The Pioneer Express
Veterans Day Special Edition
Oak Ridge High School
Thursday, November 11, 2021
ORHS Community Member,

Today is Veterans Day; a very special day set out to thank the millions of American men and women that swore with their lives to protect the freedoms and liberties we all enjoy today. 

A few days ago, I asked any of our teachers and staff members that may have worn the uniform or had family members that served, to kindly share their military service story. We salute these Oak Ridge veterans and families for their contributions and efforts on behalf of all of us. 

As you go about this special day, please think of November 11th as an opportunity. Today is an opportunity to thank a veteran or the family of veteran for their service and support. We are so proud of our veterans and Oak Ridge High School salutes each and every one of you! You are heroes to our great nation.

Mr. Alvarado
Principal
Oak Ridge High School
Oak Ridge High School Veterans
Otha "Nicky" Richardson
  • February 7, 1932 - July 10, 1953
  • PFC 224th Infantry Regiment – Korea
  • Member of the 224th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division
  • Korean War Era casualty
  • Killed in action while fighting in North Korea on July 10, 1953
  • Awarded the Purple Heart
  • https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=194021
  • Great Uncle of Dontrell Richardson, College & Career Research/Readiness Instructor
Dothan Richardson, Jr.
  • Corporal
  • United States Army
  • 1930 - 1976
  • Korea
  • Grandfather of Dontrell Richardson, College & Career Research/Readiness Instructor
Dothan Richardson, III
  • February 4, 1960
  • Enlisted in the United States Army on February 5, 1978
  • Honorably Discharged on October 5, 1979
  • Father of Dontrell Richardson, College & Career Research/Readiness Instructor
Dr. John Robert Mitchem
  • U.S. Army
  • Corporal in the Korean War
  • The Korean War was a war between North Korea and South Korea. The war began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea following a series of clashes along the border. The United Nations, with the United States as the principal force, came to the aid of South Korea.
  • Served 4 years from 1950-1954
  • Father of Sherri Craig-Evans, Keyboard Instructor
Richard Pedlow 
  • Pennsylvania Militia during the Civil War
  • Great Great Great Grandfather of Mark Pedlow, Photography Instructor
Harry Joseph Pedlow I
  • U.S. Army WWII
  • European Theatre of Operations
  • The European Theater of Operations, United States Army (ETOUSA) was a United States Army formation which directed US Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945.
  • Grandfather of Mark Pedlow, Photography Instructor
Harry Joseph Pedlow II 
  • U.S. Navy - Lieutenant Commander
  • Korean War 1950-1954 
  • Stationed in Morocco and was private physician to Prince Hassan II who later became King. His son is presently the current King.
  • Father of Mark Pedlow, Photography Instructor 
George H. Householder
  • U.S. Navy
  • AK3 Aviation Supply Officer, E-4
  • Served 4 years from 1980-1984, Stationed on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
  • Iran Hostage Crisis in the Indian Ocean – 1980
  • The Evacuation of the US Embassy Staff from Beirut Lebanon in 1982
  • Husband of Laurene Householder, CRT
Frank Coniglio
  • U.S. Army
  • Technician Fifth Grade – Hq Services Co 330th Engineers
  • Served in WWII 1942-1945
  • Stationed in Burma India – China Burma India Theater
  • Father of Laurene Householder, CRT
Narine Whyte, Junior Achievement Academy
  • U.S. Army
  • Sergeant
  • Served 8 years from 1990-1998
  • Served in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia from 1992-1993
Chief Robert Nutting, Air Force JROTC Instructor
U.S. Air Force
Chief Master Sergeant, IG
Served 32+ years combination of active duty & reserve
Has been instructing JROTC for 7 years
Stationed in MA, TX, GA, CA, Kuwait, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar
Served in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, England, Guam, Panama, and El Salvador
**** Both of Chief Nutting’s parents served as seen in the photo below ****
Sarah E. Nutting, Mother
U.S. Army
Private First Class
Served 3 years
WWII
Robert E. Nutting, Father
U.S. Army
Master Sergeant, Armour
Served 24+ years
WWII and the Korean War
Carlos A. Cardona, Spanish Instructor
U.S. Army Reserve
  • E-4
  • 82nd Airborne Division
  • Served 8 Years from 1991-1999

U.S. National Guard
  • E-4
  • 64 Specialist Motor Transport Operator
  • Served 8 years from 1999 to 2007
  • Husband of Katherine Montes, ESOL & Reading Instructor
Cruz M. Rivera
  • U.S. Army
  • E-7
  • Infantryman, Logistics, Unit Supply Specialist, Law & Order Operations, and Cargo Specialist
  • Stationed in Germany, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, Fort Campbell, Ft. Hood and Ft. Lee
  • Served in action in Operation Desert Storm-Kuwait
  • Uncle/Father of Katherine Montes, ESOL & Reading Instructor
Jamie Luis Colon Jr.
  • U.S. Navy
  • Petty Officer 1st Class
  • Served 21 years at present
  • Served in Operation Iraq Freedom
  • Brother of Camille Rosa, Intensive Reading/ESOL Instructor
Jessel Colon
  • U.S. Navy
  • Chief Petty Officer
  • Served 25 years at present
  • Sister-In-Law of Camille Rosa, Intensive Reading/ESOL Instructor
Emmett I. Johnson, Sr.
  • U.S. Navy 1945-1965
  • Served for 20 years, retired as CS1 Mobile Construction Battalion 
  • Served in combat off the coast of South Korea. Also served in Spain, South Korea, Germany, Japan, Antarctica, and all over the US. 
  • Served on numerous ships and submarines.
  • Worked for the Department of Defense as security at Quonset Point, RI for 20 years from 1969-1989 
  • Father of Laurinda Forsberg, Clerical Staff 
James C. Forsberg 
  • U.S. Army 1967--1971
  • E-4, Specialist 4th Class, Radio Repairman 
  • Served 4 years  
  • Served during the Vietnam era on the DMZ in South Korea, Germany, and the United States. 
  • Husband of Laurinda Forsberg, Clerical Staff 
William L. Tilton
  • U.S. Navy 
  • E-5 Petty Officer 2nd Class 
  • Serving 8 at present
  • Repairs internal engine components of aircraft 
  • Stationed at Oceana Naval Air Station, Virginia 
  • Nephew of Laurinda Forsberg, Clerical Staff 
Kathleen Johnson
  • U.S. Navy 
  • E-4 Petty Officer 3rd Class – Aviation Machinist Mate 
  • Mustered out after 4 years 
  • Niece of Laurinda Forsberg, Clerical Staff 
Gary Johnson, Sr.
  • U.S. Air Force then transitioned to
  • U.S. Navy Served 6 years combined
  • Rank OSSA
  • Communications
  • Was stationed at Pease Air Force Base and Norfolk, VA
  • Brother of Laurinda Forsberg, Clerical Staff 
Evan Lewis
  • U.S. Army Reserve
  • Specialist
  • 88M Motor Transport Operator
  • Served 7 years as of present
  • Graduate of The University of South Florida, BS in Criminology
  • Son of Daphne Lewis, English I Honors Instructor
Michael Bluey
  • U.S. Army Air Corps
  • Corporal 
  • Served from 1943-1946
  • Stationed at Chatham Army Airfield in Savannah GA.
  • Served stateside
  • Maternal Grandfather of Ian N. Garrett, ELA12 Instructor
David Wright, Sr.
  • U.S. Army
  • Enlisted E-4
  • Served from 1951-1954
  • Driver for the Colonel
  • Stationed in Ft. Carson, Colorado
  • Father of Adreianell Wright, School Clerk-Receptionist
Aisha Osborne, Mathematics Instructor
  • U.S. Army
  • Sergeant
  • Served 10 years
  • Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic
  • Disabled Veteran
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Sweeney, Air Force JROTC Instructor
  • 23 years U.S. Air Force
  • Pilot of C-130 Aircraft
  • Stationed in MS, TX, AR, Portugal, and IL
  • 7 Overseas deployments for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
  • Has been instructing JROTC for 4 years
Markeefe Beckett, Sr., Testing Coordinator
  • U.S. Army Reserve
  • 1995-2001
LaDavid Johnson
  • U.S. Army
  • Sergeant 
  • Served 3 years
  • 3rd Specials Forces Group (Airborne)
  • KIA- Niger West Africa 10/4/2017
  • Cousin of Jessica Kendrick, Instructional Coach
Master Sergeant Royce Collins, Oak Ridge Alumni & Air Force JROTC Instructor
  • U.S. Air Force
  • Master Sergeant
  • Served 24-years active duty 
  • Has been teaching JROTC for 12 years
  • Stationed in California, Japan, Kentucky, Florida & New Jersey
  • Gulf War veteran
Baron Fulp, Staff Sergeant 
  • 89th Military Police Brigade Fort Hood Texas
  • Old Guard 289th Military Police Company Arlington Virginia 
  • Served in Iraq Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08
  • Bother of S.A.F.E. Coordinator, Veronica Lewis
Braulio Fulp, Staff Sergeant 
  • Served Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004-2005 & 2006-2008 
  • Military Police Soldiers / Military Working Dog Handers & Instructors  
  • Brother of S.A.F.E. Coordinator, Veronica Lewis 
Did you know???
There are around 19 million U.S. veterans as of this year, according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, representing less than 10% of the total U.S. adult population. Here are key facts from the VA, the U.S. Census Bureau and other sources about those who have served in the military and how this population is changing. There are very few World War II veterans still with us.
Source: Pew Research
Animated US Flag
Thank you again to all veterans for their service!
Mr. Alvarado, Principal
Oak Ridge High School
Thusday, November 11, 2021
Oak Ridge High School Senior Leadership Team
Principal: Benjamin Alvarado Benjamin.Alvarado@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Michele Browne michele.brown@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Luz Gonzalez Cartagena luz.gonzalezcartagena@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Johndrell Jones johndrell.jones@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Nora Pachnik Nora.Pachnik@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Melania Perez Cedeno 53541@ocps.net
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Reproduction of this material, either written or electronically, including the general layout, graphics, analyses, and content topics without the express approval of Target Performance Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation, and OCPS - Oak Ridge High School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of the Orange County Public Schools and especially Oak Ridge High School. Please contact Mrs. Laurene Householder at laurene.householder@ocps.net with any questions related to the program.
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