Trustee Ernie Tyhurst of the Ripon Unified School District was recognized for his service to his country.

He was among the nine honored in celebration of Veterans Day at the Nov. 5 monthly session in the Council Chambers.

Tyhurst, who is stepping down from his elected post after serving three terms – he was honored for that, as well – was joined by his son, Ken Tyhurst, a seventh-grade teacher at Colony Oak Elementary School, along with school district CFO Frank Jerome, Ripon High teacher Gary Dias (Business / Computers), RHS teacher Alicia Vasche (English), RHS custodian Jeff Hessler, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp Sgt. Robert Randall, JROTC Col. David Schmith, and RUSD maintenance worker Larry Moreno.

Ernie Tyhurst’s served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam from 1966 through 1977. One of his highlights was meeting the legendary Mr. Inside and 1945 Heisman Trophy winner Doc Blanchard from West Point. “We talked 20 minutes about football,” he recalled.

Ken Tyhurst was also an airman while Jerome served in the Navy.

Dias and Hessler were on aircraft carriers the USS Carl Vinson and USS Enterprise, respectively – Hessler, incidentally, was there during the Evacuation and Fall of Saigon in 1975.

Vasche served in the Army’s 101st Airborne in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

Moreno, who also served in the Army, is from Manteca.

Randall spent nine months in Bosnia and Schmith was a pilot in the Army.

RUSD Superintendent Ziggy Robeson proudly acknowledged each for their accomplishments.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.