Vets honored at property disposal HQ
 
  By Jeff Landenberger
  Civil servants, military members and federal contract support personnel at the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek, Michigan, observed Veterans Day with a Nov. 9 presentation and address from Joseph Calvaruso, interim president of nearby Albion College. The audience was treated to the stories of two notable veterans who served their country during WWII and continued serving after as part of the federal government. DLA Disposition Service Director Mike Cannon gives the opening remarks for the Veterans Day program at his command's headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan.




Mike Cannon stands with his hands lifted with a flag behind him
        Director Mike Cannon
            DLA Disposition Service Director Mike Cannon gives the opening remarks for the Veterans Day program at his command's headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan.

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                    VIRIN: 221109-D-YU183-004 Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon opened the program by welcoming the audience and reflecting on the contributions of one of the historic building’s namesakes, former U.S. Senator Dan Inouye. Cannon briefly outlined the senator’s life. While attending high school in his native Hawaii, he volunteered with the Red Cross and wanted to become a surgeon. Cannon said that on Dec 7th, 1941, Inouye’s life path changed when he witnessed the Japanese attack and reported to a Red Cross aid station to help treat the wounded from the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. File photo of Dan Inouye when he was a young Army officer serving in Europe during WWII.




B&W photo of Dan Inouye in an Army uniform with a single bar as his ranking device.
        Young Senator Inouye
            File photo of Dan Inouye when he was a young Army officer serving in Europe during WWII.

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                    VIRIN: 221010-D-YU183-003 Cannon went into detail on how the future senator had to fight to join the Army. Once in, he proved his valor and was given a battlefield promotion. Later, when he was severely injured, that injury sent him to Battle Creek for recovery at what was then known as the Percy Jones Army Hospital. “While in Battle Creek, he became friends with Bob Dole and Phil Hart,” Cannon said. “All three of these men would go on and serve in Congress after the war. Inouye was the first Japanese-American to serve in Congress, and, as President pro tempore of the United States Senate from 2010 to 2012, he was third in the line of succession to the presidency.” Cannon said it’s hard to not think about history when you work in one of Battle Creek’s primary landmarks. He then introduced Joseph Calvaruso, a longtime member of the Albion community and a graduate of the college he where he currently serves as interim president. Cannon said that after a lengthy career in banking, Calvaruso served for 12 years as Executive Director for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation in Grand Rapids. Joseph Calvaruso, interim president of Albion College address the employees of the Hart-Dole-Inouye federal center at this year's Veterans Day event.




Photo of a man at a podium. he has white hair and is in a dark suite.
        Joseph Calvaruso
            Joseph Calvaruso, interim president of Albion College address the employees of the Hart-Dole-Inouye federal center at this year's Veterans Day event.

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                    VIRIN: 221109-D-YU183-013 After thanking Cannon and the audience for the warm welcome, Calvaruso said it touched his heart to take part in the event. He shared that of the three people the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center is named after, he personally knew and worked with Senators Hart and Dole. He spoke of a young attorney who was living in Grand Rapids who also learned the news and was affected by the attack on Pearl Harbor. “He went home to his family that night and said ‘I am going to enlist. I am going to go and serve my country,’” Calvaruso said, referring to future President Gerald Ford’s declaration to his family. WWII photo of Gerald Ford in his Naval uniform.




Black and Whilte photo of Gerald Ford during WWII
        Gerald Ford
            WWII photo of Gerald Ford in his Naval uniform.

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                    VIRIN: 221010-D-YU183-002 By 1943, Ford was assistant navigation officer aboard the carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26). Ford was part of the ship’s crew during the critical Battle of Leyte Gulf. Ford had an additional brush with death when USS Monterey and the task force it was a part of had to survive a typhoon. After spending a dozen years becoming intimately familiar with the history and legacy of President Ford, Calvaruso said he knows how important military service was to the 38th president. The top ship is the USS Monterey (CVL-26) the ship that Gerald Ford served on in WWII. The ship in color is the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) that was named after the 38th President.




A black and white photo of a WWII carrier and a color photo of the USS Gerald R Ford carrier for comparison.
        Two Carriers
            The top ship is the USS Monterey (CVL-26) the ship that Gerald Ford served on in WWII. The ship in color is the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) that was named after the 38th President.

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                    VIRIN: 221110-D-YU183-001 Veterans Day, Calvaruso said, is the day we honor that service. It is the nation’s opportunity to thank the men and women who not only have gone to war, but stand ready to defend our nation and our families. Calvaruso also thanked employees of the federal center and all of DLA for doing what they do to help defend the nation and make warfighter support first.