DETACHMENT ELECTED OFFICERS

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April 22, 1943 - May 7, 2018 

Chuck was born April 22, 1943 in Elko, NV and was the third of five children. At age of 17 he joined the Marine Corps where he completed 3 voluntary tours in Vietnam. During that time he earned his GED, became a linguist in Vietnamese; a skilled mechanic and a helicopter gunner. He also gained a sense of pride in his country and himself which he carried throughout the rest of his life. After finishing his time in the Marine Corps he met the love of his life and he proposed just three weeks later. Just shy of four months after their chance meeting the two were married. This October 23rd the two would have celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary. The two had three children together, Christopher and twins Sara and Kate. While raising their children Chuck tried to instill in them a sense of loyalty and compassion as well as an understanding that people should always strive to pass their good fortunes along to others in the hopes of making the world a better place. He also believed that life is an adventure that is best lived through real life experiences. After retirement Chuck traveled with his wife, Nancy, for a decade seeing and experiencing all that they could and sharing those adventures with their children whenever possible. As the “Tin Can Travelers”, as they affectionately called themselves, they lived out their lifelong dream of being full-timers, in their motorhome they took the opportunity to meet new friends, see new places, and experience every adventure life had to offer. After 10 years of travel, Chuck and Nancy decided to settle back down and moved to Elk Grove where he was an active member in the community volunteering with the local blood center, food bank and helping with community organizations such as the Mustard Seed School. Chuck was also an active member in the Elk Grove Detachment 1238, Marine Corps League.

March 8, 1923 - February 10,2018 

Bill left this earth peacefully on February 10, 2018. He leaves behind his wife Nancy, daughter Jerri Classen (Dan Classen), stepsons Rick and Dan Maxfield and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

This will be very amateurish because I have never done anything like it before. As all my friends know I was born March 8, 1923. I have a good life even after surviving thirty three surgeries, some minor, some major but I survived them all. My mother, whom I adored all my life, died when she was ninety two, my sister and brother passed in their eighties. No need to go into my history but will say my mother could not support we three properly, so we went to the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Children’s Home in Knightstown, Indiana in 1934, the height of the Depression. I graduated from the high school there in 1941. My brother, Raymond and I joined the Marine Corps July 28, 1942, we were in a Service and Supply outfit, did duty at New Caledonia, Guadalcanal and Okinawa. We were best of friends in civilian life but could not sleep in the same tent in the Marines. He went home shortly after the war but I had to stay until November of 1945, thirty-five months overseas for me. Raymond worked at a GM plant in Anderson, Indiana thirty years. I became a printer and worked thirty years at the Sacramento Bee, 1960-1990. I am still in touch with several very good friends from the Bee as well as in the Marine Corps League. These friends mean so much to me and although I don’t see all of them often we keep in touch and share some laughs as we did years ago. My newer good friends keep in touch by having brunch/breakfast now and then. I would name some of them, but I know I would forget some so will not write any on this. They all know who they are because I tell them I love them and vice versa when we do meet. I am happy to say I have more friends, (very good friends) now than any other time in my life and I want them to know, as I have told each one, that I love everyone of them very much. I think they know I would do anything I could for any of them if need be. I have had a very good life and am ready to go with my mom whenever it is my time, sometimes, I wish it was soon. But then I think of the fun I will miss by not being with you people any more. So when you get word I have left this world, please don’t fret or be unhappy because I will be happily waiting for all of you so we can get our fun going again!  Billy was an active member in the Elk Grove Detachment 1238, Marine Corps League. 

August 16, 1944 - August 9, 2019

"Sometimes people come into your life for a moment, a day, or a lifetime. It matters not the time they spent with you but how they impacted your life in that time." Bruce A. Kaspari passed on August 9, 2019, surrounded by family and loved ones and is now with his loving wife Jan in Heaven. Bruce was born in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, in 1944 and his family later moved to Sacramento. Preceded in death by parents Jay and Shirley Kaspari; survived by brother Greg Kaspari, son Todd (Pamela) Kaspari, stepdaughter Tammy Morgan, grandchildren Kyle (Janey), Avery, Brooke (Matthew), and Lauren, as well as great grandchildren Brooks, Barrett, and Aubrey. Bruce was truly a remarkable man, and while there are far too many accomplishments to list, here are a few: Bruce served his country in Vietnam as a Marine Corps M60 gun team leader from 1966 to 1968. He was an accomplished Executive Administrator for the State of California Department of Justice for over 30 years, having served on numerous Boards of Directors for National Child Support programs. He was founding member of the Elk Grove Marine Corps League Detachment #1238. Bruce was a loving and proud Brother, Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather, and perhaps most importantly, a person who touched many lives with his generosity and true concern for others. Both Bruce and Jan will be interred together in a memorial service to be held Friday, October 11, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road in Dixon, CA. There will be a gathering after the service at Elk Grove Park in the Pavilion Building from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Elk Grove Marine Corps League Detachment #1238. 

October 14, 1936 -  April 26, 2020

Henry Dominic Pezzetti, or Hank to his friends, passed away peacefully Sunday, April 26, 2020. He was born in Philadelphia October 14, 1936 to Dominic and Elizabeth (Fiscarelli) and joined later by siblings Dominick and Anita. He proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 to 1958. He married the love of his life, Anne Custis Byrd in 1957 and was with her until her passing in 2004. Hank was a passionate Italian with a home centered around the kitchen, showing his love for his family through food. A loyal Marine, he was an active member of the Marine Corps League's Elk Grove detachment and also a proud Devil Dog. He shared his passions (including his beloved Mooney N9494V) of aviation and cars with his son, Tom. His daughter Toni inherited his love of their Italian culture and the two traveled to Italy many times, visiting his grandparents' region of Abruzzo. Hank passed on his carpentry skills, which he had learned from his father, to both of his children. He began his life-long career in aircraft maintenance and operation in New York and moved to California in 1963 to work on United's first DC-8s. He also worked for Seaboard World Airlines, Emery Worldwide, Grimes Aerospace and Honeywell Aviation, but took some time off from aviation to manage the family seafood business, Byrd's Inc., in Crisfield, MD from 1975 to 1989. Hank has joined his bride in heaven, where they're drinking good wine and catching up. He's remembered by his siblings, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be buried at a future date at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon.