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Salute to Our Veterans: Dr. Steve Park

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 Mitch Lehman

Some of the records he held as a pass receiver at San Marino High School are being broken, but none of that seems to matter to 1993 graduate Dr. Steve Park. It could be his military experience, or medical training – or both – no matter what, his calm, humble manner surrounds him.

Would he be so inclined, there’s a lot to brag about. Park was a member of the Mickey McNamee’s 1992 CIF baseball championship team, the 1993 CIF runners-up and was part of Bill Maloney’s 1992 football squad that made it to the CIF title game. He was even editor of the Titan Shield, so I feel outranked.

Park matriculated to Stanford, where he graduated in 1997. On to medical school at St. Louis University from 1998-2002 and residency at Washington University in St. Louis from 2002-05.

“I had enrolled in the Navy’s Health Professions Scholarship Program just prior to beginning medical school with the initial rank of Ensign,” the father of two and local youth sports coach says. “This program helped pay for my medical school education. I was promoted to Lieutenant upon graduating medical school in 2002.”

Park had attended Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, RI before entering medical school and pre-deployment training at Camp Pendleton in July 2006. At 29, Park entered Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served from 2006-07. And while many consider medical duty to be less than perilous, Park experienced his share of tense moments.

“I spent a lot of time flying over Iraq during a period of frequent attacks by the enemy on helicopters,” Park recalls. “And our base was periodically hit with mortar fire. We suffered several casualties.”

Park was discharged in 2009, but a part of him still seems to be with his military family.

For the full story, see the print edition of the San Marino Tribune, or download the e-edition.

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