The Land of the Free Foundation is committed to celebrating the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States, past, present and future. The foundation will support programs that help our armed service personnel and their families and will ensure that the commitment of our nation's heroes will never be taken for granted and that all Americans recognize, because of the sacrifices of our armed service personnel, we will always live in the "Land of the Free".
Ed Roski received his commission through the PLC program after graduation from the University of Southern California in 1962. After attending The Basic School in Quantico, VA he reported to the First Marine Brigade and was assigned to Alpha Company First Battalion Fourth Marines (Pineapple Marines) in Kaneohe Hawaii. Ed deployed with the Fourth Marines to engage in Combat Operations in the Republic of Vietnam in May of 1965. He became the Commanding Officer of B Company Third Anti-Tanks. That summer during Operation Starlite, Ed was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for Valor and two Purple Hearts. Ed left Active Duty in 1966 and began his Real Estate Career for Majestic Realty Co.
Kent received his Commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps after graduating from the University of Idaho in 1962 where he was a Football Scholarship Athlete. After attending Officer Basic School in Quantico, VA he was assigned to the 1st Battalion 4th Marines (Pineapple Marines) in Hawaii. Kent deployed with his unit as part of the First Marine Brigade to engage in Combat operations in The Republic of South Vietnam May 7, 1965 until June of 1966. Captain Valley was decorated with the Bronze Star with combat "V" for Valor in combat as well as other Campaign and Unit Citations. He was Honorably Discharged from active duty June 1967.
John Semcken attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1978. After graduation he attended Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, Florida and Beeville, Texas. After receiving his Wings of Gold he was ordered to San Diego, CA at Miramar Naval Air Station to train to fly the F-14 Tomcat and was assigned to Fighter Squadron 213 the Fighting Blacklions. The Blacklions were part of Airwing 11 aboard the USS Enterprise CVN-65 and were part of the Battle Group that was sent to the Northern Pacific by President Reagan. John Graduated from Navy Fighter Weapons School, Topgun in June 1983 and was assigned by the Commander of the Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wing in the Pacific to oversee the motion picture TOPGUN in 1985. His aviation career included over 300 carrier landings and 1200 flight hours.
