News Flash

The City of Battle Ground will commemorate Veterans Day with a ceremony held at the Battle Ground Veterans Memorial on Friday, November 11 at 11 am. We invite the community to gather that day to honor all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and to remember 31 honored veterans, local sons who died in service to our country and whose names are engraved on the wall of the memorial. The Battle Ground Veterans Memorial, dedicated one year ago on Veterans Day 2015, is located at Battle Ground’s Kiwanis Park at 422 SW 2nd Ave.

A Yellow Ribbon event to support the Battle Ground Veterans Memorial Fund will be held on Wednesday, November 9th from 5 – 8 pm at Battle Ground’s Burgerville located at 217 W. Main Street. 10% of all sales will be donated to the Veterans Memorial Fund.

The city is honored to have 9 employees who, before they served our community, served our country in the U.S. Armed Forces. We will be recognizing these 8 men, veterans who represent of every branch of service – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard – at the November 7 City Council meeting and by sharing accounts of their service on the city’s Facebook page (select the City Facebook Page link below) leading up to Veterans Day. 

They are:

Dave Petty, City of Battle Ground Senior Maintenance Worker
Dave Petty served in the Navy and Navy Reserves for 26 years. He first enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1965 and was assigned to Crypto-analyst Collections where he spent long days transmitting and receiving encrypted messages. After 4 years, Dave left active duty but remained in the Navy as a reservist. 5 years later, in 1974, he went back on active duty as a Radioman assigned to the Naval Security Group. Dave enjoyed the variety the new enlistment offered; he served on 4 attack aircraft carriers, a support aircraft carrier, a guided missile destroyer, an amphibious landing ship dock and on the islands of Guam and Diego Garcia. He retired in 1991 as a 1st Class Petty Officer. Please join us in recognizing and thanking Navy Veteran and City of BG employee Dave Petty for his service to our country.

Eli Shaw, City of Battle Ground Building Inspector
Eli Shaw speaks of his nearly 9 years of service with the U.S. Marine Corps with a blend of humility, pride, and matter-of-factness. He was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA from 2003 – 2013. During that time he deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan where he served as a Mobile Assault Platoon Leader. From the time he was 19 years old, Eli said, he was responsible for between 20 and 54 troops. We asked Eli how it made him feel to be thanked for his service. “I ask people to thank a Vietnam Vet instead”, he said, “They did not get the recognition they deserved when they came home.” Please join us in recognizing Marine Corps Veteran and City of BG employee Eli Shaw. Thank you Eli, and many thanks to all who served in Vietnam, we appreciate your service and sacrifice.

Bob Richardson, City of Battle Ground Police Chief
“I learned respect for our country, our flag, and most importantly service to others before self,” said Chief of Police Bob Richardson of his service in the U.S. Army. Bob served as an MP (Military Police) and MPI (Investigator) in the 571st and 54th MP Companies from 1976 to 1979 at both Fort Ord and Fort Hunter Ligett in California. He has vivid memories of flying in a prop plane from Los Angeles to Dallas and then on to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for basic training where his transition from civilian to military life began. He recalls long marches and cold weather but mostly the camaraderie that was developed, “We learned to work as a team.” he said, “people from all different backgrounds.” As an MP and later an MPI, Bob patrolled, investigated and enforced military laws and regulations to protect lives and property. It was the beginning of his now 40-year career in law enforcement. Please join us in recognizing and thanking Army Veteran and Battle Ground Police Chief Bob Richardson for his service to our country.

Cal Newton, City of Battle Ground Public Works Supervisor
Cal Newton served in the U.S. Army from 1975 – 1978, starting at Fort Ord, CA for Basic Training. “My favorite thing was the obstacle course and map reading,” he said. “I was really good at reading relief maps and navigating.” Cal served 2 years at Ernst Ludwig Army Base in Darmstadt, Germany in the Engineering Battalion where he worked to build base facilities such as a rifle range, a tank wash rack, and a sports field. From Germany he came back to the states to serve as a Squad Leader at Fort Hunter Ligett, CA where he was responsible for transporting personnel and material. “I loved serving,” said Cal, “it built a strong work ethic and great camaraderie; I think everyone should take the opportunity to serve.” Please join us in recognizing and thanking Army Veteran Cal Newton for his service to our country.

John Graves, City of Battle Ground Police Officer
Serving in the U.S. Marines Corps is a Graves family tradition; John Graves, as well as his father and brother served in the Corps. John was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, serving from 1991 – 1994 as a member of the Infantry. He was deployed to both Okinawa and Somalia and attained the rank of Corporal. John shared that his experiences as a Marine instilled in him a strong work ethic, the idea that one can achieve anything he sets his mind to, and a deep sense of a purpose greater than self. “Our country, our freedom is worth fighting for,” he said. Please join us in recognizing and thanking U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Battle Ground Police Officer John Graves for his service to our country.

Chad Schwatka, City of Battle Ground Engineering Technician
Chad Schwatka enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard after graduating from college and served 4 years from 2007 – 2011. “In the Coast Guard, we were encouraged to think out-of-the-box,” he said. His first assignment took him to the USCG Station Ketchikan in Alaska, a small boat station that conducted Search & Rescue operations. He served as Seaman and Engineer. From Alaska he moved south to serve as a member of the Marine Safety Unit at Lake Charles, Louisiana. As a Marine Science Tech he conducted security inspections for the safety of the marine environment as well as the security of the port. Please join us in recognizing and thanking Coast Guard Veteran and City of Battle Ground employee Chad Schwatka for his service to our country.

Ed Michael, City of Battle Ground Police Officer
Ed Michael served aboard the U.S.S. Nimitz Aircraft Carrier during his first 4 of 7 years (1986 – 1993) in the U.S. Navy. As an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate he wore a yellow jersey and was responsible for directing aircraft from the hangar bay of the ship up to the flight deck. Deployments on the Nimitz took Ed from the ship’s first homeport in Norfolk, VA to the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Straits of Japan. Ed was aboard the Nimitz when it was directed from the Atlantic Ocean to its new homeport in Bremerton, WA. The ship rounded the very rough waters of Cape Horn, South America and sailed for the first time in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. “Everything on the ship had to be tied down,” recalled Ed, “It was a rough ride for an aircraft carrier and even worse for the smaller ships in the group.” In 1990, Ed was stationed at West Loch Naval Magazine Base in Hawaii where he was assigned to Physical Security, ensuring the security and safety of the base and its personnel. “I matured during my service in the Navy, “he said, “It gave me the confidence to take on bigger and better things.” Please join us in recognizing and thanking Navy Veteran and Battle Ground Police Officer Ed Michael for his service to our country.

Roy Butler, City of Battle Ground Police Lieutenant
Battle Ground Police Lt. Roy Butler always had an interest in police work and service to others. “I looked at (MP) Military Police programs and liked what the Air Force offered,” he said. And so began his service in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 – 1975. Roy describes the first 2 weeks of Basic Training as confusing and chaotic, but once he got used to the routine, he recognized the benefits, “It taught us discipline, we learned to listen and to follow directions.” During his 4 years in the Air Force, Roy was stationed in Texas, Okinawa, and in Thailand where he served as a member of the Security Police force, guarding and protecting assets, installations and personnel. Please join us in recognizing and thanking Air Force Veteran and Battle Ground Police Lt. Roy Butler for his service to our country. 

Devin Scroggins, City of Battle Ground Community Work Crew Chief
Devin served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 26 years from 1988 – 2014 and attained the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. He served as a Diesel Mechanic, mostly on large ships, and was stationed out of Rhode Island, the Great Lakes, Ketchikan, San Francisco and was deployed to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. Devin was married to his wife April and they had one child at the time he enlisted. “April was in it with me from day one,” noted Devin. 28 years later they have 2 grown children and 4 grandchildren. As the city’s Community Work Crew Chief, Devin works with offenders referred to community service in lieu of serving jail time. He also volunteers at Royal Ridges mentoring to youth. “My career in the Coast Guard made me realize that I have more to offer, he said, “I want to help people understand they can do anything if they really want it and work for it.” Please join us in recognizing and thanking Coast Guard Veteran and city employee Devin Scroggins for his service to our country.