Gene Arpelar

U.S. Navy veteran Gene Arpelar says that his first tour of duty was on board the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kearsarge, and he also traversed the globe on another carrier, the U.S.S. Hornet. He found his time in the Navy to be a good experience because he was exposed to how people in other countries live, but he never encountered a country that he would trade for the U.S.A. Arpelar, who grew up in Oklahoma, feels pride in his country and the "top-notch" people in it who look out for each other's needs.

Arpelar is retired after a lifetime of working many jobs, including a 27-year stint at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.