Jesse Luna

Service #:    1974583

United States Marine Corps

In Service Dates:

From June 1, 1961 to May 27, 1965

Boot Camp: Platoon 234 MCRD San Diego, California

Highest Rank:   Cpl. (E-4)

Schools:

Aviation Schools,Memphis, TN

Aviation Machinist's Mate (Jet Courses Class "A")

C130 Jet Engine Fundamentals & T56 Engine Classes,MCAS El Toro Santa Ana, CA

MOS:  6412 A/C Jet Engine Mechanic

Awards:

Good Conduct Medal - 1st Award

Duty Stations:

Naval Aviation Training Center, Millington, TN

VMGR 352 @ MCAS El Toro Santa Ana, CA

MAG 11 - Atsugi, Japan

MAG 15 - MCAS El Toro

Civilian Schools and accomplishments.

Federal Aviation Administration: Airframe & Powerplant License

Cerritos Community College, Norwalk, CA: AA Degree in Industrial Technology

National University, San Diego, CA: Attended courses towards a BS Degree in Industrial Engineering.

I got out of the Marine Corps in 1965.  I worked and attended school in the Long Beach area for approximately 5 years.

I quit my job at McDonnel-Douglas Aircraft in 1970 and went to Vietnam as a civilian contractor.  I was based in Vung Tau, where we had an engine shop & test cells for the various helicopter engines in the US Army inventory.  I was part of a 6 man team that used to travel on short assignments to Phu Loi, Da Nang, Quang Tri, Dong Ha, Hue & Phu Bai.

We eventually closed the air Vung Tau Air Base down and were relocated to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. I finished my last contract & returned to California in July, 1972.

Two weeks later, I got a contract with Northrop Aircraft, working with the Imperial Iranian Air Force in Tehran, Iran.  Our job was to set up an overhaul, repair & test depot for all of the jet & helicopter engines in the IIAF inventory.  I worked with them for 4 1/2 years & left to join Solar Turbines Inc., an industrial turbine manufacturer, who makes small to medium sized gas turbines for use in the Gas & Oil Industry as well as for Power Generation.  I joined Solar in January, 1977 and am still with them 28 years later.  I have been on foreign assignments in Iran, Greece & Mexico.

I travel from San Diego to temporary job assignments in the Far East, Middle East, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, all of Alaska, Mexico & all of South America doing in-field repairs & overhauls at our overseas facilities and at customer sites.

I met and married my wife, Farideh, in Tehran in 1973.  We have two sons, aged 30 & 22.

The oldest, Bob, just got married on Oct. 16, 2004.  The youngest one, Rastin is still single & free.