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
It’s all about perspective to Dennis Kneier, who on Nov. 3 found out that his eight years on San Marino’s City Council will soon come to an end.
More than five decades ago it was about defending a nation, as Kneier and hundreds of others donned full battle gear and stood on 24-hour notice at Ft. Lewis, waiting to see if they would be deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
“We were young kids,” said Kneier. “They say you will be deployed. They don’t tell you where you are going.”
Kneier grew up in Chapman Woods and graduated from San Gabriel Mission High School “when it was co-ed,” he quips. He entered Santa Clara University in September 1958 and soon joined a two-year ROTC program.
“I wanted to go to ROTC rather than getting drafted,” Kneier recalls. “You had more choices and could enter the military as an officer.”
For the full story, see the print edition of the San Marino Tribune, or download the e-edition.
