These special alumni perished in service to their neighbors and countrymen while serving in the military of the US or as public safety workers. Honors are presented alphabetically by surname.

Roger Allen Boomsma, Class of 1967

PFC, US Marines. March 24, 1949 -- April 13, 1968. Roger was a varsity football player at TCHS, who volunteered for USMC. Reported by Kathy Healy '71.

After The Virtual Wall: Roger Allen Boomsma was born on March 24, 1949 and joined the Armed Forces while in Arcadia, CA. He served as a 0311 in the Marine Corps. In 1 year of service, he attained the rank of PFC/E2. On April 13, 1968, at the age of 19, Roger Allen Boomsma perished in the service of his country in Thua Thien, South Vietnam.

Lee Thomas Hamman, Class of 1965

Lee Thomas Hamman, was killed in Viet Nam, March 19, 1969. Lee, then a US Navy hospital corpsman, was serving with Delta Co., 1st Bn., 5th Marine Div. During patrol, a marine had been wounded, and when Lee went to his aid he was killed by enemy fire. Lee was born November 20, 1947. -Compiled from reports of US Navy records and The Virtual Wall, and by Steven Moran '66, who wrote "Lee had served his time in the bush (field) but volunteered to return (six months in the field and six months in a field hospital was generally a corpsman's tour). I can believe this of Lee; I'm proud to have known him since we were small children, I spent many hours at the Temple City Church of Christ with Lee and our other friends."

Douglas Alan Ross, Class of 1966

SGT US Army. September 10, 1948 -- January 22, 1969.

After The Virtual Wall: Douglas Alan Ross was born on September 10, 1948 and joined the Armed Forces while in Temple City, CA. He served as a 05B20 in the Army. In 1 year of service, he attained the rank of SGT/E4. Douglas Alan Ross. Sgt. Ross was listed as Missing in Action from 1969 until his remains were identified and returned in 1998.

Update from Stephen Dorsi '64, 7/14/02: Douglas Alan Ross would have graduated in the class of '66 if he had continued at TCHS. He is in my 1964 yearbook as a sophomore, and 1963 as a freshman.

See also: KIA January 22, 1969; MIA until identified and returned in 1998. (Info: DOD.)

Craig Ray Schoenbaum, Class of 1964

Corporal, US Army. December 3, 1945 -- June 9, 1967. Reported by Stephen Dorsi '64.

After The Virtual Wall: Craig Ray Schoenbaum joined the Armed Forces from Arcadia, CA. He served as a 57F20 in the Army. In 1 year of service, he attained the rank of SP4/E4. On June 9, 1967, at the age of 21, Craig Ray Schoenbaum perished in the service of his country in South Vietnam.

From Stephen Dorsi's commentary on The Virtual Wall: "Craig was a drummer -- a winner of many competitions -- a talent above the very best. (He played at the Cinnamon Cinder.) The world of entertainment lost a legend before he had enough time to shine. Craig was respectful. I will never forget the time that he stood up from his drum stool in the middle of an assembly performance to applaud a solo by another drummer -- while most of us watching were dazzled by the superiority of Craig's ability over that of his fellow drummer." (See other comments on that site.)

Gerald Cain Stelle, Class of 1963

SGT, US Marines. January 17, 1946 -- June 13, 1967.

From The Virtual Wall: Gerald Cain Stelle was born on January 17, 1946 and joined the Armed Forces while in TEMPLE CITY, CA. He served as a 0311 in the Marine Corps. In 2 years of service, he attained the rank of SGT/E5. On June 13, 1967, at the age of 21, Gerald Cain Stelle perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Quang Nam.

Michael Cory Volheim, Class of 1966

SP4/E4 US Army. November 8, 1948 -- May 29, 1969.

After The Virtual Wall:Michael Cory Volheim was born on November 8, 1948 and joined the Armed Forces while in Hayward, CA. He served as a 11B20 in the Army, Battalion 6, Regiment 31.Ê In 1 year of service, he attained the rank of SP4/E4. On May 29, 1969, at the age of 20, Michael Cory Volheim perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Long An.

From Mike Hayes '66: After Michael Volheim graduated from TCHS, ... [he joined] in the Army, went to Vietnam, where he was killed in action in 69. He's probably the only TCHS grad to ever make the cover of Life magazine. In that particular edition, Life published the pictures of all 500+ Americans to die in Vietnam [during] the preceeding week. Michael's formal Army portrait was the cover of the magazine because he was the first fatality of that week. I walked into the [military police] company Day Room, where I came across the magazine with Michael's face looking at me from the cover [and had] instant recognition of Michael and what had happened to him.