Murrieta Chamber Holds Annual Awards Celebration

Local businesses, public safety personnel and citizens were recognized when the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce held its annual Awards Celebration July 20 at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula.

The Chamber supplied this list of award winners in their respective category:

Small Business of the Year – The Valley Business Journal

Medium Business of the Year – Commerce Bank of Temecula Valley

Large Business of the Year – Abbott Vascular

Citizen of the Year – Raj Narayanan

Non-Profit/Service Organization of the Year – Assistance League of Temecula Valley

Chamber Member of the Year – Stephanie Pisarek-Aroma’s Coffee & Café

Volunteer of the Year – Nicole Albrecht

Entrepreneur of the Year (Tie) – Patrick Moody-Dogtopia, Dione Mosier-Coworking Connection

Police Officer of the Year – Ontario Williams, Murrieta Police Department

Firefighter/Paramedic of the Year – Rob Godinho, Murrieta Fire Department

Chairman’s Choice Award – Luanne Jobgen

Ambassador of the Year – Monica Atherton

The following member of the Chamber's Board of Directors who is terming out was also recognized:

Donald Reyes – CLB Local Media

The event was USO-themed. Below are the bios of World War II Veterans also recognized at the awards dinner:

Dr. Ray “Speedy” Biel

Ray Biel Enlisted in the Army Air Corp, Aviator Cadet Program 1942. Graduating April 1943 2nd. LT.  B-17 Bomber Pilot.  June 1944 assigned as B-29 co-pilot. June of 1945 assigned to XX (20Th) Air Force Pacific Theater; 509 Composite Group.

"Dr Ray 'Speedy' Biel/co-pilot /B-29 FULL HOUSE. August 6 1945 Flew Mission over Hiroshima Japan, part of a 7 aircraft flight to drop the first Atomic Bomb designated Little Boy.  August 9 1945, flew Mission over Nagasaki Japan dropping the second bomb called Fat Boy. Thus greatly helping to end the War in the Pacific.

Discharged as 2nd.  LT. 1945. Graduated from USC Dental School and practiced in Bellflower California for 38 years. In 1950 founded the Dutch Reform Church. He now lives at The Artesia Christian Home, Artesia California.

William Dembrowski enlisted in Buffalo New York in 1940 and served until his Honorable discharge in 1967, totaling 27 years of service to our country.

His first assignment was Washington Navy Yard on a security detail this is where he actually met President Roosevelt while the President was touring the Navy yard.

The 1st. Marine Division was stationed in the Pacific Theater during WW II. William saw action in the major campaigns most notably the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Battle of Peleliu and the Battle of Okinawa. He sustained wounds fighting on Guadalcanal but after his hospital stay was back fighting on the front lines in such places as: New Britain, Cape Gloucester, New Guinea.

William first became a Horse Marine,  growing up on a farm he knew both ends of a horse and so was picked to head a squad of Marines and horses to protect supply dumps. He comments often on the fact that staying alive was the main thing the Marines thought of. He quotes “the japs were dying for their Emperor; the Marines were dying to get home...."

William retired as a 1st SGT E-8. He moved to Lake Elsinore upon discharge from Camp Pendleton and bought a delivery truck then worked another 10 years. He now lives in Wildomar in an assisted living home.

Tom McGraham

Enlisted after Pearl Harbor 1941, Corporal United States Marine Corp. Great Lakes Chicago ILL. After basic training Parris island S.C. Corporal Tom McGraham was shipped off to Cuba and Puerto Rico for training and then eventually on to the Pacific. When the assault on Guadalcanal took place Corporal McGraham was in the first landing wave. After ten days seven men from his team were left. His Major came to him in his fox hole and said you're a fine Marine I'm promoting you to LT. only two days later he was wounded by shell fire and sent to the USA for 5 months of recovery, then on to selling war bonds. His story starts here and only gets better. He wrote a book called "The Road to Iwo Jima" which is available on Amazon; he won the silver medal from the Military Writers Society.  4th division US Marines. 

Juan Pantoja

Born in Brawley, CA, November 25, 1921 and raised in Orange County, where he graduated from the Hunting ton Beach Elementary School District.  He attended high school but was forced to terminate his education due to economic necessity.  He worked in farming until his military service began on September 17, 1942 in the Army.  He began as a private and his military destination was the Asiatic Pacific Theater.  He was promote to the rank of sergeant in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, and finished hi active service in the Japanese mainland.  His decorations and citations include medals for Good Conduct, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star Medal.  He also became medically skilled in supervising surgical preparations of patients and surgical rooms.  It is small.

Louis D. Bombardier

Entered the Navy in June 1942 at an "Avenge Pearl Harbor"ceremony in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Just one week after graduating from high school. He entered in as an Aviation Machinist Mate. 

Citations:

ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL

Criteria: The APCM is awarded for 30 days of service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.  

Established: November 6, 1942  

EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL

Criteria: Awarded for 30 days of service in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.

Established: November 6, 1942

NAVY/USMC COMMENDATION MEDAL

Criteria: Awarded for heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service after December 6, 1941.

Established: January 11, 1944

CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, NAVY

Criteria: Awarded for service in operations in China between July 7, 1937 and September 7, 1939 or between September 2, 1945 and April 1, 1957.

NAVY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL      

Criteria: The NGCM is awarded to recognize 4 years of continued, active duty, enlisted service at above average conduct and proficiency.

Established: April 26, 1869

WWII VICTORY MEDAL

Criteria: Awarded for active duty service at any time between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946.

Established: July 6, 1945

Criteria: Awarded for 30 days of service in one of the occupied territories after World War II between May 9, 1945 and April 27, 1952 or in Berlin from May 9, 1945 to October 2, 1990.

Established: January 22, 1947

He retired as a Chief Petty Officer on August 16,1967 after serving his country during  WWII, Korea and two tours of Vietnam for a total of 23 years.