David Penaflor – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

David Penaflor – Korean Defense Veteran

David Penaflor, a Korean Defense veteran is passionate about the vital role that veterans’ resources play in healing. He emphasizes the importance of support groups like the one in Happy Valley, which provide a space of compassion and acceptance for veterans of all branches. With his own experience overseas, Penaflor now has a devotion to bringing recognition and resources to these groups and veterans, ensuring that every veteran feels valued, supported, and heard.

As a veteran, Penaflor understands what comes with serving in the military. “One day, two friends of mine and I were walking downtown in our neighborhood, and we saw a recruiting station, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard and I thought ‘what would it be like to be in the military?’ with Vietnam going on or coming to an end,” he said. “So, we walked inside and all of us signed our names to enlist.” Penaflor recalls that the whole decision was sudden, without much thought; he enlisted in the Army.

“I was Army and the other two went different, but it was spontaneous, no discussion. It happened that fast,” he said. “I enlisted for three years during the draft, and after I swore in, I said to myself, ‘what did I get myself into?’” Penaflor did two tours in Korea in the Second Division Infantry Division. “That first tour went pretty fast, then I came back and thought I would get out of the service, so I enlisted a second time,” he said. “I went to Korea again, this time on the DMZ.”  His most memorable moment was on August 18, 1976, when he experienced having thoughts during a potential attack that left him and his comrades fearful. “I’m thinking ‘oh my gosh, am I going to live through this?’” he said. “It didn’t happen, that was the good part…these were my thoughts that I experienced and everyone else too.”

After Penaflor served, he worked for the U.S. Postal service for 34 years and once retired, he joined the Korean War Veterans Association where he has served as Second Vice President, First Vice President, and now as President and the lead of a project with the KWVA as a tribute to Oregon’s Korean War Veterans. “The Oregon Korean Interpret Center is to honor our Korean War Veterans and educate the public about the Korean War and the lessons learned,” he said.

This last year, he joined the Happy Valley veterans’ group after David Bergman, a member of the group who served on the DMZ like Penaflor, encouraged him to attend. There, he connected with veterans from different branches and time served, sparking an involvement that has since underscored the therapeutic power of shared experiences and community support.

At his first time going to one of their weekly meetings, he felt welcomed and humbled right away. “I felt accepted right away,” he said. “What I saw was something that was healing for me and for them. I feel like this crew comes together to heal each other and it’s comforting to know that the guy next to you will listen to you and share his story and comfort you with your story.”

Being a new member of the group has further emphasized how important it is that these groups get the recognition they deserve because they serve as a resource for veterans who understand each other and a place where they can come together as one. “It’s not about the individual. It’s about our community,” he said. “No one’s going to stand out because of their titles, that has nothing to do with it. The blood is the same, the heart is the same, and the service is the same.”

Asserting the community recognition of the veterans and their experiences in war is remarkably important to Penaflor because as a veteran himself, he can understand what they are feeling on the inside. “You cannot see what they’re going through…everybody has their most memorable moment,” he said. “That’s what those little things, kindness, love, generosity compassion and caring, mean so much.”

Penaflor’s involvement in several veteran groups and interactions with fellow vets, young and old, has further increased his determination to bring awareness. “Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraqi veterans, all of these groups need support,” he said. “Don’t miss the opportunity to thank them.”