After a year of study in Germany I purchased a VW Beetle and did the “drive through as many countries in Europe as possible” trip. Several of the countries I visited were still under communism. My encounter with the Grenzpolizei at the Berlin Wall–Checkpoint Charlie, to be precise–was more dangerous than I realized as I reflect on the experience. I also spent time at the abandoned Nazi Dachau Concentration Camp.
Those experiences made me realize more fully the freedom I experience every day in America. In addition to political freedom we teach our CHA students the freedom they have in Christ; see John 8:32. Jesus said, If you keep obeying my teachings . . . you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
We are grateful for those who defend our freedom by serving in our military. Below is a list of CHA students’ and staff relatives who have served or are serving in the military. I would like to build this list so please email me your additions at droth@christianheritage.org.
| CHA Family | Relationship | Name | Military Branch | Notes |
| Ahn | Uncle | Brian Lee | Marines | |
| Arnold | Grandfather | Thomas Szymanski | Army | Korean War, 10 years. |
| Arnold | Grandmother | Mary Lou Campbell | Army | Korean War, 2 years. |
| Arnold | Grandfather | Richard Arnold | Korean War, 2 years. | |
| Arnold | Great Uncle | Stanley Szymanski | Army | WWII, 4 years.
Killed at Battle of |
| Arnold | Nephew | Adam Betz | Navy | Medic, 3 years, 2nd Iraq War |
| Arnold | Cousin | Kendall Knafl | Navy | 2 years |
| Athanasakos | Grandfather | Leo Athanasakos | Army | WWII |
| Burg | Father | John Burg | Army Aircorp | |
| Burg | Grandfather | Matthew Gross | Army | Ret. Colonel |
| Burg | Grandfather | John Burg | Army (?) | WWII Staff Sergeant |
| Collins | Grandfather | Harold Humphries | Army | Served in WWII as a pilot. Is now 102 years old. |
| Collins | Grandfather | Trent Humphries | Navy | Served in Vietnam. |
| Collins | Grandfather | William Collins | Army | |
| Conatser | Grandfather | Earl Conatser | Marines | WWII |
| Conatser | Grandfather | Richard Nieman | Army | Vietnam |
| Copetas | Grandfather | John Copetas | Air Force | Korean War |
| Copetas | Uncle | Panos Papelekas | Air Force | Vietnam |
| Davis | Grandfather | Dick Renfro | Navy | Served on USS Shangri-La, a “pocket” carrier 1950-1954. Served during Cuban Missile Crisis. |
| Decker | Alumnae | Elizabeth Decker | Navy | Lieutenant JG |
| Dinkelman | Grandfather | Richard Zimmerman | Navy | Multiple tours in Vietnam. |
| Elafros | Grandfather | Bernard Elafros | Army | WWII |
| Elafros | Grandfather | LaRue Schad | Army | Korea |
| Frahler | Great-Uncle | Paul Jennings | Navy | Lieutenant
just after WWII (served about 5 years) |
| Frahler | Great Uncle | James Murray Jennings | Army | Battle of the Bulge |
| Frahler | Grandfather | Andrew Frahler | Navy | WWII, Korea, Vietnam 20 years’ service |
| Frahler | Uncle | Don Frahler | Navy | Vietnam (officer) 25 years’ service |
| Frahler | Father | Ron Frahler | Navy | 3 years active duty |
| Kahren | Brother | Jack Bell | Army | Korea |
| Kahren | Uncle | Paul Jacoby | Army | WWII Europe
Communications Officer |
| Kaneshiro | Father | Jack Kenmotsu | Army | WWII |
| Kaneshiro | Father-in-Law | Charles Kaneshiro | Army | Korean War |
| Kaneshiro | Father | Jack Kenmotsu | Army | WWII |
| Kaneshiro | Father-in-law | Charles Kaneshiro | Army | Korean War |
| Kotsonis | Alumnae | Karly Kotsonis | Marines | |
| Langsam | Grandfather | Leonard Langsam | Army | |
| Langsam | Grandfather | Vernon Rietow | Army | Korean |
| Lauby | Grandfather | Robert Scheitlin | Army | |
| Lauby | Great Grandfather | ________ Lauby | Army | Chaplain |
| Lauby | Brother | Nathanael Lauby | Army | Specialist, MP (current) |
| Lin | Son | Moses Lin | Marines | Corporal, June 2011-Sept, 2014. |
| Magrum | Brother in Law | Bruce Kern | Marines | Staff Sergeant |
| Magrum | Father in Law | Paul Bradford | Air Force | |
| Mikal | Grandfather | Tim Morrill | Army | |
| Olson | Father | Myron Olson | Army | WWII |
| Redinger | Aunt | Jennifer Johnson | Army | |
| Stewart | Father | Matthew Stewart | Army | Medevac Blackhawk Pilot 2 tours in Afghanistan With 101st Airborne. |
| Swanson, E. | Father | Roy Chandler | Army Air Force | WWII, Nose Gunner
B-24 Liberator bomber over Europe |
| Swanson, E. | Nephew | Jake Call | Army | 3 tours of duty
Afghanistan & Iraq |
| Tina | grandfather | John Tina | Army | WWI |
| Torres | Father | Eddie Torres | Marine | |
| Van Tuinen | Grandfather | Art Van Tuinen | Navy | |
| Van Tuinen | Grandfather | Russell Volkema | Navy | |
| Wunderlich | Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather | Frederich Miller | Army | Civil War (north)
Cook |
| Wunderlich | Grandfather | Raymond C. Wunderlich, Sr. | Air Force | WWII pilot |
| Wunderlich | Grandfather | James J. Kaney | Army | Korean Mechanic |
| Wunderlich | 2nd Cousin | Freddie Beckman | Vietnam | |
| Butz | Daughter | Lisa Butz | Army Reserves | |
| Butz | Brother | Richard Testa | Navy | Viet Nam War |
| Swanson, Kathryn | Maternal Grandfather | Robert Nickel | Navy | Lieutenant Commander
WWII |
| Swanson, Kathryn | Father in Law | Kenneth Swanson II | Air Force | Viet Nam War |
| Lauby | Great Grandfather | Glen Lauby | Chaplain, Korean War | |
| Lauby | Great Grandfather | Bob Scheitlin | Army | Sergeant, WWII |