Community Corner
Red, White & You: Honoring California’s Military Heroes
Meet 5 military heroes whose contributions continue to inspire, and nominate a service member or veteran to be featured on Patch!
California has a storied tradition of military service, with countless individuals dedicating their lives to protecting our nation. While words can't fully capture the immense gratitude we feel for our servicemen and women, Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to highlight a few remarkable veterans and active-duty military members from our state. Read about their stories below, and if you know a military hero who deserves recognition, we’d love to hear from you! Simply answer a few questions, and we’ll take care of the rest.
1. Sgt. Louis Brown
A longtime Inglewood resident and World War II veteran, Staff Sgt. Louis Brown was honored by President Biden in France on the 80th anniversary of D-Day for his service with the U.S. Army. Drafted at age 17, Brown landed on Omaha Beach just days after the 1944 invasion and later fought in the Battle of the Rhine and the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp. He served in the 4036th Quartermaster unit, delivering vital supplies to frontline troops under dangerous conditions. After his discharge in 1946, Brown built a life in Southern California, working for the City of Los Angeles for over three decades. Brown has said he never saw himself as a hero—but his legacy, and the impact of his service, speak volumes. Read more here.
2. Sgt. John Baca
Army Sgt. John Baca, who was raised in San Diego and graduated Kearny High School, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary act of valor during the Vietnam War. On a 1970 night mission near the Cambodian border, Baca threw himself onto a live grenade—shielding his fellow soldiers and saving eight lives. Remarkably, he survived the blast and spent nearly a year recovering from his injuries. Baca later returned to Southern California, where two parks—one in Huntington Beach and another in San Diego—have been named in his honor. Beyond the battlefield, he has devoted decades to supporting veterans, Gold Star families and peace-building efforts, including a return to Vietnam to help build a “friendship clinic.” Read more here.
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3. Eldon Knuth (1925-2023)
A decorated World War II veteran and renowned UCLA professor, Eldon Knuth was honored with the Bronze Star and France’s Legion of Honor for his courage during the Battle of Metz in 1944. Drafted at 18, Knuth survived five harrowing days behind enemy lines near Fort Jeanne d’Arc and later endured months of recovery from trench foot. After the war, he moved to California to earn his Ph.D. from Caltech and went on to serve 35 years on the UCLA faculty, becoming a respected expert in thermodynamics and molecular dynamics. He spent his final years in Thousand Oaks, where he was awarded the Bronze Star in a 2020 ceremony recognizing a lifetime of service in both the Army and academia. Read more here.
4. Hospital Corpsman Kyra Gause
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Kyra Gause was recently honored as the Military Hero of the Game during a San Diego Gulls hockey game. Originally from Houston, Texas, Gause serves as executive assistant to the command master chief at Naval Medical Center San Diego, where she plays a vital role in supporting medical readiness for the fleet. Her professionalism and dedication earned high praise from her command and loud applause from the packed arena. Gause said she felt “incredibly honored and humbled” by the recognition, which highlighted the strong ties between San Diego’s military community and the city it serves. Read more here.Find out what's happening in Across Californiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
5. Caity Lynch
Oakland native Caity Lynch was recognized with a 2024 CalVet Trailblazer Award for her exceptional service in and out of uniform. A Bronze Star recipient and Afghanistan War veteran, Lynch served seven years as an Army Reserve officer, where she commanded an Engineer Construction Company that expanded coalition bases in 2017–2018. After returning home, she worked as a special investigator for California’s Department of Cannabis Control before enrolling at UC Berkeley School of Law. Now in her final year, she has helped low-income veterans secure VA benefits through Swords to Plowshares and led the pro-bono project L.O.V.E. (Legal Obstacles Veterans Encounter). Read more here.Do you know a veteran or active military member who deserves recognition? We’d love to hear their story! Click here to nominate them for a chance to be featured on Patch!
