Edmundo Libed Ritarita

- Eldest of 7 children (6 biological, 1 adopted). Siblings are Gloria, Edgar, Ramon, Glenn, Brenda, and Vivien

- Raised in the city of Manila, Naguilian, La Union, and Dagupan, Pangasinan. Like the rest of his siblings, we have to wait for him to able to speak to establish what Filipino dialect he spoke. - He attended Elementary grades between cities and eventually graduated high school from Union Institute of Naguilian, in his hometown.

- While attending the University of the Philippines, Baguio, lack of funds made him stop college. During his lull period, he landed various odd and end jobs such as harvesting cogon for native thatch houses, employed to build roads through EEA- Emergency Employment Administration, a government funded program. He also attended and finished machine shop practice at La Union School of Arts and Trades (LUSAT), now known as Don Mariano Marcos State University (DMMSU)

- While busy with all of the above, he sent an application to enlist in the US Navy. A resume was required for Filipino nationals to enlist in the USN during that time. He was called in, given a written test, interviewed, and given a physical. He finally signed a contract for enlistment at the USN Recruiting Office, Sangley Point, Republic of the Philippines on 16 SEP 65.

-Finished boot camp training on 16 DEC 65 at San Diego Recruit Training Center followed by Steward "A" school. At the time, the only rating that was afforded Filipinos was to become a steward or manservant. To advance in rank as a steward was tough competition. Acing the test was the "norm" to be considered for selection for the next higher pay-grade.

- After Steward "A" School, his first duty station was Naval Communication Station in Finegayan, Guam where he met his former wife Lilia and later blessed with two sons, Dean and Ryan. Unsatisfied with the slow promotion process of Stewards, he volunteered for Vietnam duty. His request was granted and he was transferred to USS Hunterdon County LST 838). During one patrol, his ship was ambushed by Viet Cong (National Liberation Front) in one of the tributaries of Mekong Delta causing severe damage to the ship and some personnel casualties.

- During this tour he requested to change his rate to Machinist Mate. His request granted, he attended Basic Propulsion Engineering School and Machinist Mate "A" School in Great Lakes. Upon graduation he was assigned to USS Gurke DD783 stationed in Yokosuka, Japan from MAY70 - OCT73 and again granted another school, Air Conditioning & Repair "C" School at SSC, USNTC, San Diego.

- Next tour of duty was at Fleet Maintenance Group Detachment NAS Alameda from NOV73 - DEC76 where he was granted yet another school, the UNREP MECH/HYDRAULIC School at SSC, Treasure Island.

- The cliche "sailors are for ships" stands true to his nature of trade and so he was assigned another ship JAN77 - APR81, the former USS Somers DDG34 at Pearl Harbor, HI. Attended Leadership Management Training, which is a must to senior pay-grades or rank in the Navy. It is also during this period when he applied to become a limited duty officer (LDO).

- Received his commission as Ensign on APR 81. In MAY of the same year he was transferred to Naval Base Seattle as a commissioning member (plank owner) to the former USS McKee AS41 MAY 81 - AUG 81 and as crew member from AUG 81 - JUL 83. Attended Engineer Officer Course in Newport, Rhode Island JUL-SEP 83, Engineer Officer of the Watch Certification School at USNTC Great Lakes OCT-NOV 83 and was later assigned to the former USS Ranger CV61 NOV83 - JUL86.

- Later Assigned to Special Boat Squadron at NAMPHIBASE Coronado SEP86 - JUL90 where he attended Safety Officers Course, A D A M Seminar, Fundamentals of Enforcement State of California Air Resources, and was part of NASPECWAR Task Unit Pacific during the re-flagging of Kuwait oil tankers.

- As if he never had enough of the Arabian (or Persian) Gulf. He was transferred back to the USS Ranger and saw action during the first Gulf war. It is also where he finally ended his 26 years of active service.

- After his stint with the military, he attended various schools while exploring a second career. He landed employment with the county law enforcement as a probation officer for juveniles. He started work at the San Diego County on October 1996 and retired on October 2007.

- He was married to Lily Paran on December 3, 1968 at Agana, Guam. They had 2 sons, Dean and Ryan.

His awards and decorations are as follows,

Medals: Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/1 gold star, Good Conduct Medal w/2 bronze stars, National Defense Medal w/1 bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/1 bronze star, Vietnam Service Medal, Southeast Asia Service Medal w/1 bronze star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), and Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Ribbons: Combat Action, Joint Meritorious Unit, Navy Unit Commendation w/1 bronze star, Meritorious Unit Commendation w/1 bronze star, Battle Effeciency w/1 silver E, Sea Service Deployment w/1silver star, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.