Zion-benton High School Alumni
Zion, Illinois (IL)
Recent Members
| Arlene Wedekind | 1956 |
| Bill Cassidy | 1978 |
| James Wagner James Wagner | 1973 |
| Joseph Lechwar | 1972 |
| Mike Krerowicz | 1984 |
| Ron Clark | 1975 |
| Tracey Randolph | 1988 |
| Yadira Marie Escobedo Yadira Marie Escobedo | 2022 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Zion-benton High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Fighting Zee Bees lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Angelo Figueroa
Class of 2001
Air Force, 16 Years
C17A - Loadmaster, Drop Master, Evaluator, Test Loadmaster. 7 Deployments. Orion Test Lead
Class of 2001
Air Force, 16 Years
C17A - Loadmaster, Drop Master, Evaluator, Test Loadmaster. 7 Deployments. Orion Test Lead
Armando Alexander
Class of 1989
Marine Corps, 8 Years
served as a tow gunner for LAI light armor infiantry which is now LAR light armor recon. I did 8 months in dessert shield and storm and 5 months in Mugodishu Somalia. I have a combat action ribbon with a star on it. Semper Fi
Class of 1989
Marine Corps, 8 Years
served as a tow gunner for LAI light armor infiantry which is now LAR light armor recon. I did 8 months in dessert shield and storm and 5 months in Mugodishu Somalia. I have a combat action ribbon with a star on it. Semper Fi
Belinda Vinson
Class of 1988
Navy, 10 Years
Navy - Radioman then crossrated to Cryptographic Operator
Class of 1988
Navy, 10 Years
Navy - Radioman then crossrated to Cryptographic Operator
Bryan K. Thibedeau
Class of 1973
Army, 3 Years
FT. Polk, Ft. Gorden for 31M20 training, Ft Riley's 1st Infantry Div. for duration with 2 deployments to Germany. Satellite Specialist Telecommunications Leader.
Class of 1973
Army, 3 Years
FT. Polk, Ft. Gorden for 31M20 training, Ft Riley's 1st Infantry Div. for duration with 2 deployments to Germany. Satellite Specialist Telecommunications Leader.
Charlie Barnes
Class of 1965
Marine Corps, 6 Years
I joined the Marine Corps with 6 other from the class of 65. We all left for boot camp on June 9th, 1965. We stayed together during boot camp and infantry training, then we all went different directions. I'm sure we all went to Viet Nam one or two times. I served in Viet Nam in
1968 and 1969. I came home on Memorial Day, 1969.
Class of 1965
Marine Corps, 6 Years
I joined the Marine Corps with 6 other from the class of 65. We all left for boot camp on June 9th, 1965. We stayed together during boot camp and infantry training, then we all went different directions. I'm sure we all went to Viet Nam one or two times. I served in Viet Nam in
1968 and 1969. I came home on Memorial Day, 1969.
D. J. (Don) Stephens
Class of 1956
Army, 10 Years
National Guard - Regular Army
Aug 56 - Jun 65
Class of 1956
Army, 10 Years
National Guard - Regular Army
Aug 56 - Jun 65
Darryl McDaniel
Class of 1967
Navy, 2 Years
2 years USN, 67 to 69, US Army Natiional Guard 87-89
Class of 1967
Navy, 2 Years
2 years USN, 67 to 69, US Army Natiional Guard 87-89
David Shafer
Class of 2002
Army, 16 Years
Served 5 combat tours. Served as a CH-47D helicopter repairer, MQ-1C Gray Eagle Quality Control, RQ-7B instructor, Maintance evaluator (Europe)
Class of 2002
Army, 16 Years
Served 5 combat tours. Served as a CH-47D helicopter repairer, MQ-1C Gray Eagle Quality Control, RQ-7B instructor, Maintance evaluator (Europe)
Debra Westervelt
Class of 1980
Navy, 8 Years
Served 8 years as a Builder in the Seabees. Spent 1 1/2 yrs in Washington, D.C., 4 1/2 yrs in Wales and 2 yrs in Virginia Beach, Va.
Class of 1980
Navy, 8 Years
Served 8 years as a Builder in the Seabees. Spent 1 1/2 yrs in Washington, D.C., 4 1/2 yrs in Wales and 2 yrs in Virginia Beach, Va.
Donald (Don) Thomas
Class of 1963
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Served 4 years in the U S Marines and Viet Nam in 1965-66. Also, 16 years in the N. Carolina National Guard.
Class of 1963
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Served 4 years in the U S Marines and Viet Nam in 1965-66. Also, 16 years in the N. Carolina National Guard.
Donald Chapman
Class of 1963
Navy, 20+ Years
Served on USS FDR (CVA42), USS Puget Sound and USS Damato - USNR Construction Battalion 12 (Davisville RI), 7th Reserve Naval Construction Regiment (Davisville RI), USN Reserve Force (New Orleans) - Retired after 20 years. Served as the sole enlisted detailer for Navy Reserve Construction Forces as a civilian - retired after 16 years.
Class of 1963
Navy, 20+ Years
Served on USS FDR (CVA42), USS Puget Sound and USS Damato - USNR Construction Battalion 12 (Davisville RI), 7th Reserve Naval Construction Regiment (Davisville RI), USN Reserve Force (New Orleans) - Retired after 20 years. Served as the sole enlisted detailer for Navy Reserve Construction Forces as a civilian - retired after 16 years.
Donald Noren
Class of 1955
Army Reserves, 20+ Years
Musician 85th Division Band 1955 thru 1978 at Waukegan and Chicago. Retired MSG 1983.
Class of 1955
Army Reserves, 20+ Years
Musician 85th Division Band 1955 thru 1978 at Waukegan and Chicago. Retired MSG 1983.
Frank Suggs
Class of 1972
Navy Reserves, 20+ Years
I retired after 20+ years in the Navy Reserves and, I was also in the National Guard in Missouri and Kansas for 5 years.
Class of 1972
Navy Reserves, 20+ Years
I retired after 20+ years in the Navy Reserves and, I was also in the National Guard in Missouri and Kansas for 5 years.
Gary Golubski
Class of 1988
Army, 20+ Years
Sep 1988 to present
Enlisted Signal for 10 years, went to OCS in 1998, became a Signal Officer. Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09.
Class of 1988
Army, 20+ Years
Sep 1988 to present
Enlisted Signal for 10 years, went to OCS in 1998, became a Signal Officer. Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09.
Glenn Jensen
Class of 1972
Army, 12 Years
Glenn is aWarrant Officer/Pilot in Army Reserves. He just returned from deployment to Balad Airbase, Iraq. He is the guy in shorts in the aircrew photo.
Class of 1972
Army, 12 Years
Glenn is aWarrant Officer/Pilot in Army Reserves. He just returned from deployment to Balad Airbase, Iraq. He is the guy in shorts in the aircrew photo.
Heather Ellen Andersen
Class of 1988
Army, 3 Years
1989-1992 Served with 93rd EVAC out of Ft. Leonard Wood and HQ company 122nd Signal Battalion in Camp Casey, S.Korea
Class of 1988
Army, 3 Years
1989-1992 Served with 93rd EVAC out of Ft. Leonard Wood and HQ company 122nd Signal Battalion in Camp Casey, S.Korea
Jim Wesser
Class of 1981
Army, 20+ Years
Served as a Combat Engineer initially then switched to Armor (M1, M1A1 Abrams). Served in Germany x 2, Korea, with deployments in Central America, Operations Desert Shield/Storm/Provide Comfort, Operation Desert Thunder. Served as a Tank Commander during Desert Shield/Storm.
Ended my career as an instructor at the United States Military at West Point and as the Company First Sergeant at West Point. Airborne qualified as well as M1, M1A1, AGS Master Gunner, and holds an instructor qualification.
B.A. in Psychology, M.S. in Counseling and Development.
Class of 1981
Army, 20+ Years
Served as a Combat Engineer initially then switched to Armor (M1, M1A1 Abrams). Served in Germany x 2, Korea, with deployments in Central America, Operations Desert Shield/Storm/Provide Comfort, Operation Desert Thunder. Served as a Tank Commander during Desert Shield/Storm.
Ended my career as an instructor at the United States Military at West Point and as the Company First Sergeant at West Point. Airborne qualified as well as M1, M1A1, AGS Master Gunner, and holds an instructor qualification.
B.A. in Psychology, M.S. in Counseling and Development.
John Lodes
Class of 1995
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Spent 4 yrs on active duty in the Marines. 41/2 yrs in the army reserves. was in iraq. Am now in the missouri national guard and going on 9 yrs. in the military
Class of 1995
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Spent 4 yrs on active duty in the Marines. 41/2 yrs in the army reserves. was in iraq. Am now in the missouri national guard and going on 9 yrs. in the military
John Miller
Class of 1998
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Served in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Was Stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. Deployed to other countries including 6 months on the USS Kearsarge in the Mediteranean Sea
Class of 1998
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Served in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Was Stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. Deployed to other countries including 6 months on the USS Kearsarge in the Mediteranean Sea
Joseph A. Morton
Class of 1956
Air Force, 20+ Years
July 1955- Aug.1981. Texas, Maine, North Dakota. Florida, Idaho, Germany, England, Korea,Vietnam.
Class of 1956
Air Force, 20+ Years
July 1955- Aug.1981. Texas, Maine, North Dakota. Florida, Idaho, Germany, England, Korea,Vietnam.
Joseph Morton
Class of 1956
Air Force, 20+ Years
SMSgt. USAF Ret. Aircraft Maintance F-89, F-101, F-4, F-5, F-111, B-52, F106, T-33, A-1 aircraft, Crew chief on some and Escape systems (EGRESS) on all. US, Europe, England Viet Nam, Korea.
Class of 1956
Air Force, 20+ Years
SMSgt. USAF Ret. Aircraft Maintance F-89, F-101, F-4, F-5, F-111, B-52, F106, T-33, A-1 aircraft, Crew chief on some and Escape systems (EGRESS) on all. US, Europe, England Viet Nam, Korea.
Joseph Snowden
Class of 1986
Coast Guard, 16 Years
Currently on Active Duty and serving as XO at MSO St. Louis. Completed Masters Degree & promoted to CDR (O-5). 5 years served in Army National Guard (ENL/OFF)
Class of 1986
Coast Guard, 16 Years
Currently on Active Duty and serving as XO at MSO St. Louis. Completed Masters Degree & promoted to CDR (O-5). 5 years served in Army National Guard (ENL/OFF)
Joseph Snowden
Class of 1986
Coast Guard, 20+ Years
5 yrs Army. 15 yrs Coast Guard. Selected for Commander (O-5). Presently XO of MSO St. Louis. Cmds: MSO Providence, Morgan City, Houma, Quad Cities, LANTAREA.
Class of 1986
Coast Guard, 20+ Years
5 yrs Army. 15 yrs Coast Guard. Selected for Commander (O-5). Presently XO of MSO St. Louis. Cmds: MSO Providence, Morgan City, Houma, Quad Cities, LANTAREA.
Larry R. Wasion
Class of 1967
Navy, 4 Years
Radarman stationed in San Diego - 3-tours of Nam
Class of 1967
Navy, 4 Years
Radarman stationed in San Diego - 3-tours of Nam
Lori Richardson
Class of 1982
Air Force, 2 Years
US Air Force
19th Medical Group
Little Rock AFB Hospital
1090 Arnold Drive
Little Rock AFB, AR 72099-493
Class of 1982
Air Force, 2 Years
US Air Force
19th Medical Group
Little Rock AFB Hospital
1090 Arnold Drive
Little Rock AFB, AR 72099-493
LT BRUCE EARL BLICKLE
Class of 1966
Navy, 10 Years
Enlisted Navy Quartermaster (Navigation); 1969 & 1971 Viet Nam Deployments
Lieutenant, United States Navy Chaplain Corps
Command Chaplain, USS Jouett (CG-29); San Diego, CA, USA.
Chaplain Department, Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL, USA
Class of 1966
Navy, 10 Years
Enlisted Navy Quartermaster (Navigation); 1969 & 1971 Viet Nam Deployments
Lieutenant, United States Navy Chaplain Corps
Command Chaplain, USS Jouett (CG-29); San Diego, CA, USA.
Chaplain Department, Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL, USA
Mark Hunt
Class of 1981
Army, 20+ Years
First five years as an active duty Infantry officer, deployed to Panama for Operation Just Cause. The last fifteen years have been with Army Reserve Civil Affairs, with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Thailand and Bangladesh. Currently, I am a Lieutenant Colonel getting ready to retire. Graduate of Airborne, Ranger, Air Assault, Jumpmaster and about 15 other Army schools.
Class of 1981
Army, 20+ Years
First five years as an active duty Infantry officer, deployed to Panama for Operation Just Cause. The last fifteen years have been with Army Reserve Civil Affairs, with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Thailand and Bangladesh. Currently, I am a Lieutenant Colonel getting ready to retire. Graduate of Airborne, Ranger, Air Assault, Jumpmaster and about 15 other Army schools.
McDaniel Robinson III
Class of 1981
Marine Corps, 3 Years
Kept the boys flying in Helos.
Class of 1981
Marine Corps, 3 Years
Kept the boys flying in Helos.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Zion-benton High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Fighting Zee Bees.
School News
Class of '71 50th Reunion
Check out our website for our 50th Class Reunion coming Sept 2021 - limited seating!!
Read More »
Our Zion-benton High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Zion-benton High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Zion are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!