Laona High School Alumni
Laona, Wisconsin (WI)
Recent Members
| Dorothy Newman Dorothy Webb | 1977 |
| Ed Mentz | 1976 |
| Fred Grey | 2021 |
| Jane Sally Jane Laurence | 1984 |
| Pamela Johnvin | 1976 |
| Sharon Spencer | 1960 |
| Steve Martin | 1986 |
| Tony Hess | 1974 |
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 Laona High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Fighting Kellys lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
benjamin baker
Class of 1992
Marine Corps, 17 Years
Benjamin Baker is a Gunnery sergent. He served In Iraq and is currently on a ship going to Afganastan.He will retire from the Marines in 5 years. He has 2 children attending Laona school. Daughter Elycia 7th grade and Bejamin Baker 2nd grade.
Class of 1992
Marine Corps, 17 Years
Benjamin Baker is a Gunnery sergent. He served In Iraq and is currently on a ship going to Afganastan.He will retire from the Marines in 5 years. He has 2 children attending Laona school. Daughter Elycia 7th grade and Bejamin Baker 2nd grade.
David Hoover
Class of 1967
Army, 2 Years
Served as a infantryman in the !st Cavalry Division in Viet Nam .Years of service were 1969-1971.
Class of 1967
Army, 2 Years
Served as a infantryman in the !st Cavalry Division in Viet Nam .Years of service were 1969-1971.
Harold C. Irish
Class of 1937
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Harold C. “Izzy” Irish enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 19, 1941 and entered Aviation Cadet training January 8, 1942, receiving training at Naval Air Stations Glenview, Illinois, Corpus Christi, Texas, Pensacola, Florida and Miami, Florida. Harold received his designation as Naval Aviator #14944 on July 31, 1942, and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Advanced training in fighter aircraft was received at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.
In August of 1943, Harold was assigned to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, as an Operational Training Instructor in fighter aircraft including F3F, F4F, and F4U type aircraft.
After brief assignments at Naval Air Stations San Diego, California and El Centro, California, Harold was attached to Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-224. The squadron was based at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California in July 1943, prior to deployment to the Pacific Theatre in August of 1943.
During this 13 month combat tour, the squadron was based in several locations through out the Pacific. At the rank of captain, Harold served division leader with VM- 224 for the entire period with the exception of a brief assignment with VMF-441. The squadron flew the F4U Corsair which was a new aircraft at the time and many design modifications were made to the aircraft based on combat experiences of VMF-224 and other corsair squadrons of that period. During this period, Harold received the Air Medal for “Meritorious Acts” while participating in flight operations.
In September of 1944, Harold returned to the states and was assigned as a training instructor with the Marine Fighter Operational Training Unit based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.
Harold was detached from active duty in November of 1945, and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve on June 19, 1956, having attained the rank of major.
Class of 1937
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Harold C. “Izzy” Irish enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 19, 1941 and entered Aviation Cadet training January 8, 1942, receiving training at Naval Air Stations Glenview, Illinois, Corpus Christi, Texas, Pensacola, Florida and Miami, Florida. Harold received his designation as Naval Aviator #14944 on July 31, 1942, and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Advanced training in fighter aircraft was received at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.
In August of 1943, Harold was assigned to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, as an Operational Training Instructor in fighter aircraft including F3F, F4F, and F4U type aircraft.
After brief assignments at Naval Air Stations San Diego, California and El Centro, California, Harold was attached to Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-224. The squadron was based at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California in July 1943, prior to deployment to the Pacific Theatre in August of 1943.
During this 13 month combat tour, the squadron was based in several locations through out the Pacific. At the rank of captain, Harold served division leader with VM- 224 for the entire period with the exception of a brief assignment with VMF-441. The squadron flew the F4U Corsair which was a new aircraft at the time and many design modifications were made to the aircraft based on combat experiences of VMF-224 and other corsair squadrons of that period. During this period, Harold received the Air Medal for “Meritorious Acts” while participating in flight operations.
In September of 1944, Harold returned to the states and was assigned as a training instructor with the Marine Fighter Operational Training Unit based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.
Harold was detached from active duty in November of 1945, and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve on June 19, 1956, having attained the rank of major.
James Conley, Sr.
Class of 1962
Navy, 6 Years
Staff, Great Lakes, IL
COMAEWINGLANT, Argentia, Newfoundland
USS Howard W. Gilmore
CINCLANTFLT, Norfolk, VA
Class of 1962
Navy, 6 Years
Staff, Great Lakes, IL
COMAEWINGLANT, Argentia, Newfoundland
USS Howard W. Gilmore
CINCLANTFLT, Norfolk, VA
Kelly Egan
Class of 1997
Army, 4 Years
Social. Korean linguist, US Intelligence Honolulu,HI
Class of 1997
Army, 4 Years
Social. Korean linguist, US Intelligence Honolulu,HI
Mark Neilitz
Class of 1996
National Guard, 8 Years
Deployed to Iraq, Nicaragua, and the Marshall Islands.
Class of 1996
National Guard, 8 Years
Deployed to Iraq, Nicaragua, and the Marshall Islands.
Taylor Britten
Class of 2001
Air Force, 6 Years
Visual Imagery and Instrusion Detection Systems Craftsman stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy and F.E. Warren Force Base. Deployed in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Class of 2001
Air Force, 6 Years
Visual Imagery and Instrusion Detection Systems Craftsman stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy and F.E. Warren Force Base. Deployed in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Taylor Britten
Class of 2001
Marine Corps, 8 Years
Joined in 2009 as a Technical Controller and was stationed at MCAS Cherry Point and currently at Camp Lejeune. Completed 4 deployments and plan to retire in a little over 5 years.
Class of 2001
Marine Corps, 8 Years
Joined in 2009 as a Technical Controller and was stationed at MCAS Cherry Point and currently at Camp Lejeune. Completed 4 deployments and plan to retire in a little over 5 years.
Tim Calhoun
Class of 1976
Marine Corps, 8 Years
Enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1982 and served with the 2nd Battallion 7th Marines on Camp Pendleton, Ca. Was selected for STA Platoon (Surveillance & Target Acquisition) and trained with the scout/sniper section. Re-enlisted in 1986 and was assigned to Weapons Training battallion also on Camp Pendleton until 1990. This period consisted of being a (PMI) Primary Marksmanship Instructor. I personally trained and qualified several hundred USMC boot camp recruits the fundamentals of shooting the M16 A1 & A2 as well as the 9MM Beretta pistol. I did alot of "travelling" from 1982-86, which consisted of Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Phillippines, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska. It was basically an experience of a lifetime and one I will never forget. "Semper Fidelis".
Class of 1976
Marine Corps, 8 Years
Enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1982 and served with the 2nd Battallion 7th Marines on Camp Pendleton, Ca. Was selected for STA Platoon (Surveillance & Target Acquisition) and trained with the scout/sniper section. Re-enlisted in 1986 and was assigned to Weapons Training battallion also on Camp Pendleton until 1990. This period consisted of being a (PMI) Primary Marksmanship Instructor. I personally trained and qualified several hundred USMC boot camp recruits the fundamentals of shooting the M16 A1 & A2 as well as the 9MM Beretta pistol. I did alot of "travelling" from 1982-86, which consisted of Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Phillippines, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska. It was basically an experience of a lifetime and one I will never forget. "Semper Fidelis".
Todd Patterson
Class of 1976
Navy, 4 Years
Ship's Serviceman, SH3 on board the USS Wabash AOR-5,
Double Shellback
South China Sea - Vietnamese Boat People Rescue
Indian Ocean - Iranian Hostage Crisis
VERTREP - Vertical Replentishment, Special Weapons Handling Detail
and on, and on, and on.
Ports of Call in 13 countries / Territories
Class of 1976
Navy, 4 Years
Ship's Serviceman, SH3 on board the USS Wabash AOR-5,
Double Shellback
South China Sea - Vietnamese Boat People Rescue
Indian Ocean - Iranian Hostage Crisis
VERTREP - Vertical Replentishment, Special Weapons Handling Detail
and on, and on, and on.
Ports of Call in 13 countries / Territories
Tony Newman
Class of 1984
Army, 8 Years
82nd Airborne Division Master Parachutist....Airborne All the Way!!!!!
Class of 1984
Army, 8 Years
82nd Airborne Division Master Parachutist....Airborne All the Way!!!!!
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Laona High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Fighting Kellys.
School News
1st Annual Laona 3on3 Tourney
Come join us at the 1st annual 3on3 Tournament at Laona High School for all alumni from any school.
Regi...
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Our Laona 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 Laona High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Laona are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!