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Frank Zugaj was named the Oceanside Chamber's Member of the Month for March. For the past five years, Frank has been a volunteer with the Big Brother/Big Sister and the Chamber's Education Task Force. He is an avid blood donor, and has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. He has also been on the Selection Committee for the Martin Luther King Scholarship Committee. Frank was born on Thanksgiving Day in 1939 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the fourth of twelve children. At the age of sixteen, he dropped out of high school to go to work to help support his family since his father was an alcoholic. He worked for Rand McNally first as and Office Boy/Runner, then as a Bookbinder. When he was 18, he joined the United States Marine Corps and was assigned as a Field Wireman to Marine Base Squadron 37 Marine Wing Service Group 37 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro in December 1958. In late June 1959, he transferred to the Naval Training Center in San Diego where he learned how to maintain and repair Teletype Equipment. Late February 1960, he deployed for Okinawa, Japan. There he was assigned to the Electronics Maintenance Company, 3rd Force Service Regiment. He returned to the United States in June 1961, and was discharged in San Francisco. Frank was asked to come back on active duty in October 1961, and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division. In late August of the following year, Frank was re-designated to the 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment. In late October, he was deployed to the Caribbean Sea as part of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following that deployment, he was reassigned to the Communication Company Headquarters Battalion. In October 1962, Frank reenlisted and was sent to the Armies Signal Corps School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. While he was there, he trained as a Dial Central Office Installer/Repairman and after six months, he transferred to the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia. In 1966, he transferred to the Electronics Maintenance Battalion 3rd force Service Regiment in Okinawa. In late April of 1967, he asked to be transferred to Vietnam at the request of his mother because his younger brother was stationed in Vietnam. His mother thought that since he was a Staff Sergeant in Communications, he had a better chance of not getting hurt then his brother, who was a Rifleman in an Infantry Battalion and went to the Communications Company 3rd Marine Division. Upon the completion of his first Vietnam tour, he reported to the MCRD San Diego, where he became the Company Gunnery Sergeant for Delta Company Communication-Electronics Battalion. During his time in San Diego, Frank got married to his first wife, Alberta, and in October of 1968, he received orders to go to Okinawa. While he was there, he ended up serving with the Telephone Section at Marine Corps Base Camp Butler. In June of 1969, he requested duty in Vietnam and received orders for the 5th Communications Battalion 1st Marine Division. After, he returned to the United States and went to Paris Island, South Carolina for recruiter’s school. Upon request, he dropped out and was sent to the Marine Corps Base at 29 Palms. He reported there in January 1970 and was assigned to the Base Telephone Section, and was also assigned as the Platoon Sergeant for the Base Honor Guard. In 1972, Frank received orders for an accompanied tour at Camp Butler, Okinawa. In November 1974, he left Okinawa for duty at the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton with the Base Telephone Section. In 1975, he was sent to Chicago to attend a six week course at the Automatic Electric Factory School to learn the GTX-400 Crossbar Telephone System that was installed at the newly built Naval Hospital. In 1978, he was sent back to 29 Palms for training in the AN/TCC 28 Mobile Dial Central Office, where he was an Honor Graduate. In June 1978, he was sent to the 7th Communication Battalion 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa. Frank returned to the United States in July 1979 and was again assigned to Camp Pendleton. In January 1980, he got divorced and in October of that same year, he bought his current home in Oceanside. In June 1982, he was sent back to Okinawa for duty at Camp Butler, Telephone Section, where he was the Base Telephone Chief. He extended his tour in Okinawa twice, and in August 1985, he returned to Camp Pendleton, Telephone Section, as the Base Telephone Chief until his retirement on January 1st, 1989. Upon retiring, he attended Mira Costa College, earning a degree in Business Administration, and making the Deans List every semester. On December 12th, 1989, he married his current wife, Lindamarie. He joined the American Legion in August 1989, and he became the Post Commander for three years and later became the 2nd District Commander of all San Diego County. He also belongs to the VFW, the First Marine Division Association.
Frank Zugaj was named the Oceanside Chamber's Member of the Month for March. For the past five years, Frank has been a volunteer with the Big Brother/Big Sister and the Chamber's Education Task Force. He is an avid blood donor, and has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. He has also been on the Selection Committee for the Martin Luther King Scholarship Committee.