew member, Army Reserves 91W/68W Combat Medic, Regular Army 68CM3 Practical Nurse Dialysis Specialist.
Kristopher MacDonald
Class of 2001
Army, 7 Years
13B-ARTILLERY
91W,68W-MEDIC
68WM6-PRACTICALNURSE
Class of 2001
Army, 7 Years
13B-ARTILLERY
91W,68W-MEDIC
68WM6-PRACTICALNURSE
Larry Kieffer
Class of 1960
Air Force, 9 Years
Dropped out of UF 1962 (money) and entered USAF. Served as air traffic controller at pilot training base in Texas two years, then Germany for four years, then sent to Michigan State for BA in communication and commission as second lieutenant and served as public information officer at a base in Ohio that the Air Force didn't want publicized: my real job was to politic for the base commander to get him promoted to brigadier general. I didn't succeed and chose honorable discharge over promotion to first lieutenant. Used GI Bill to get MFA at Ohio State and came back to Winter Haven and got job at News Chief.
Class of 1960
Air Force, 9 Years
Dropped out of UF 1962 (money) and entered USAF. Served as air traffic controller at pilot training base in Texas two years, then Germany for four years, then sent to Michigan State for BA in communication and commission as second lieutenant and served as public information officer at a base in Ohio that the Air Force didn't want publicized: my real job was to politic for the base commander to get him promoted to brigadier general. I didn't succeed and chose honorable discharge over promotion to first lieutenant. Used GI Bill to get MFA at Ohio State and came back to Winter Haven and got job at News Chief.
Lee Ira Peters, Jr.
Class of 1965
Army, 20+ Years
Enlisted service : USNR: 1964,Vietnam (1965-67), USNR promoted to Chief Petty Officer 1976, Honorable Discharge:1977; Joined Orgeon Army National Guard (SFC), attend OCS & grad:1979;
Officer: 2LT, ORARNG; 1LT, USAR-MPC 1983; CPT 1987; MAJOR 1993; Retired Res. 1997.
Class of 1965
Army, 20+ Years
Enlisted service : USNR: 1964,Vietnam (1965-67), USNR promoted to Chief Petty Officer 1976, Honorable Discharge:1977; Joined Orgeon Army National Guard (SFC), attend OCS & grad:1979;
Officer: 2LT, ORARNG; 1LT, USAR-MPC 1983; CPT 1987; MAJOR 1993; Retired Res. 1997.
Michael Giesey
Class of 1979
Air Force, 20+ Years
11 years fighter jet maintenenace
9 years operational intelligence
Class of 1979
Air Force, 20+ Years
11 years fighter jet maintenenace
9 years operational intelligence
Michael J. Wells
Class of 1995
Army, 9 Years
Served with the U.S. Army Chemical Corps., in Germany, Bosnia, Ft. Polk, Kuwait and Iraq.
Class of 1995
Army, 9 Years
Served with the U.S. Army Chemical Corps., in Germany, Bosnia, Ft. Polk, Kuwait and Iraq.
Micheal Parker
Class of 1978
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served 26 years in the United States Air Force before retiring in 2005.
Class of 1978
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served 26 years in the United States Air Force before retiring in 2005.
Mike Kennon
Class of 1992
Army, 4 Years
Served mostly of my time in service in Hawaii.
Class of 1992
Army, 4 Years
Served mostly of my time in service in Hawaii.
Paul Lango
Class of 1965
Army, 3 Years
Lucked out, went to Germany, with an Infantry MOS!! Sargent E-5. 12TH Cav. 3RD Armor Division.
Class of 1965
Army, 3 Years
Lucked out, went to Germany, with an Infantry MOS!! Sargent E-5. 12TH Cav. 3RD Armor Division.
Paul Lango
Class of 1965
Army, 3 Years
Sgt E-5. Infantry MOS. Served with the 12th Cavalry in Budagen, Germany.
Class of 1965
Army, 3 Years
Sgt E-5. Infantry MOS. Served with the 12th Cavalry in Budagen, Germany.
Rachel Berner
Class of 2003
Army, 7 Years
I was in the Army for 7 years, 4 active duty and 3 years Army Reserve. I was sent in support of Hurricane Katrina Relief in New Orleans in 2005 and served 1 year in Afghanistan Jan 2006-Jan 2007.
Class of 2003
Army, 7 Years
I was in the Army for 7 years, 4 active duty and 3 years Army Reserve. I was sent in support of Hurricane Katrina Relief in New Orleans in 2005 and served 1 year in Afghanistan Jan 2006-Jan 2007.
Ralph Diaz, Jr.
Class of 1964
Navy Reserves, 9 Years
US Navy Reserves from 1963 to 1972. Served aboard the USS SARATOGA CVA60 as a Radarman.
Class of 1964
Navy Reserves, 9 Years
US Navy Reserves from 1963 to 1972. Served aboard the USS SARATOGA CVA60 as a Radarman.
Rebeca Michel
Class of 1993
Air Force, 11 Years
Munitions Systems Craftsman and Military Munitions Instructor
Class of 1993
Air Force, 11 Years
Munitions Systems Craftsman and Military Munitions Instructor
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Winter Haven High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Blue Devils.
School News
RORY D. QUINCE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
Blue devils, I would like to invite you to make a donation in the name of my son, who lost his life in a tragic car acci...
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Our Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Winter Haven are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!