Our Board

An AWON Member since 1991, Walt is an AWON First Founder. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana (think Colts!).

Walt runs the AWON Board and is with us to remember his father, SGT Walter John Linne, KIA 24 Mar 45 near Germersheim on the Rhine, Germany, resting in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Linne Tribute is here.

An AWON Member since 1991 Gloria lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Gloria is the Stateside Coordinator for the Netherlands American Cemetery and is with us to remember her father, SSGT Rocco Michael Zuccarella, KIA 8 April 1945 at Werl, Germany, resting at Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Holland. The Zuccarella Tribute is here.

Lorin McCleary
B.S. Indiana University
M.S. University of Pittsburgh
FAA certified Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor
AWON member since 1993. AWON First Founder, past President and currently Secretary and a Director

I am retired but manage our family investments focused primarily on technology companies.  My prior work experience includes marketing and sales, product management and senior product group management in the computer software industry and principal and vice-president, sales and marketing of a tech startup in Los Angeles which was purchased by a large media company. After that, my wife and I did Retirement #1 to the coast of Washington where we purchased and operated 3 Ocean Spray cranberry farms.  

 In 1991, I became interested GPS technology and developing commercial applications for it.  I founded a company which was among the first in the US to use a GPS receiver coupled to a computer with software to control an aerial camera for the purpose of aerial photography.  I operated that business under contract to Weyerhaeuser, ITT Rayonier and other large timber companies in WA and OR until 2004 when I retired, time #2.  In 2006, my wife retired from her position as the Head Librarian of our city library and we began travelling, full time, throughout the US in our RV.

 In 2007, we came to northern NM to ride the steam train in Chama expecting to spend 3 days and ended up staying for 3 weeks.  We fell in love with the culture and scenery of northern NM and decided to make the area our home.  During that stay, we bought mesa-top view acreage in northern New Mexico.  We returned 6 months later to build our home on the mesa-top where we now live. 

Were it not for the circumstances of WWII, I would be a native New Mexican by birth.  My father, an Army Air Corp officer and pilot, and mother were living in Alamogordo, NM during 1943-44.  My father’s unit, the 487th BG, left Alamogordo for England and the 8th Air Force in March of 1944.  Shortly after that my mother returned to Indiana where I was born.  Were it not for WWII, I would claim New Mexico as my native state. My father, 2LT Lorin David McCleary, Jr., was KIA on 11 May 1944 in the sky over Chateaudun, France while on a bombing mission.

The McCleary Tribute is here.

Ann Bennett Mix was born in Bakersfield, Kern County, California, on November 14, 1940. Her father, Sydney Worthington Bennett, was killed April 19, 1945 in WWII while serving with the 10th Mt Div in Italy.

Mix founded the American WWII Orphans Network (AWON) in 1991.  AWON is an organization of sons and daughters of Americans who were killed and missing from the Second World War. Thousands of American WWII Orphans have been brought together and helped as a result. She was featured in Newsweek, “Finally, A Time To Grieve” by Maggie Malone Oct 26, 1998 and on NPR Radio’s, “The Diane Rehm Show” and on “All Things Considered.”

Mix is the author of Touchstones:  A Guide to Records, Rights and Resources for the Next of Kin of American World War II Casualties (James publishing) and the co-author of Lost in the Victory:  Reflections of American War Orphans of World War II (UNT Press 1998) by Ann Bennett Mix and Susan Johnson Hadler.

President George W. Bush honored Mix with an invitation to the White House for her efforts regarding the design of the National WWII Memorial. Mix fought to make sure the dead were honored in a meaningful way. Her suggestion to the planning committee and Architect that they use Stars to represent the war dead was taken and led to the creation of The Gold Star Wall of Honor.

Mix currently resides in Moses Lake, Grant County, Washington.

Ann remembers her father, PVT Sydney Worthington Bennett, KIA 19 April 45 at Mongiorgio, Italy, resting at Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy. The Bennett Tribute is here.

Judi has been an AWON member since 1991, and Lives in Bremerton, Washington with her husband Al and 2 cats.  GO HAWKS!

Judi worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a journeyman (woman) electrician and worked on Submarines and various types of surface craft (carriers, hydrofoils and destroyers).  She was an electrical instructor for her shop as well as working with ships personnel.  In the later part of her career she went into the nuclear field and became a nuclear instructor.  She retired in 1996.  Judi has 3 children and one step son and 4 grandchildren.  They all live close by and she is able to enjoy them often.  She enjoys quilting (made the AWON quilt and the AWON flag), gardening, travel and animals (every kind except snakes).

Judi is here to remember her father, Romain Lorenzo Hollis, KIA 15 Sept 44 in Belgium, resting at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Hombourg, Belgium. The Hollis Tribute is here.

Rik brings a BA in Advertising, Penn State ’67, is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran and recovering Intelligence Officer ‘68-’69; writer, teacher, web developer, storyteller, ex pilot and perpetual entrepreneur, serving a second tour on the AWON Board. Concurrently serving on the Board of the Vietnam Veterans of America 218th.

On his return from Vietnam, Rik joined the creative department of Ketchum, MacLeod & Grove in New York City; and an Army Civil Affairs unit in the Bronx. He co-founded Marketing Minds, Inc. before moving to California in ’72 to join Larson/Bateman Advertising, Inc. ~ eventually founding Day One in 1976, and a storytelling consultancy, Story of my Life, in 2007.

He spends much of his time on the AWON Website (since ’95); wrangling the AWON Wreath and Banner program (since ’03), most recently with Co-Chair Jean Rhinehart; is Stateside Coordinator for Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery (since ’03) and has worked on AWON identity, conference, membership and other graphics (since ’04).

Personal: Wife, Dianna; daughter and star teacher Lindsey lives in Atlanta with her husband, Harrison and our two grands: Zack & Tanner. Outside interests: Golf, Tennis, Digital Imaging, Animation, Tandem Publishing, and the VVA group's Huey.

Rik is with us to remember his father, 1LT John Peirson, KIA 25 Dec 44 on the northern shoulder of the Belgian Bulge, resting at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Hombourg, Belgium. The Peirson Tribute is here.

An AWON Member since 1995, Rik is a proud native of Pittsburgh (think Steelers!), and since 1972 lives in Santa Barbara, CA with his wife, Dianna.

I am happy to introduce myself as a new member of the Board of Directors!

As an AWON member, I have had the pleasure of attending Memorial Day events at the White House twice and the distinct honor of giving a speech at the World War II Memorial on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. My father was captured in the Bulge, was a prisoner of war, and died when I was five weeks old. So, while I never knew him, I know of him and it is my responsibility and distinct privilege to honor him, his memory, and that of all who served.

I hold a Doctor of Education degree and have worked as Dean of Admissions at Philadelphia universities for 25 years. I am now retired. My husband is a retired Navy Captain and I have four children and four grandchildren. Tapping into my professional experience and education, I propose launching “Project Torch” facilitating outreach to the next generation. Our heroes lit the torch, AWON members are carrying the torch, and we must pass the torch to our children and grandchildren so they can carry on ensuring our Heroes are perpetually honored. Past, present, future.

General Douglas MacArthur said on April 19, 1951, “Old soldiers never die. They just fade away.” Our Heroes’ legacy is too important to fade away into obscurity and oblivion!

Time flies! The time is now to engage the next generation and entrust them with our precious torch! I ask for your support in recruiting members of the next generation for what I am calling AWON 2.0. I welcome your input, suggestions, ideas, and recommendations. In their memory. Never forgotten.

Roberta is with us to remember her father, James O’Boyle Lyons, resting in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

We’ll put up all additional Board Bios as they arrive