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Vietnam

Retired marine gets surprise bench

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Otis Felder, a retired U.S. Marine, was already having a pretty good Veterans Day — even before he made his daily trek to the dog park at the Land O’ Lakes Recreational Complex, off Collier Parkway.

He’d started the day by catching up with some of his fellow Marines on Facebook, and was feeling pretty good about that.

Then, when he and his basset hound, Chopper, arrived at the dog park, his day got even better.

Judy Hudson arrived early at Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex’s dog park on Veterans Day because she wanted to put up these patriotic balloons along the chain-link fence of the compound. (B.C. Manion)

Patriotic balloons bobbed from the perimeter of the chain-link fence at the compound, and there was a big surprise waiting inside.

His friends, Judy Hudson and Leslie Friedel, of Wesley Chapel, shouted out greetings to Felder.

“What’s up?” Felder asked, as he entered the dog park’s gates.

Hudson encouraged him to check out the new bench there.

As he approached it, he realized that the bench was dedicated to him.

“In honor of Otis Felder,” it says. “Thank you for 20 years of service.”

Below those words there’s an image of a flapping American flag.

“Holy mackerel,” the 84-year-old Felder said.  “I’m really impressed. Wow.

“I never expected anything like that.

“Well, who did this?” he asked.

Hudson was not forthcoming: “I guess, God,” she replied.

“It’s awesome,” said the veteran, whose 20 years in the Marine Corps included two tours of duty in Vietnam, and assignments in such places as California, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Virginia, Hawaii, North Carolina and Michigan.

Otis Felder finds out that the new bench at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex’s dog park is dedicated to him. The surprise presentation happened on Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day. Felder served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years.

Planning for the Nov. 11 surprise started a few months ago, Hudson said.

That’s when she began reaching out to see if she could persuade a company to donate a bench to honor Felder.

It took persistence, but the work paid off when Polly Products, a company based in Mulliken, Michigan, agreed to provide the bench.

Next, Tommy D’Iorio, a park site supervisor for the Pasco County parks, recreation and natural resources department, made sure his team assembled the bench for the big surprise.

They even wrapped it up, to make sure no one sat on it before Felder.

Hudson and Susan Bernardino, another one of Felder’s friends, chipped in to pay the shipping costs for the bench.

The parks department spruced up the dog park, too, in honor of Felder’s special day.

As a finishing touch, Hudson brought a chocolate sheet cake, decked out with frosting depicting an American flag.

The three friends and their dogs, enjoyed their time together — despite a light, persistent  rain.

Otis Felder, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years, tests out a bench that honors his military service. It’s in the dog park at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, which Felder visits daily.

Hudson, who has known Felder for 10 years, was pleased to pay tribute to her friend.

“It’s my honor to do it for him,” she said.

People come and go to the dog park, as they move into and out of the area — but some who have moved away still make it a point to come back to see Felder, she said.

Even some who have lost their dog continue to drop by to chat with him, she added.

“He’s become a fixture,” Hudson said.

Friedel, a user of the dog park for four years, speaks fondly of Felder.

“I love Uncle Otis. He’s great. I love his stories,” she said.

She’s happy that he was honored.

“I freaking love it,” she said. “I think that’s awesome.”

Felder, who has been married 54 years to his wife, Janet, lives in Land O’ Lakes. Their son, Otis, is an attorney in California and their son, Dallas, is an architect in Chicago. A third son, Jason, is deceased.

Besides retiring from his military career, Felder worked for 21 years in the brewery industry, before retiring and doing some additional contract work in that field. He also was a chauffeur and an armored car driver, before he finally stopped working at the age of 72.

With such a full life, he has plenty of tales to share and he often shares them with his friends at the dog park.

Hudson said Felder is particularly fond of telling people: “That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”

For her part, she thinks Felder is a special man, whose story is worth sharing.

Published November 18, 2020

Fallen officer cherished for leadership, love, and laughter

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The countless who knew Capt. Charles “Bo” Harrison, say they’re better people because of it.

And, the superlatives flow freely when people describe what he was like.

Here are just a few of those descriptions: Hero. Christian. Father. Brother. Husband. Friend. Leader. Coach. Servant. Great Officer. Integrity. Honorable..

Capt. Charles “Bo” Harrison was the highest-ranking black officer for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Harrison was gunned down on June 1, 2003 — just two weeks before he was scheduled to retire from a 31-year law enforcement career. Prior to his law enforcement career, he served in Vietnam as a U.S. Army paratrooper.
(Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

He was “a servant-leader who made a difference to every man, woman and child who came in contact with him,” said Pastor Deundrick Reed of Living Waters United Church in Dade City.

Reed served as master of ceremonies for the Bo Harrison Memorial on June 1 at the Boys and Girls Club.

The event has been held each year since Harrison’s watch ended on June 1, 2003 — the day he was killed in the line of duty.

“He walked it, he talked it, and he lived it,” Reed said. “He motivated and inspired. He sacrificed himself for others, no matter what. He was a man who was an example how we all should live our lives today.”

Harrison, then a lieutenant, had served with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office for 31 years. It was just two weeks before he was scheduled to retire when he was shot and killed while on surveillance near a nightclub on U.S. Route 301 in Lacoochee around 2 a.m.

He was 57.

According to reports, several deputies who were across the street heard a gunshot and went to investigate. They located Harrison in his patrol car suffering from a gunshot wound to the back. He was transported to Dade City Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Harrison had been shot with a high-powered rifle by a sniper who was in the nearby woods. The shot went through the trunk of the car and struck him in the back.

A 19-year-old suspect turned himself in two days later and was charged in connection with Harrison’s murder. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no parole.

Harrison, the highest-ranking black officer in county history, was posthumously promoted to captain.

He left behind a wife and three children.

Before his law enforcement career, Harrison served in the Vietnam War as a U.S. Army paratrooper.

Dozens of law enforcement officers and officials from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Dade City Police Department and the Zephyrhills Police Department attended the memorial service.

Family, friends and members of the east Pasco community also attended, “honoring the memory of a man who answered the call to serve his country and community.”

The two-hour long gathering and reception also featured some of Harrison’s favorite gospel songs from his parish, St. John’s Missionary Church, in Dade City.

Harrison was mainly recognized for his impact to the community; serving as one of Pasco’s first black deputies; and for his life growing up in Dade City, where he was a sports star for the local black high school, Mickens High School.

Hazel Wells, 70, grew up with Harrison. She graduated high school with him in 1965 and remained friends long after.

In her words, Harrison was “a heroic, outstanding, God-fearing man.”

Last month, Wells wrote a proclamation to the Dade City Commission to forever make June 1 known as Capt. Charles “Bo” Harrison Day in Dade City.

Back in 2015, Wells successfully petitioned Dade City officials and neighbors to rename 11th Street as Charles “Bo” Harrison Street.

Wells also recalled Harrison for his upbeat, positive nature and athletic prowess.

“He was just a happy person,” Wells said, “and he loved sports.”

“I can still hear (people) on the Mickens ballfield yell, ‘Run Bo’ because he would run so fast. Any kind of sport, he excelled in,” Wells said.

Another lifelong friend, Willie Broner, 69, still cherishes fond moments with Harrison.

A crowd exceeding 100 people turned out for the annual Bo Harrison Memorial on June 1 at the Boys and Girls Club, in Lacoochee.
Dozens of law enforcement officers and officials from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Dade City Police Department and the Zephyrhills Police Department were among those attending.
Many family members and friends and members of the east Pasco community also attended, “honoring the memory of a man who answered the call to serve his country and community.”
(Courtesy of Richard Riley)

Both played on the same sports teams growing up and also served together in Vietnam. While serving in the war, Broner was caught in enemy territory when Harrison risked a 20-mile trek “all by himself” to help rescue his childhood friend.

Broner went on to become a longtime educator in Pasco County and a successful basketball coach at Pasco High School, where he recorded more than 300 career victories.

“I will always remember Bo,” Broner paused, “as long as I live.”

“He will always be remembered in my heart. …I will always remember a great man; a great, great, great friend,” Broner said.

Harrison, known as “BoBo” by those closest, was also reminisced for his radiant smile, his great sense of humor, and his distinguished, boisterous laugh.

Such a laugh would often echo through the hallways of the sheriff’s office, said Pasco Sheriff’s Det. Johnny Windsor, who worked under the fallen deputy early in his career.

“If you knew Bo,” Windsor said, smiling, “you knew the laugh that he had. …You always knew when Bo was in the building.”

Windsor, himself now set to retire after a 30-year law enforcement career, shared several stories and tales about working with Harrison.

One that still holds meaning: Harrison welcomed Windsor and family to his church and to share a meal as part of law enforcement appreciation week.

For Harrison, race was never an issue, said Windsor, who is white.

“It’s something for somebody to want to invite you to their church,” said Windsor, “when you’re not the same color as they are.”

Added Windsor: “He did not see color and it didn’t matter. This day and age that’s important. It should be important to all of us.”

Also oftentimes “the happiest guy on earth,” the veteran detective recalled Harrison as someone he could reach out to for help at anytime.

“He was a guy that was very approachable,” Windsor said. “You could walk up to him and have a conversation with him. You could talk about work issues. You could go to him about personal issues. At that time there were very few people in the agency that I would go to with personal issues, but I will tell you Bo Harrison was one of them. I was proud to know that man. I was proud to say he was my friend.”

Windsor also said Harrison was a major influence on his career.

Looking back in his early days as a deputy, Windsor remembers thinking Harrison as “the guy I want to be like.”

“I believe that Bo Harrison probably made me the deputy sheriff that I am today and I thank him for that,” he said.

Published June 6, 2018

Vietnam veteran receives overdue honor

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One Vietnam veteran has finally received his long-deserved welcome.

The Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Land O’ Lakes Satellite Club recognized George Voorhes on June 23 as its first recipient of the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemorative Lapel Pin.

Voorhes, 82, retired from the army in 1974, following 20 years of service.

He served in the Korean War and had three tours of duty in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star.

On June 23, the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Land O’ Lakes Satellite Club presented George Voorhes as its first recipient of the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemorative Lapel Pin. Voorhes, now 82, retired from the army in 1974, after 20 years of service. (Kevin Weiss)

A Missouri native, who now lives in Land O’ Lakes, Voorhes joined the military when he was 17.

Eventually, he rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class E7.

Along the way, he worked as a banker, chef and nightclub manager.

During his last 10 years of service, he was a general’s aide.

Despite the decades that have passed, details of war remain vivid in Voorhes’ mind.

Most notably is the passing of his brother-in-law, who succumbed to Agent Orange.

“I miss him,” Voorhes said, holding back tears.

“He was only a brother-in-law, but he was more like a brother to me,” he said.

The first U.S. combat troops were sent to Vietnam in 1965.

More than 9 million Americans served during the Vietnam War, representing 10 percent of their generation.

They marked the oldest and best-educated force that America ever sent into harm’s way.

The last remaining troops were withdrawn in 1973.

George Voorhes served in the Korean War and had three tours of duty in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star. He entered the service at 17 years old, and rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class E7. He also worked as a banker, chef and nightclub manager.
Over the last 10 years of his service, he worked as a general’s aide. (Courtesy of Sandy Graves)

Though 97 percent would be honorably discharged, 58,307 service members died in the war, and more than 1,600 are still considered missing in action.

Upon their return to America, Vietnam troops often were greeted with silence — or worse — for having served in the controversial war.

Unlike soldiers returning from World War I and World War II, there were no ticker tape parades or triumphant marches for veterans returning from Vietnam.

Despite painful memories and personal losses, though, Voorhes remains proud of his service.

“It’s an honor to serve my country,” he said, “and I’d do it again, if I had to.”

The Rotary Club’s commemorative ceremony and breakfast was held at the Copperstone Executive Suites in Land O’ Lakes.

Voorhes received the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemorative Lapel Pin from Chief George McDonald, of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. McDonald is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel.

Throughout the hour-long event, Voorhes was lavished with applause, warm greetings and countless thank-you’s from dozens of Rotarians and their guests.

Voorhes also received a dedication message and certificate form the staff of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

The congressman, who represents Florida’s 12th District and is vice chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, even had an American flag flown over the United States Capitol to honor Voorhes’ service.

Michael J. Cimmina, of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ office, presented Voorhes with an American flag, which was flown over the United States Capitol in honor of his service. (Kevin Weiss)

In a letter to Voorhes, Bilirakis wrote, “There are no words that can adequately express the gratitude, admiration and respect that your military service during the Korean and Vietnam Wars has earned.”

The congressman also noted that members of the Armed Forces “who served bravely” during the Vietnam War “were caught in the crossfire of public debate regarding our nation’s involvement and did not receive the warm welcome that you all deserved.”

The Vietnam War Commemoration is a government-led initiative, engaging 10,000 event partners, ranging from the Boy Scouts of America to the NFL.

In 2012, President Barack Obama signed a proclamation creating the Vietnam War Commemoration. Obama called on communities across the country to come together and hold events between then and Veteran’s Day 2025 to recognize the 7 million living Vietnam veterans.

To date, the commemoration has reached more than 1.4 million Vietnam veterans and their family members.

Voorhes was chosen as the Rotary Club’s first recipient after his wife of 57 years, Jean Voorhes, reached out to the service organization, inquiring about the program.

The satellite Rotary Club had just recently become an official commemoration partner, through the United States Department of Defense.

That application process took about a year, said Sandy Graves, a member of the satellite club who helped coordinate the ceremony for Voorhes.

“The club’s worked very hard to become a commemorative partner with the government and do these ceremonies for Vietnam vets that kind of didn’t get that when they came home,” Graves said.

Moving forward, the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Land O’ Lakes Satellite Club plans to organize two Vietnam Commemoration ceremonies each year.

Graves said the satellite club will likely host a dinner ceremony sometime this fall, to honor multiple Rotarians that served in Vietnam.

“It’s a wonderful thing,” Graves said of the Vietnam commemoration program. “My father served in the military, I have many friends that served in the military and every night I would just implore everyone to, when you do lay down to go to sleep, think about how come you’re able to do that, and be very thankful for those that made (freedom) possible for us.”

Vietnam War (1954-1975)
U.S. Troop Statistics:
8,744,000 – Total number of U.S. Troops that served worldwide during Vietnam
3,403,000 served in Southeast Asia
2,594,000 served in South Vietnam

The total of American servicemen listed as POW/MIA at the end of the war was 2,646.

Death Toll
58,307- Total U.S. Deaths (Average age of 23.1 years old)
1.3 million – Total military deaths for all countries involved
1 million – Total civilian deaths
–Figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Defense

Published July 5, 2017

 

In Print: Martial arts, grief, and a horror movie

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Depending on your age, you have cheered either for Daniel Laruso or Dre Parker to bring home a karate championship. But that’s the movies.

In reality, for those living in Wesley Chapel, all eyes were on the Vo brothers — Derick, Jason and Andrew — who traveled all the way to Poland to represent the United States at the World Union of Karate-Do Federations World Karate Championship.

Derick Vo, left, battles an opponent from Portugal at the karate championship in Poland. His performance helped him earn bronze in the. (Courtesy of Duy-Linh Vo)
Derick Vo, left, battles an opponent from Portugal at the karate championship in Poland. His performance helped him earn bronze in the. (Courtesy of Duy-Linh Vo)

The three range in age from 11 to 16, and their luggage was a bit heavier with medals returning home to Florida.

“It was an amazing experience because it was the first time me and my brothers were all able to travel together and complete in the world championships,” Derick Vo, a Wesley Chapel High School junior, told reporter Michael Murillo.

The efforts of those brothers made their father, Duy-Linh Vo, proud. He traveled with his sons to Poland,which helped him appreciate the opportunities they have in America.

“In Vietnam, they were very limited in dojos (karate learning centers) in rural areas,” he said.

Want to hear all about the Vo family’s trip to Poland? Check it out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available now. Or read it all online for free by clicking here.

While the Vo brothers’ trip to Poland may not have been the subject of a movie, there are parts of Lutz that was … well, 40 years ago.

It was a B-movie called “Satan’s Children,” and key parts of it were filmed on a farm in Lutz — complete with quicksand made out of oatmeal.

“We bought up every case of oatmeal we could find in the North Tampa area,” John Mocsary, one of the special effects people on the film, told reporter Michael Hinman. “And we used every bit of it. I had to make a three-foot pit, and it had to look real.”

Whether it did look real or not, that’s up to the viewer to decide. And sadly, in 1974, there weren’t too many viewers of this film, despite the work by a local television producer named Joe Wiezycki, and members of the University of South Florida drama department.

However, that film will get its due next weekend when the Tampa Theatre celebrates its 40th anniversary with a cast and crew reunion, including people like Mocsary, who still live in the area.

“I first got to see it back in 2006, and even then, I noticed it was made in Tampa,” said Andy Lalino, a WUSF-TV producer who is organizing the reunion. “That piqued my interest, since I’m from the Tampa Bay area, and I toyed around with some ideas on what to do about that.”

The reunion also will include some of the actors involved, like Stephen White, Rosemary Orlando and John Edwards.

To get all the details on the film, and why you should attend Nov. 15, pick up this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, or read it all online in our free e-edition, right here.

Finally, it’s November, and that means big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. It’s a joyous time for many people, but not necessarily everyone, and bereavement counselor Dale Thien wants to help.

“Your grief is like you have a broken heart,” Thien told reporter B.C. Manion. “The thing is, we can’t really see that.”

How do you handle a friend or family member who might be struggling with their own loss this holiday season? Do you leave them be? Do you invite them out? Do you sit and listen? Or all of the above?

Thien, who works with HPH Hospice, shares her thoughts about all of it in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News. Find it on newsstands, or maybe by your front door. Or you can read it online for free by clicking here.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.

Vietnam, Korea no longer ‘conflicts’ in Florida

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For years, soldiers who fought in Korea and Vietnam were told they participated in “conflicts.” But Gov. Rick Scott has signed H.B. 559 into law Thursday, which at least in the eyes of Florida, changes those “conflicts” into “wars.”

It might seem like a matter of semantics, but for veterans, using the terms “Korean War” and “Vietnam War” instead of “Korean Conflict” and “Vietnam Era” more accurately reflects the nature of the battles during those years.

The name change will be reflected on Korean War Veteran license plates in Florida, one of several plates the will be redesigned under the legislation to include images of the awards and decorations on the plate. It allows the plates to be more recognizable, and increase awareness of the veterans’ service, according to the governor’s office.

“This legislation is one more way we thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice,” Scott said, in a release.

Florida, he said, has the nation’s third largest population of veterans with more than 1.5 million people. The bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously. It also creates a new special use license place for those who have received the Combat Medical Badge, a plate that was not available to Floridians previously.

“As Americans, we are grateful for the sacrifices made by our veterans to keep us safe and free,” state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said in a release. “This session, we were proud to honor their sacrifices and also create a Combat Medical Badge to recognize contributions of field medics in our military.”

NAIL V.I.P. opens in Lutz with top-quality service at discounted prices

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As a single mother with a young son, Cindy Nguyen worked diligently for many years as a nail tech to build her client base and save money so she could open her own nail salon.

Cindy Nguyen
Cindy Nguyen

She opened her first location in Temple Terrace six years ago and this past February opened a second store in Lutz on Florida Avenue, a quarter mile north of Bearss Avenue in the same shopping center as The Gathering Place restaurant.

“Owning my own store allows me to work my schedule around my boy and his activities, said Cindy of her 12-year-old son, Bryan Truong.

Cindy’s dedication to her son, a sixth grader at Williams Middle Magnet School, is the same dedication she showers on her clients. Her shop, Nail V.I.P. Professional Care, is appropriately named because she considers every customer a very important person.

Cindy arrived in Florida 25 years ago as a refugee from Vietnam. She was sponsored by an organization in Tampa and has lived here ever since.

“I love it here — Tampa has been very good to me,” said Cindy. “People were very welcoming and the weather is much like Vietnam’s.”

Cindy is very proud of her new Lutz store and its sparkling tile floors, warm green and yellow walls and brightly lit atmosphere. There are eight pedicure chairs and nail stations and the latest equipment used to hygienically and professionally provide manicures and pedicures to women of all ages.

Working alongside Cindy are five licensed nail techs.

“I asked my most experienced technicians from my Temple Terrace store to join me at the new Lutz location,” said Cindy. “Everyone here has been doing nails for over five years and all are fully licensed.”

All of Nail V.I.P.’s techs are Vietnamese, and for a good reason, said Cindy. “In our culture back in Vietnam, women do a lot of hand- work, which taught us great attention to detail and makes us skilled at working at things close up, like nails,” said Cindy.

Located close to Avila and other upscale communities, Nail V.I.P. has gotten off to a fast start since it opened. In addition, many cus- tomers from Lutz/Land O’ Lakes work downtown and stop by on their way to and from work because the store is just minutes from the Bearss and Interstate 275 interchange.

“This location is very convenient for customers, plus we’re open seven days a week,” said Cindy. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To celebrate the store’s grand opening, Nail V.I.P. is offering 15 percent off every service. This makes Nail V.I.P.’s most popular service, a deluxe pedicure, just $22, which includes a mud menthol foot mask, sea salt soak and eucalyptus moisturizer. After this skin care treatment, old toenail color is removed and customers choose from over 75 colors for their new polish.

Gel nails are also very popular and are the number one choice for manicures. Most clients return every two weeks to keep their nails in tip-top shape. Light pinks and blues are trendy spring colors that many women are choosing.

“We love our customers and welcome walk-ins,” said Cindy. “Many woman don’t have time to make appointments. We can almost always accommodate someone who stops by.”

The shop is located at 16305 N. Florida Ave., Lutz. They can be reached at (813) 304-2648, or at www.FloridaNailVIP.com.

This story is a feature of the advertising department.