COL William Wenger served more than 42 years in the U.S. Army as an active duty, Army Reserve and California National Guard as an Infantry, Airborne Ranger. His last command assignment was as Commander of the California Army National Guard. He commanded Battalion Task Forces during the Los Angeles Riots and the Northridge Earthquake mobilizations.

Following military retirement in 2000, and because of the attack on 9/11 of our nation, he volunteered to return to active duty for four combat tours, two in Iraq and two in Afghanistan.

In civilian life he is a former real estate executive, college instructor and professional writer. He currently serves as a U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador for California, the Executive Vice President of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army, and the Area Chairman for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve for the five counties of the Greater Los Angeles Area.

He is a life member of the 75 th Ranger Regiment Association and of the U.S. Army Ranger Association for which he serves as the Commander of the Southwest Region. He is also a life member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars. COL Wenger is a Distinguished Eagle Scout, and he has been knighted seven times by foreign governments.

Also attending is Joey Gatton. Joey Gatton is a U.S. Army Ranger veteran and served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Fire Team Leader with the 82nd Airborne Division. He currently is the Deputy Southwest Regional Commander of the US Army Ranger Association (USARA).

He is a Military & Veterans Operations Advisor for the Veterans Freedom Corps International and the Executive Director of the Association for Better Living and Education, Western US, where he coordinates programs dedicated to social betterment in the fields of literacy, drug education & rehabilitation, criminal reform and morality.

Also joining them will be Sgt. Major Ramon Ramirez who has been nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor.