California State Military Museum Foundation
The California State Military Museum
A United State Army Museum Activity
Preserving California's Military Heritage
A Personal Tribute of One's Military Service
A Permanent Remembrance
Military Heritage Gallery
 
W
 
WARE, Ezell, Jr.
Brigadier General (CA)(Ret)
 
Vietnam veteran; Military Service includes U.S. Marine Corps, 1959-1965, U.S. Army 1966-1971, California National Guard, 1972-2003. Rising from Private to Brigadier General, holding the position of Assistant Adjutant General of the California National Guard until his retirement. A Combat Command Pilot flying helicopter gunships while in Vietnam. Army assignments: 61st Helicopter Assault Co, 2nd Infantry and 101st Airborne Divisions, Military Advisory Group (Korea), 2nd Armory Cavalry Regiment (Germany). Army National Guard 49th Military Police Brigade. U.S. Marine Corp service: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Marine Divisions (military service resulting in travel to 30 different countries). A graduate of the U.S. Air Force War College, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, plus 14 other military career schools and courses. Bachelor of Arts from California State University and a Master of Arts from Troy State University.

Decorations: Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal W/3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal W/12 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation W/ V-device and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry W/Palm, Armed Forces Expeditionary Force Medal (Korea), Humanitarian Service Medal, Order of California, Command Pilot Wings, and other State of California Military decorations and awards. Civilian Experience: San Diego Police Officer and Assistant Bank Manager. Born in Mobile, Alabama, raised in Mississippi and Oklahoma. Currently residing in Elk Grove, California.
WATTEL, Arleen Lenore
Chief Warrant Officer Five (Ret.)
 
Native Califomian , born 2 April 1939. Civilian education/occupation: B.A. Degree Political Science (1960) and M.A. Degree English (1982) University of the Pacific; occupation: English teacher 1962 - 1992 and Department Executive, English 1975 1992, Lincoln High School, Stockton, CA. Breast Cancer survivor diagnosed August 1992.
 
Enlisted as private in the United States Army Reserve, 1st Battalion, 360th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 91st Division (Tng), 18 Oct 1972 as the first non-prior service female in California. Trf 1975 to CA ARNG, 79th Support Center, Rear Area Operations, Stockton. 1976 trf to Office of The Adjutant General (OTAG), Sacramento. Received Direct Appointment to WO 1 19 Jan 1977, as the first M-Day, non-prior service female Warrant Officer in CA and the nation. Assignments: Enlisted Personnel Management System and Officer Personnel Management System. 27 Dee 1982, trf to 1-184th Infantry (Mechanized) Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 40th Infantry Division (M), Modesto, CA, to become the first female officer attached to an infantry battalion within the National Guard structure and within the United States Army. Remaining there for nearly 11 years, she realized her dream of being a field soldier and became the S-1, the position she held when the battalion was federalized for the Los Angeles Riots 30 April - 15 May 1992. Chief Wattel has the distinction of being the first female warrant officer to have served in an infantry unit within the military structure of the United States. Trf July 1993 to Det 7 STARC, California Military Academy (CMA) at CSLO, having worked there in the summers since 1976. Trf to OTAG November 1994 to the Office of the Chief of Staff CAARNG.
 
Attended Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course (WOSSC), Fort Rucker, AL, May 1997, and pinned as Chief Warrant Officer Five on 8 August 1997 with DOR 28 May 1997, becoming the first female CW5 in the CA ARNG and the first non-prior service M-Day CW5 in the nation while working on federal orders from June 1993 to her retirement on 30 June 2001. Appointed 1998 as Awards Coordinator for the State and Administrative Assistant to the Commander of the CA ARNG, and finally I May 1999 as the first Chief of Protocol for the California National Guard while concurrently holding the position of Command Chief Warrant Officer for the California National Guard from January 2001 to retirement, again being the first female CW5 in the United States to do so. Additionally in 1999, she was the first female CW5 in the nation to receive federal extension to age 62.

Overseas tours of duty: The Republic of Korea (Operation Team Spirit) 1986 and Germany (EMCE) 1995.
 
Awards and Decorations: Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd). Army Commendation Medal (2nd). Army Achievement Medal (2nd). Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (7th). National Defense Service Medal (2nd). Armed Forces Reserve Medal (2nd). Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (2nd). Order of California, California Medal of Merit (2nd), California Commendation Medal (2nd), California Good Conduct Medal (2nd), California Service Medal (3rd), California State Service Ribbon (2nd), California Drill Attendance Ribbon (25th), California State Military Reserve Achievement Medal and California State Military Reserve History Medal. CW5 Wattel has the distinction of being the first female officer to receive the Order of California while on federal active duty.
CW5 Wattel retired on 30 June 2001 and resides in Lodi, CA with her husband Colonel (Ret.) James J. Huber.

WELLS, Hurshel V.
Sergeant, California Army National Guard

A former docent at the California Military Museum was honored with other members of his unit, the 270th Military Police Company, California National Guard at a Welcome Home ceremony on the South steps of the state Capital in May 2004. Sergeant Hurshel V. Wells who joined the National Guard while still a student at Del Campo High School had volunteered at the Military Museum since June 1996 while a member of the AFJROTC cadets corps at his school.

WILLIAMS, David M.
First Sergeant, U.S Army, Retired

A Korean and Vietnam War Veteran. Enlisted in the Army from San Leandro, California in 1949; took basic training at Fort Ord, CA and was assigned to Okinawa; went to Korea with the 29th Infantry. The 29th Infantry Regt; was engaged in heavy fighting in the Pusan Parameter furnishing elements to the 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions. Awarded the combat infantry badge and the Purple Heart Medal. Returned to Fort Ord CA in 1951; assigned to Germany in 1953. Returned to Fort Ord CA in 1956. Reassigned to Germany in 1959. He served in Vietnam with the 42nd Ranger Battalion 1964 and 1965 and was awarded the 2nd combat infantry badge and two Bronze star Medals. His last over seas assignment was in Bamberg Germany. He returned to Fort Ord CA and retired in December 1969. First Sergeant Williams Resides in Stockton California.

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