- By Jim Raymond -
Tony Baggio
Tony enlisted in the Navy in early 1943. Despite a desire to fly he was assigned to the cargo attack ship USS Hercules, which saw action throughout the South Pacific including the support of seven invasions. In 1944, he went back home to Chicago on leave where he met Virginia, the love of his life. When he returned to duty he was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Essex, and was a gun captain serving through substantial action in the Philippine Sea including survival of Japanese kamikaze attacks.
In January, 1946, he returned to Chicago, married Virginia, got an Electrical Engineering degree and moved to Southern California. His career included work in electronic system engineering and analysis leading to systems analysis at Northrop. They raised three daughters (now including one grandson and one great-grandson). Tony lost Virginia in August 2007 and moved here to La Costa Glen that December.
Les Tenney
Les enlisted in the 192nd Tank Battalion of the Illinois National Guard in October, 1940, and was shipped to the Philippines in November 1941. He served in combat on Bataan until its fall in April, 1942. He endured the Bataan Death March and was imprisoned in a camp in the Philippines and then for three years in a Japanese coal mine. Only 10 percent survived. These survivors, on their last legs, witnessed the mushroom cloud over Nagasaki, 30 miles from their camp “which probably saved my life.”
Following his recovery after the war, Les went to school earning a Ph.D. in Finance at USC and then becoming a professor of finance at ASU and SDSU. He met Betty in San Diego and they were married in 1960. Their family includes three sons,
11 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. They moved to La Costa Glen in 2002 and have been very active residents.
Craig Medoff
Craig enlisted in the US Army Air Force in August, 1940. He wanted to be a pilot but his vision was deemed too poor. Not to be deterred from getting into combat he, went to gunnery school. When the United States entered the war he was sent to England to join the combat crew on a B-17 as a top turret gunner and engineer. He flew an incredible 40 missions, principally over Germany. He was wounded on his 20th mission but continued on.
He left the Air Force in August, 1948, married Irene, and with the GI Bill, enrolled in degree programs leading to a Doctor of Law from Harvard Law School in 1954. They then moved to California, set up a legal practice and raised a family of two children (now including a granddaughter). Craig lost Irene in 2005 and moved to La Costa Glen in April, 2008.
Ken Uran
Ken was inducted into the US Army in June, 1943 and was assigned to the 12th Armored Division which was activated and began combat in France in December 1944. In his duty through Belgium, Germany and Austria he was promoted from gunner to tank commander, losing three tanks in the process. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge as well as the liberation of several concentration camps in Germany and Austria. He returned home in June, 1946.
He was married to Jean in August, 1946, worked in the family business and earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. His aerospace career included program management for several important programs as well as management of the environmental testing laboratory for the Apollo Program. Jean passed away in 2007 but her memory lives on in their 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. Ken moved to La Costa Glen in December, 2007.
Herb Kapin
Herb joined the Marine Corps in 1940 and was commissioned while a student at Cal Tech. In the same year he met and married Dorothy, and was transferred to Camp Elliot in San Diego. When the war broke out he was assigned as a photo-reconnaissance specialist serving in the battles of Guadalcanal and Okinawa. At the end of the war, as a Captain, he was ordered to Ticnsim, China, to document the surrender of the Japanese.
After the war he, Dorothy, and their two daughters moved back to California and he resumed his career in the banking industry with the US National Bank and the Bank of America. He retired in 1980 and moved to La Costa Glen in May, 2008. His hobbies have included oil painting, stained glass and coin cutting. Herb and Dorothy have been married for 69 years and their family now includes four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Adm. Roland Rieve
Admiral Rieve received his commission from the Naval Academy in February, 1941, and was immediately assigned to the cruiser USS Quincy, which was subsequently attacked and sunk at Guadalcanal in August, 1942. His distinguished naval career then included service on six ships through the Pacific through the end of the war and in command capacities to his retirement in 1975.
He met his wife Lucy while at the Academy and they were married in June, 1941. After the war he worked in the oil and financial industries retiring in 1986 and moving to Vista. In January, 2003, they moved to La Costa Glen as one of the first residents. His activities include the Chairman of the first Resident Council. He and Lucy have two sons, one daughter, two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They are looking forward to their 69th wedding anniversary