As Americans celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and family festivities, many men and women in uniform spend the holiday separated from their loved ones. When they return home, many bring a perspective few will ever know.
Walnut Creek City Lifestyle spoke to four local veterans about what Independence Day means to them.
Kyle Wells
When Kyle Wells was deployed in Afghanistan, Independence Day was celebrated with camaraderie and pride, despite being far from home. Kyle is in his 20th year in the military and now serves as a Pararescue Specialist in the Air National Guard, having completed five tours of duty in Afghanistan.
Pararescue Specialists have a significant and very stressful job: rescuing injured soldiers from the battlefield. “When we’re going out on a mission, we’re going to save someone’s life,” he says. “Anytime you can successfully accomplish that, it’s a huge reward.”
The joy of making it back safely, especially on a day like the 4th of July, was worth celebrating.
“It’s fun, and we would definitely go as big as we could with our limited resources,” says Kyle, who is one of the owners of Luna Sea Lounge in Walnut Creek.
But being at war also gave the holiday new gravity.
“It’s not something a lot of people get to experience, and it’s a sobering reminder of all the sacrifices a lot of young men and women have made over the years for our country," says Kyle.
Raul Mendez
As an Air Force pilot in the late 1970s and early 1980s, July 4th often passed high above the Pacific Ocean.
“Sometimes you are out there for 15-18 hours, so sometimes you leave on (July 3rd), and by the time you get there, it’s the fifth,” he said. “We were all very proud to be American, but didn’t really get to celebrate much.”
Raul flew all over during his service, often from California to Hawaii, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Fiji, and even Antarctica. “We didn’t get off the airplane,” Raul said of flying supplies to the South Pole. “We kept the engines running. You really didn’t want to get stuck down there.”
After retiring from the Air Force, Raul worked as a commercial pilot for Pan Am Airlines and now runs Avida Home Care, a company he founded based in Lafayette.
These days, Raul celebrates the 4th of July by barbecuing with friends and fellow veterans, feeling proud to see the American flag, and watching the fireworks on Independence Day.
“I’m very grateful for where I come from, what I represent, and what my country represents,” he said.
Gary and Luke Luchini
For this father-son duo, military service isn’t just part of their past; it’s a shared family legacy that has shaped their lives and deepened their appreciation for sacrifice and patriotism.
Gary joined the U.S. Navy fresh out of high school in Oakland in 1961. He served aboard the USS Hancock, an aircraft carrier stationed in Alameda. The USS Hancock had seen its own share of war, having been struck by a kamikaze attack during WWII. The ship’s history piqued Gary’s interest in military history.
“I got interested in all branches (of the military), but I started out as a Naval historian,” he said.
Gary left the service in 1964, the same year the U.S. sent thousands of troops to Vietnam.
“My timing was good in that regard,” he said.
After his service, Gary went to college, studied diesel mechanics, and oversaw the vehicle fleet in Berkeley for 30 years.
For Gary, the Fourth of July isn’t just about fireworks and celebration. “It’s more about reflection,” he said. “I feel very reverent for all the young people who were killed in wars.”
Military service runs deep in the Luchini family. Two of Gary's uncles, Harold Moyer and William Wallace Moyer, served in the military, and his mother, Genevieve Wiemers, was a nurse. Gary is also proud that his two sons, Gregory and Luke, joined military service. Gregory served in the Marines while Luke enlisted in the Navy in 2006.
“You do a lot of growing up in the service. It really gives a lot of people a sense of purpose,” said Gary.
Luke was first stationed at Pearl Harbor. For Luke, walking beside survivors of the 1941 attack during commemorations was unforgettable.
“I got to walk down with some of the survivors and watch them touch their friends’ names on the memorial,” he said. “I’ll never forget that.”
Luke went on to serve in Iraq as part of a Navy provisional detainee battalion at Camp Bucca, once the world’s largest internment facility. “It was a unique experience,” he said, recalling his time working in maximum security, where some high-profile detainees were held.
Now, as the Regional Training Coordinator for Inter-Con Security, Luke credits the military for preparing him for his career.
“I got to see habits from good leaders, and I also got to see bad habits,” he said. He often reminds himself on challenging days: “Hey, I made it through Iraq.”
Like his father, Luke’s perspective on the 4th of July has deepened. “Before I served, I just enjoyed the festivities and time off,” he said. “Now, I take a moment to thank those and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.”