BY JAVIER POWELL & AMAL MAROUF
The Westside Express
On Feb. 25, the Los Banos Milliken Museum Society hosted its Eighth Annual Charles Sawyer Memorial Lecture Series at the Ted Falasco Arts Center.
Titled “Wartime Tales of a Small Town: The History of Military Involvement in Los Banos and a Tribute to Local Veterans,” the lecture series began at 5:30 p.m. with wine and hors d’oeuvres as guests viewed historic displays and student-written books honoring local veterans.
Along the walls was the Ralph Milliken World War poster collection. The collection of posters had not seen the light of day in years. “I think it’s been maybe 50, 60 years since they were shown,” Museum Director Dan Nelson said.
Much of the collection is from World War I, making the posters over 100 years old. “(It is) another treasure that Milliken leaves us with,” Nelson stated.
Historical exhibits, photo boards and even a small museum bookstore were in front of the posters. One exhibit featured the nearby Eagle Field.
Another showcased the World War II lookout towers on the Miller and Lux building and the city hall. Some also showed quotations from Los Banos veterans.
Nelson said the lecture series “was very successful.” In total, 152 people attended. At 6:30 p.m., Tim McNally, a professor at Merced College, opened the formal program and introduced the panel of speakers.
Paul Loeffler, a leader in establishing Central Valley Honor Flight, spoke first. He is a Los Banos native who has interviewed countless veterans. During his speech, he shared the stories of local veterans, including his grandfather, who saved 44 in combat.
He mentioned Steven Brousseau, an artist who drew Tony Pisano, a 28-year-old World War II veteran who died on Feb. 29, 1944, in the Battle of Cassino, Italy. Pisano’s portrait was given to his niece, Cindy Silva, who unwrapped it in front of the crowd.
Loeffler also spoke about Pete, a World War II bombardier from Los Banos who was shot down and became a prisoner of war.
Quoting Pete’s honesty about combat, Loeffler told the audience, “Anybody who says they weren’t scared when they’re going to be captured thousands of miles away from home in enemy territory, they’re lying.”
Loeffler also recounted the story of Marine Max Rouff on Iwo Jima, who was severely wounded and temporarily blinded, waited nearly an hour for help and was carried away in a body bag because stretchers had run out.
Reflecting on his own grandfather, a battalion surgeon under fire in France, Loeffler remembered asking what he was thinking in that moment. His grandfather replied, “I was pretty sure I was gonna get killed.”
Loeffler stated that honoring veterans is not just about telling stories but about taking action. Through the Central Valley Honor Flight, local veterans are sent to Washington, D.C., at no cost to visit the memorials built in their honor.
He said Los Banos raised more than $200,000 through annual community dinners to help fund those trips and stated the goal is to ensure veterans are properly thanked and publicly celebrated.
The following speaker, retired Los Banos Police Chief Mike Hughes, a Vietnam veteran and commander of the local VFW post for 11 years, remembered the four young men from Los Banos who never returned from Vietnam.
He also spoke of his difficult homecoming from the war and the history of the local veterans organizations.
Speaking of his return from the war, Hughes said, “They threw rotten tomatoes at us. We were told Vietnam was not a real war, and we were all drug addicts. That’s kinda sad because while we were (in Vietnam), they used real bullets.”
Despite the painful reception, Hughes shared how enrolling at Merced College helped him rebuild his path.
With support from instructors who welcomed veterans, he eventually went on to serve a 30-year career in law enforcement, ending as police chief in Los Banos. His message centered on resilience and the importance of community support.
Retired Air Force fighter pilot Paul Setnor was the final panelist to address the audience, offering a perspective from more recent service. After graduating from Los Banos High School in 1970, he piloted the F-117 Nighthawk, a stealth fighter bomber, and also flew the F-15.
Setnor served in the United States Air Force for over 30 years and logged more than 2,400 flying hours, including over 250 combat hours piloting the F-117 Nighthawk.
He also spoke about the responsibility that comes with serving in high-risk missions and the discipline required to protect fellow service members.
Setnor served for several years at the Pentagon and was present during the events of 9/11. After sharing his experience as a pilot, he received a standing ovation from the crowd.
The museum did not expect to make money at the event. “It’s more of a community service,” Nelson explained. Even so, the museum raised about $2,000 at the event.
“I think the lecture series is an appropriate and good tribute to Charles,” Nelson said. He elaborated that the lecture series is in honor of the late Charles Sawyer, a longtime local historian and museum director.
Nelson concluded that having these events continues his legacy of preserving local history.
