Captain Tom Pinard, USN (Ret.) joined the military after high school in 1957. But not the Navy, the Air Force, moving through basic training in Texas to tech school, then a year in Morocco "guarding" the skies around a forward SAC base with B-47 medium range bombers staged against the Soviets at the height of the Cold War. His enlisted time continued with a tour in Southern Illinois for two more years, with an honorable discharge and about $240 mustering out pay in 1961. Within weeks he was in Wrightwood California starting a community newspaper for a Village of 571 souls and another 1000 or more weekenders occupying about 1400 cabins scattered about the Swarthout Valley.
With the community growing, and the somewhat young publisher completing the presidency of Timberline Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce and even the Wrightwood PTA, a three line mention in the California Publisher's newsletter, asking for folks like Tom to step forward and take the place of WWII public affairs officers in the Naval Reserve, led to a second military career, low key at first. By the time Wrightwood's Tom Pinard sold the Mountaineer-Progress in 1990, long term assignments on active duty throughout the world became a regular feature of finally, Captain Pinard. Tom retired in 1999, on active duty after 29.6 years of service. He was proud to join members of the community putting together the Wrightwood Veterans Memorial, a part of the Veterans Memorial organization.
My name is Robert Deaver. I grew up farming and ranching in Nebraska and always looked up to Father and Grandfather and admired their military service. After working as a locomotive diesel mechanic for BNSF Railway I decided in 2016 that I would enlist in the Army following in their footsteps as I wanted to do something meaningful for our country and make my family proud. After reaching the rank of Sergeant in 2019 I began my path to becoming an Officer and in 2022 I was commissioned as a Lieutenant. In 2023 I was stationed in Fort Irwin, CA and bought my home in Wrightwood where I also reconnected with the love of my life Sarah before marrying her in 2024. I began bringing volunteers to Wrightwood to help clean up roads and trails and eventually joined the Veterans Memorial with a desire to help them as well. Since this time my volunteers have come to help with various projects such as cleaning the memorial and helping to provide Color Guard details for Veterans Day and Memorial Day. These opportunities helping the Veterans Memorial have been uplifting as it allowed my Soldiers and I to meet so many Veterans and share stories of the past and present military service of everyone involved.