Our Veterans
In honor of those who served our country in the armed forces, this San Marino Tribune article continues a series of individual salutes to our courageous veterans.
By Stacy Lee
United States Army Medical Corps veteran Peter Kaplanis of Pasadena credits his two-year military stint as one of the most valuable learning experiences in his life.
“It’s been a tremendous advantage in my profession and in my whole life,” he said.
Kaplanis said he thinks the United States should require some military service – whether at home or abroad – for every citizen, if physically possible.
“The ancient Greeks established that part of citizenship was to defend your city when they had what they called the city states,” he said. “It was just part of being a citizen. You were entitled to vote, you were entitled to have property and you were entitled to an inheritance, but you also had an obligation to serve in the military.”
Military service will make citizens prouder to be an American because they served their country, Kaplanis said.
“I think everyone would better appreciate their country and perhaps be a better citizen,” he said.
Kaplanis was born and raised in San Francisco. He deferred the military draft to attend college and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. Kaplanis was then accepted to USC Law School; however, he wasn’t able to defer the draft for graduate school at the time.
Kaplanis reported to Ft. Ord near Monterey for basic training in September 1956 for 13 weeks. He spent most of his military time as a psychiatric interviewer at Beaumont Hospital in El Paso, Texas.
The hospital was attached to Ft.Bliss and across the street from Biggs Air Force Base so it served approximately 40,000 people.
For the full story, see the print edition of the San Marino Tribune, or download the e-edition.
