As American flags were once again displayed along F Street and several side streets downtown Tuesday, July 4 by the Oakdale Lions Club, many Oakdale families took the time to recognize and thank their own family members for their dedication to our country this Independence Day.
The community of Oakdale has been home to many who have served for generations past as well as those to come. Often times many find their calling to enlist, others have pursued entrance into the various Military Academies.
Three such Oakdale High School alums: John Sai (Class of 1960), Andy Riise (Class of 1996) and Jacob Smith (Class of 2020) each have called a military academy home. While their generations may vary, there are two common threads regardless of generation. Each of these cadets chose the academies for their continuing education, as well as the opportunity to serve their country.
Now residing in various areas of the US, the three gentlemen recently shared their personal journeys with The Leader and how it all transpired.
“I knew nothing about the military,” John Sai shared.
As a talented Oakdale Mustang football player, Coach Visco Grgich connected Sai with a US Navy football coach.
“I was the first of my family to go,” he continued, “but I knew even if I didn’t make the football team at Navy, I could still get my education.”
Recognizing the opportunity and looking for a future which took him from working on a dairy, Sai applied for a Congressional Appointment to the Naval Academy.
“Congressman John J. McFall chose me for his appointment to the Naval Academy,” Sai said. “On July 4, 1960, at the age of 17 I flew back east to Annapolis, to be sworn in as a Midshipman on July 5.”
Sai graduated from the Academy in June 1964 and received his Officers Commission and Bachelor of Science Degree.
Andy Riise shared a similar path by way of joining the armed forces. Also a gifted football player, Riise is a West Point graduate who has dedicated over 20 years to his military career.
“My brother helped me get recruited to play for the Army,” Riise shared, “and I later received a Congressional Nomination from Gary Condit.”
“Army Football was also my one full scholarship offer,” he continued. “I also wanted a first-class education to hone my leadership skill and to serve my country as an Army officer like my older sister.”
Riise noted his older sister Tiffany and her husband Captain Christopher Walter as inspiration for his commitment to serving the country. Captain Walter was tragically killed outside of his Texas home in 1994. A tragedy which reunited Riise with his older sister, who returned to Oakdale.
“I was motivated by the goal of completing the mission that my brother-in-law Christopher started, but didn’t get a chance to finish,” Riise shared. “That included teaching at West Point.”
Riise graduated from West Point in 2001. Upon graduation, Riise continued a 20-year career in the US Army, retiring in 2021.
“Being a servant leader is central to who I am as a person,” Riise said of his service to the country. “This started at a young age.”
Riise was an altar server at St. Mary’s, as well as a Boy Scout with Oakdale Troop 43, where he became an Eagle Scout.
“My parents (Don and Judy Riise) taught me the importance of giving back to our community, helping others who can’t help themselves and being a part of something bigger than myself.”
As Riise’s military career was ending, fellow Eagle Scout of Scout Troop 43 Jacob Smith’s was just beginning.
Smith is currently attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. According to his father, Christopher Smith, it was a high ASVAB score which first sparked the Eagle Scout’s interest in the US Air Force.
“He got such a high score on that test, that a future in the military became a previously unthought of possibility for him,” Smith’s father said. “Each of the military branches reached out to recruit him, but he was most interested in the Air Force.”
Due to the COVID shutdown, the young Smith – like his peers – missed all the traditional pomp and circumstance of graduation and celebrations. By the end of summer 2020, he retook the ASVAB to ensure his high score wasn’t some sort of fluke.
“He re-took it and scored higher than the first time,” the elder Smith stated. “At that point, the Air Force pretty much gave Jacob a green light to choose his career path, which didn’t guarantee acceptance into the Air Force Academy. He had to prove his worth.”
And so he did. Once the young recruit joined the Air Force, he began looking into the possibility of being accepted in to the Air Force Academy. With persistence, as well as extra studying and volunteer work, Jacob was accepted into the academy. In mid-June, after a visit home to Oakdale he left for the Air Force Academy in Colorado.
“For the next two months, he’s not allowed access to his phone, nor calls to home,” his father shared. “We’ve been through this before (with boot camp), so this time it’s easier to take.”
Yet while each of the end paths for the three men may be different, the common threads still remain: pursuit of higher education and a commitment to service.
“I served five years,” Sai said of his military service. “My first duty station was USS Midway, where I was in charge of 93 men whose job it was to clean and paint the ship.”
“After 27 months in and around Vietnam,” he continued, “I resigned my commission and became a math teacher and coach. I’m proud of many things I did, mostly helping protect the United States as a member of the Navy.”
“The Army allowed me to spend a lot of time outside all over the world as part of what I consider the ultimate team,” Riise said of his time of service. “I’m proud to have deployed to combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was an honor to lead American sons and daughters in harm’s way and I’m grateful to have brought them all home safely.”
Riise offered an additional mention which is a bit full circle as the brother of a veteran who was inspired by her and her husband.
“Most importantly I’m very proud of and thankful for the service and sacrifice of my amazing wife Katie and our four ‘Riiseilient’ kids,” he said. “Military families are truly unsung heroes and the heart of a Warrior. My wife sacrificed her successful career as an architect to live a military lifestyle … my kids moved every two years having to change schools, make new friends and start all over again.”
The voice of the family support at home, Christopher Smith shared his pride for his son, as he now embarks on the path which was paved by many.
“When the Air Force career opportunity presented itself, he was beyond thrilled,” Smith said of his son, “and he started plotting out his next several years of schooling and training within the service. I’m beyond proud, excited and happy that he has followed a path that is giving him such an opportunity for an incredible future.”
And as varying as their paths, generations and challenges may have been, it all began in one small town in the Central Valley. A town known for cowboys, football and agriculture.
“Growing up in a small town, I couldn’t wait to leave and go see the world,” Riise confided, noting that he and his wife have since located a similar small town to raise their family. “I have fond childhood memories watching and participating in the annual Rodeo parades. It always fired me up every time the rider entered the corral with the American flag after the national anthem.”
(Note: Due to logistics and timing, The Leader was unable to secure photos of the three service members to accompany this story. We thank them for their time and service to our country.)
