North High School Wall of Honor
Richard David Blosser
Class of January, 1946
Research done by Claradell Shedd, class of 1953. PAGE IN PROGRESS
Richard David Blosser
Dick Blosser graduated in the January, 1946 North High Class. His next of kin was shown as Mr. Ralph N. Blosser, 3921 10th, Des Moines, Iowa. His service number in the US Army was 17295289. His service number in the US Marine Corps was 1114180.
Richard David Blosser
Year x Rank/Event x Status
January, 1946 x Graduated x North High School, Des Moines, IA
June, 1946 x Enlisted
US Army
x Enlisted in Des Moines, IA. Then drafted three months later.
August 19, 1946 x US Army x Fort Snelling, MN
date x US Army x Fort Snelling, MN to Fort Riley, KS. There two weeks.
date x US Army x Fort Riley, KS to Fort Lee, VA (Camp Lee, VA). Sixteen weeks at Quartermaster School.
January, 1947 x Enroute x Fort Lee, VA to Fort Snelling, MN. Three months.
March, 1947 x Enroute x Fort Snelling, MN to Dutch Harbor, AK (Adak, AK) via Liberty Ship (may have been *SS George Washington Carver). 172nd Signal Service Company
January, 1948 x Enroute x AK to Fort Lawton, WA
January, 1948 x US Army/T5 x Discharged.
Spring, 1948 x Schooling x Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA until Spring, 1949
Sept., 1949-
May, 1951
x Schooling x Drake University, Des Moines, IA. Received teaching diploma last year at Drake.
January, 1950 x US Marine
Corps Reserves
x Joined Marine Reserves in Des Moines, IA
May, 1951-
May, 1952
x US Marines/
CPL
x Marine Recruiting Depot, San Diego, CA; Headquarters, Public Information Office
May, 1952-1954?? x Employment x Iowa Power and Light; Rate Department
January, 1954 x US Marine Corps x Discharged.
1954 x Family x Married Joyce Hill in Des Moines. 10-12 years.
1954 x Schooling x Relocated to CA. Graduate work at UCLA while at Rockwell (below)
1954-date? x Employment x For more than 25 years Mr. Blosser was in charge of the Simulation and Test Facilities at the Electronics Division of Rockwell in Anaheim, CA
June, 1962 x Schooling x Master of Science Degree in Engineering at UCLA (Math, Physics).
1982 x Family x Married Ruth in California.
1988 x Employment x Since 1988 he has been teaching Electronics and Aircraft Maintenance (part-time) at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA.
1997-Present x Employment x Since 1997 he has been teaching Advanced Avionics at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA.
* SS George Washington Carver
The ship was assigned to duty between Seattle and ports in Alaska. The Carver’s first voyage in this role took it to Dutch Harbor, Shemya, Attu, Adak, Whittier, with a return to Seattle. A second voyage, in late March 1946, had the ship visit Anchorage, Seward, Dutch Harbor, Adak, Amchitka, Shemya, Adak a second time, eventually returning to Seattle. The ship continued on similar runs into 1947.
Fort Snelling, MN
Fort Snelling, MN Fort Riley, KS Fort (Camp) Lee, VA
Drake University Grinnell College, IA UCLA
Photo by Gary Holoubek, FRC **Dick's Stinson L-5
**Dick's Stinson L-5
My name is Dick Blosser and I live in Fullerton California. About twenty years ago while teaching Aircraft and Powerplant Mechanics at Mt San Antonio College, one of my fellow teachers told me about one of his night student’s projects. It was a 1943 Stinson L-5. The student had purchased the aircraft that had been in parts for as number of years and had started to restore it. He had overhauled the Lycoming O-435 engine and rebuilt the wings during the school night program but doto problems had not finished the restoration. In 1989, I purchased the unfinished project from him and with the help of a friend took a year and a half and completed the restoration. Due to medical problems, I recently donated the L-5 to the aircraft museum at Santa Maria, California. During the last 20 years I have accumulated a large quantity of L-5 & O-435 and other aircraft parts. I developed a web site in order to provide a place to relocate some of these items. Hope you can fine something you need and we can find it a home.
Dick Blosser's website: http://www.dickblosser.com/
  Date Awards and Certificates
1. January, 1946 Graduation, North Des Moines High School, Des Moines, IA
2. January, 1947 Certificate of Completion in Technical Training, Administration and Supply, Headquarters, Quartermaster Training Center, Camp Lee, Virginia
3. January, 1948 Honorable Discharge, US Army
4. March, 1951 Certificate of Initiation – Iowa Beta Chapter, Kappa Mu Epsilon, Mathematics Fraternity, Drake University
5. May, 1951 Bachelor of Arts, Drake University, Des Moines, IA
6. August, 1951 Certificate, Outstanding member of Platoon # 180, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Ca.
7. January, 1954 Honorable Discharge – United States Marine Corps
8. February, 1954 Graduation Certificate – Completed Instruction required by Civil Air Regulations for Pilot ASEL
9. April, 1960 Diploma – Admission to the Grade of Member, Institute of Radio Engineers April
10. June, 1962 Master of Science Degree in Engineering – Regents of the University of California, Los Angeles
11. 1986 Certificate, General Radiotelephone Operators License, Federal Communication Commission
12. December,1986 Certificate of Appreciation – For Your Active Participation at Mission Control Center during the World Flight of Voyager, The First Non-stop, Non-refueled, Around The World Flight
13. January, 1987 Certificate of Appreciation – In Recognition and Appreciation of your many contributions during 28 years of service. Defense Electronic Operations, Rockwell International January
14. June, 1987 Certificate of Achievement, Emergency Management Institute, for a Dedication to Serve in Times of Crisis,
15. December,1987 Certificate, Commercial Pilot, Land and Sea, Instrument, Federal Aviation Administration
16. February, 1988 Certificate of Graduation – Federal Aviation Administration approved Powerplant Maintenance Technician School, Mount San Antonio College, Walnut, California,
17. May, 1988 Credential, Lifetime Instructor, Aircraft Maintenance, California Community Colleges, State of California
18. May, 1988 Credential, Lifetime Instructor, Aeronautics, California Community Colleges, State of California
19. January, 1989 Certificate of Graduation – Federal Aviation Administration approved Airframe Maintenance Technician School, Mount San Antonio College, Walnut, California
20. December, 1991 Award, Aero Squadron Deputy of the Year, Sheriff’s Department Reserve Forces, County of Orange
21. 1993 Award, Services Deputy of the year, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner’s Department.
22. November, 1994 Award, The Star Quality Award for support and commitment to Aviation Education, Federal Aviation Administration
23. 1995 Certificate, Basic and Advanced Ground Instructor, Federal Aviation Administration,
24. August, 1996 Station License AFC6CI – Military Affiliate Radio System, United States Air Force
25. 1996 Certificate of Appreciation for Hours of Dedicated Service, Sheriff’s Department, County of Orange, California
26. March, 1997 Certificate – Appointment to Sergeant, Aero Squadron Reserve Unit, Sheriff’s Department Reserve Forces, County of Orange
27. 1997 Plaque, In appreciation of your service and dedication to the Orange County Regional Narcotics Suppression Program for being Reserve Deputy Pilot,
28. 1994-2000 Recognition of Public Service, Airport Advisory Committee, City of Fullerton, California
29. March, 2000 Award, Life Membership, Aviation Technician Education Council, in recognition, appreciation, and gratitude for many years of time, support, and commitment
30. October, 2000 Award – Creative Thinker, “Your Many Years of Contributions You Have Brought To This Department” Fullerton Police Department, Fullerton, California,
31. 2003 Award, Supervisor of the Year, for Demonstrated Commitment Department and to Unit Goals. Orange County Sheriff’s Department
32. October, 2005 Radio License WA6RJE– Advanced Amateur Radio License, Federal Communications Commission
33. February, 2006 Award, Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” in appreciation for dedicated service, technical expertise, professionalism and many outstanding contributions that further the cause of aviation safety. (Fifty or more years of civil flying experience with no violations or accidents.) Federal Aviation Administration
34. March, 2006 Award, Reserve of the year, Sheriff’s Department Reserve Forces, County of Orange,
35. 2006 Certificate, Inspector Authorization, Federal Aviation Administration,
Recent Projects
Instructor, Orange County Sheriff's Tactical Training Center, 1997 to present
Chief of Communications for the J. Renee "Around The World" balloon project in 2000.
Ground Tracking, Position Reporting and Search and Rescue for Kevin Uliassi's solo balloon round-the-world attempt Feb-March 2000.
Chief of Communications for the successful Voyager non-refueled around-the-world flight in 1986
Chief of Communications for The Earthwinds "Around the World" project from 1992 to 1995
Director of Communications for the Global Hilton Project from 1997 to 1998
Electronics Consultant to the Orange County Sheriff's Hazardous Device (Bomb) Squad from 1992 onwards

US Army Seal


63rd Infantry Division; Fort Snelling, MN 172nd Infantry Brigade

T5
Richard David Blosser
Army: T5
Marines: CPL
Hdqtrs., MCRD
US Army and US Marine Corps




US Marine Corps Seal


USMC San Diego, CA


Marine Corporal
WWIi  Victory Medal; Good Conduct Medal

Examples: WWII Victory Medal; Good Conduct Medal
References
The comprehensive list of names from North High's 1893-2018 graduation classes are from Claradell Shedd's North Des Moines High School website. The names of all North High School graduates can be found online at http://www.ndmhs.com/. Richard David Blosser's 1946 class page can be viewed at
http://ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1946(2006.60).html.
Dick Blosser's website: http://www.dickblosser.com/
08/26/11: Lives in CA.
Music: "Semper Fidelis"
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