Serviceman to Be Honored at All Class Reunion

Bloom's Fourth Annual All Class Reunion is coming up on Saturday July 19, 2025 at Plum Creek Meadows on Sauk Trail and Burnham Avenue in Sauk Village. While alumni from all classes gather to greet old friends, get caught up and reminisce about the olden days, it does not go unnoticed that some of our classmates won't be there. The committee for the seventies (and sixties) have decided that these classmates, "our Heroes that gave the Ultimate Sacrifice", should be acknowledged and honored for giving their lives for our freedom.

The honoring committee, spearheaded by Willie "Bill" Weekley '71, started with 4 names. After weeks of posts and requests, Robert Gereg sent a list to Bill of 33 Bloom alumni that died in the Viet Nam War. We were able to identify most in the Bloom Alumni Directory. The names are as follows:

DECEASED VIETNAM VETERANS : Name, graduation year, date of death, branch and rank.

Pablo Almanza 1965 June 4, 1967 USMC Cpl

Robert A. Baetzel 1965 March 21, 1969 Army WO

William R. Dahlstrom 1960 February 17, 1966 USAF Airman 1st Cl

Louis Dalie, Jr. 1966 June 5, 1967 Army Sgt

David De Novellis 1956 March 3, 1959 Army PVT-E2

Michael Charles Doyle 1960 Novmber 7, 1966 Army 1st Lt

Juan R. Garcia 1967 June 26, 1968 USMC LCPL

Jan D. Garringer 1967 February 16, 1970 USMC Cpl

Michael A, Guinta 1967 April 8, 1969 Army Cpl

Louis L. Goers 1964 April 21, 1967 Navy PO3

Malcolm R. Graham 1951 May 30, 1961 USAF Lt

Robert W. Grant 1964 April 15, 1968 Army SP4

Frank R. Hackett 1969 November 3, 1977 Army Sgt

Lyle W. Hansen 1963 May 12, 1968 Army Cpl

Ernest Hardimon, Jr. 1964 June 18, 1970 Army 1st Lt

Gary C. Hawkins 1966 December 20, 1967 USAF

Robert M. Keene 1965 August 25, 1968 Army Cpl

Asa Martin 1967 February 2, 1969 Army PVT

Clarence “Ed” Miller 1959 November 6, 1967 Army PFC

Joseph W. Mitchell 1966 August 15, 1969 Army SP4

William Murphy, Jr. 1965 August 7, 1966 Army PVT

Glenn A. Parks 1963 June 20, 1970 Army Sgt

Clark R. “Corky” Pederson 1966 February 23, 1970 Army WO

John A. Prombo 1961 February 7, 1969 USMC 1st Lt

Alan J. Provost 1958 August 14, 1967 USAF Capt

Larry G. Russell 1967 April 17, 1968 USMC LCPL

Paul R. Severson 1963 August 25, 1968 Army SP5

Leslie Tegtmeier 1961 August 8, 1968 Army Sgt

Donald Valentino 1964 February 16, 1966 USMC PFC

Gary Wilson 1961 September 14, 1967 Navy PO3

Scott E. Wise 1968 August 17, 1969 Army PVT

Thomas J. Yadron 1952 April 24, 1968 USA Capt

We are looking for people who know these men and can give us family information. We would like to contact the families so we can request their presence at the tribute and provide correct information about our classmates. Please contact Willie "Bill" Weekley through his Facebook Instant Message or email him at wweekley@att.net if you can help with any information. For anyone wanting to pay homage with us on Saturday July 19th, the ceremony is from 1:45 to 2:15. The Bloom Alumni Association will also be using the information to update the Servicemen board in the Archives.

We often acknowledge our sports heroes, great accomplishments by alumni, birthdays and events involving students and staff from Bloom District 206 on our Facebook sites or through the Chicago Heights Patch. We would be remiss not to pay tribute and honor to our classmates that deserve it most. We often state "We're From Bloom Couldn't Be Prouder..." Our hearts swell loud with pride for these RED, WHITE, and BLUE legends - our heroes!