Military Service

Chief Petty Officer Joshua Swanton (Navy Reserve) - After High School Josh enlisted in the Navy for 5 years and was stationed in Norfolk, VA.  He obtained a bachelor degree in computer engineering from UW Madison and is an active member of the Navy Reserves.  Josh Swanton is currently stationed in Kuwait.

 

 

 Josh after his promotion to Chief Petty Officer

 

Major Matthew Kemkes (US Army) - Matt Kemkes has been an active member of the US Army since graduating from Appleton East in 1993.   Matt is assigned to the 2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany. He is currently deployed to Iraq, planning to return to the States in summer 2008.

 

  Near Green Bay Packer Blvd in Baghdad - October 2007

 

Crew Chief Aaron Pontow (US Air Force/Wisconsin Air National Guard) - Aaron joined the Air Force a few years after high school. He served four years active duty as a B1-bomber Crew Chief at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho. After finishing college Aaron and his wife Melissa moved back to Wisconsin, where he joined the Wisconsin Air National Guard (Crew Chief KC-135) for six more years part time. Aaron worked for Air Wisconsin Airlines for a couple of years as an instructor, but left the airline industry shortly after 9-11.  Aaron was deployed to the Middle East for several months when Operation Iraqi Freedom first kicked off and was also activated for homeland security upon his return for several more months.  Aaron currently resides in the Fox Valley.