Veterans' Stories Archives - Gold Coast Veterans Foundation

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October 5, 2020

Here’s a Senior Meals Program Veterans May Not Know About

By Don Irelan, GCVF Volunteer and Son of a WWII Navy Veteran The U.S. population includes more than 18 million veterans with almost half over the age of 65 and more than 90% are male. Seniors often are homebound and live alone. This roughly translates to about 2.5 million veterans who are living alone, most […]

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September 25, 2020

WWII Vet Honored with Bronze Star 75 Years After the Battle of Metz

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Eldon L. Knuth, 95, of Thousand Oaks will receive the Bronze Star Medal in recognition of his military service 75 years ago for his service in France during World War II. The medal will be presented by Major General Laura Yeager, the first woman to command a U.S. Army infantry division. […]

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September 8, 2020

Veterans: A Gold Star for Mom Shows a Painful Sacrifice

By Donna Lockwood, GCVF “Mobile Veteran Outreach” Support Specialist and Daughter of a Korean War Combat Veteran Kathryn Steffen, mother of Marine Gunnery Sgt. Diego Pongo of Simi Valley, received this memorial necklace on Mother’s Day. This necklace contains a Gold Star, topped with a glass purple bead with Diego’s portrait etched inside. Sgt. Pongo […]

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August 3, 2020

Veterans Column: Purple Heart Day for a Sacred Military Decoration

By Alexander G. Deraney, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) and GCVF “Mobile Veteran Outreach” Team Member During this unprecedented time of unrest, defined by a deadly and growing pandemic, powerful and pervasive social unrest, an uncertain economy and sharp political divisions, Americans could be excused for being distracted from the Nation’s observation of Purple Heart […]

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June 29, 2020

Veterans Column: Fourth of July Carries Deeper Meaning for Some

By Donna Lockwood, GCVF “Mobile Veteran Outreach” Team Member and Daughter of a Korean War Combat Veteran What pops into your head when someone mentions the Fourth of July? To civilians, chances are it is barbecues, flags, parades, throwing back a few cold ones and watching the night sky light up. There is so much […]

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June 5, 2020

100 Years & Three Generations of Seabees Celebrate a Victory Over Veteran Homelessness

Coronavirus veterans, vehicles for veterans

Leading veteran organization now providing vehicles to get veterans back to work Camarillo, CA June 4, 2020 – U.S. Navy Seabees from the past and present, along with the County’s leading veteran services organization, will present a vehicle to a formerly homeless veteran, enabling him to rejoin the workforce and move his life forward. “Seabees” […]

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June 1, 2020

Veterans: Life of Camarillo Veteran a Testament to Courage

By Andy Ostroth, 30-year Navy Veteran and GCVF Volunteer I recently had the privilege of interviewing two of our cherished veterans, both residents of Leisure Village senior community in Camarillo. Jerry Spector, an Air Force veteran, took this photograph on June 7, 2017, of 104 veterans, all residents of Camarillo’s Leisure Village. The men and […]

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May 11, 2020

“Highest Risk” Homeless Veterans Placed in Emergency Housing

Mobile Veteran Outreach; coronavirus homeless; coronavirus homeless veterans

A.S.A.P. program brings County, State, United Way, private foundations, and individual donors together to get “hardest-to-engage” military veterans into safe isolation during pandemic CAMARILLO, CALIF. (PRWEB LINK) MAY 11, 2020 The region’s leading non-profit for veteran services and its partner agencies, have placed 20 of the highest risk military veterans into virus-safe shelter as part of […]

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May 5, 2020

Veterans Column: Local Veterans of Foreign Wars Reflect on Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2020; Memorial Day; Moorpark Field of Valor, Moorpark Morning Rotary Club, Field of Valor Moorpark

Author: Vince Gangi, U.S. Air Force veteran and GCVF volunteer. In 1999, Congress selected May as Military Appreciation Month. Each year, the president issues a proclamation for Americans to take time to participate in an event to honor the men, women and families of the armed services past and present. May was chosen because of the […]

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April 6, 2020

Veterans Column: A Volunteer Finds a Calling with Veterans

When I walked into the Ventura County Community Foundation’s nonprofit center in Camarillo, which houses many nonprofits, I was looking for volunteer work that would add purpose to my life. I proudly figured anyone would be and should be happy to have me. After all, I would do just about anything and was willing to work […]