Joe Getherall
"The True Meaning of Memorial Day"
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Silver Award
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Three Purple Hearts
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Combat Action Ribbon
Please join us for our General Meeting
Thursday, May 17th, 2012
Marie Callender's - 1560 Albatross Rd. - City of Industry
6:30 p.m. Social 
7:00 p.m. Dinner
$25.00 per person
Despite his rugged upbringing in South Boston, Joe went on to lead a successful and honorable life. We are proud of all our military men and women and are especially honored to be able to claim Joe Getherall as one of our own.
Joe Getherall grew up in the rough Housing Projects of South Boston. He dropped out of school after the 9th grade at the age 15. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on January 21, 1964 at age 17. After Boot Camp, he went through intense military training and eventually sent to Chu Lai, Vietnam. On December 22, 1966 during “Operation Chinook”, he was wounded twice during a 4-5 hour battle. After rehabilitation in Okinawa, he finagled his way back to Vietnam and was assigned as a Team Leader to his company. After 3 months with the company & numerous patrols behind enemy lines gathering information on enemy strength and activity, it was discovered that he was not supposed to be in a combat zone for two more years. He was immediately transferred back to Okinawa and reassigned.
During this stay in Okinawa, he met his lovely wife Chieko who was a former primary school teacher. He was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps on November 30, 1967 and returned to Los Angeles. In 1968 Joe joined the Los Angeles Police Department with only a 9th grade education and a GED he received in the Marine Corps. During his more than 28 years with LAPD, he attended college while working full time. He received his A.A. Degree from Los Angeles City College in 1972 in Asian Studies, a B.S. Degree (Cum Laude) from the University of Southern California in 1975 and also a Masters Degree from the University of Southern California in 1977.
Joe and Chieko have 3 adult children, 2 girls and one boy. All were athletes and went to college on scholarships. His oldest daughter, Anna, is a teacher; His daughter, Tina, and son, Joey are both LAPD officers.
Other accolades: Joe was the Head Coach of the Gold Medal Women’s Softball team at the U.S. Olympics in 1987. He was selected to be the U.S. National Head Coach & won the World Championship in Shanghai, China in 1988. He was an advisor to the Japan National team from 1989-1997. He has written a book on Softball. In 2000 at age 53 he won a bodybuilding championship.
Please attend to find out the rest of Joe's interesting story....
PLEASE RSVP TO DOROTHY POLLOCK
DOROTHYPOLLOCK@ROADRUNNER.COM
(626) 333-5110
