Damaso Henry Sutis

Damaso Henry Sutis, age 92, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2018. A 50-year resident of Huntington Beach, for much of his life he was known as "Sarge" or "Gunny". The eldest son of Damaso Jubay Sutis and Marie Cecelia H. Cheval Sutis, he was born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 23, 1926. Raised on the south side of Chicago, he attended Tilden Tech and Hyde Park high schools. That is where he met and married Nessifa "Dee" Tamer on June 28, 1947, who preceded him in death. His youngest brother, Pedro Sutis (Air Force Vet) also preceded him. He is survived by his daughter, Sharonlee Teuila Sutis-Makaena (Dan Charles) and his younger brother MGySgt Rodolfo Sutis USMC Ret., 4 Nephews, 3 Nieces, 6 grandnephews, 5 grandnieces, 3 great nephews and 2 great nieces.

He enlisted in the Marines in March of 1944. His Marine Corp career spanned 24 years and three wars: World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He was deployed overseas during each of them. During World War II, he served on the island of Guam; he was on the island of Iwo Jima when it was secured from the Japanese; and he was on mainland China, where among other duties, helped guard the Great Wall. He was sent to Korea during the Korean war with the 1st AAA 90 mm Gun Battalion. He was with the 12th Marines on the slopes of Mt Fujiyama, and was on Okinawa. He returned to base at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, in 1954. In the 1960s, he was deployed during the Bay of Pigs, and served the Marines on I & I in Great Falls, Montana. By the time of the Vietnam war, he was with the Marine Air Wing Service Group at El Toro. When MAG-15 left for Iwakuni, Japan and Vietnam, he was with them. In 1967, he retired from the Marine Corps as a Gunnery Sargent at Camp Pendleton, California.

Finally entering civilian life he worked as a welder for several manufacturers, including McDonnell Douglas, and for a time had his own welding shop. Teaching welding classes in the evening programs at several Orange County Community Colleges, while also earning an Associate of Arts degree in 1972, his BVE Teaching Credentials from Cal State LB, and at the age of 51 received his Masters Degree in Supervisory Education from College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. He taught at El Rancho High School, Pico Rivera in industrial arts, counseled students on career opportunities, took students to VICA competition throughout California and to VICA National Competition in Tulsa,OK. He ultimately attained the position of division chairman of the industrial technology department of his high school. He remained in education until 1989, when he took his next retirement. That gave him the time to become active with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary where he served on the Homeland Security Team inspecting the nation’s Ports for Terrorist Attack Protection and numerous other committees and teams. No matter what rank he rose to, he was always called “Gunny” by the Regular Coasties and Auxiliary personnel. The"Gunny" always served where he felt he could make a difference.

He was a member of the Masonic Orders since 1956, currently affiliated with HB Masonic Lodge, El Bekal Shrine since 1971. A member of American Legion Post 555, The Iwo Jima West Commemorative Committee at Camp Pendleton serving as Banquet Chair until his death and volunteered on the Iwo Jima Monument West 501(3)c organization. He was asked to participate for the last several years in the HB 4th of July Parade, The City of Stanton Veteran’s Day Memorial ceremonies the past 15 years and was honored to help any military affiliated organization that requested his presence always attending in his “squared away” Marine Corps uniforms. “Gunny” served his Country well. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Funeral Services will be Thursday, December 27th at 10am at St. Wilfrid’s of York Episcopal Church,18631 Chapel Lane, Huntington Beach,92646, followed by graveside military honors at Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683