Nike SF-88 Volunteers

Greg Brown

A Herc on its way to The Dream Machine Event, May 1 2011, Half Moon Bay, CA SP-4, MOS 16C and 52B, stationed at LA-88 (C-4-65) Chatsworth, and B-4-62 (mobile) Ft. Bliss Tx. 68-71 Living in San Lorenzo Ca.

Greg Brown riding Ajax

Sharon Tate riding Ajax

Clinton Crane

SSG, Nuclear Weapons Specialist (55G) CONUS and Europe, was on Nike Hercules de-mil team in 1984 for SALT II, Military Historian and NPS Volunteer since 2009.

Duane Fey

One of the original Bud Halsey volunteers. After a 20 year hiatus, he is back and helping with antenna repairs and welding up sections on a Nike Ajax for display.

Jerry Feight

Greg Brown says "USAF Minuteman career officer, one of the Launcher presenters, tells a good story, top volunteer." Many pictures on this web site of him working on launchers and elevators.

Alec Gyorfi

from Ed Thelen "Part of the original restoration crew under Bud Halsey. I think he contributed a truck, gas, and himself on the great raid to China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station in November 1996 ;-))" Very active in keeping the launcher area functional. Many pictures on this web site of him working on launchers and elevators. Marin Headlands - over 1000 hours volunteered , that was recorded before 2005 !! Now in 2025, he has many thousand hours. Without Alec, SF-88 would not exist. from Ed Thelen - Do you feel like a down-trodden volunteer? Pity Alec, being walked on by his dog Snappy. ;--) Photo from Greg Brown, taken Thursday, May 13, 2021, during a Covid work day.

Al Kellogg

Marin Headlands - over 1000 hours volunteered. Al Kellogg one of the original founders and help build SF-88 back in the 1990's. Al not only comes to the Saturday open houses at SF-88, but also comes out to mow the lawns and trim the weeds. a bit of history about me volunteering at the SF 88

Dave Kreutzinger

"Was stationed at SF-88 when it closed. was involved from the start of the restoration work years ago. knows a lot about the site and has contributed much over the years."

It's real, Alec and I staged it for a corvette rally to Groom Lake.

Gordon Lunn

Served in Field Artillery Army Reserve, Active Army, National Guard and Army Reserve for 23 years, retiring with the rank of LTC. Served on Nike sites in Buffalo, Boston and LA. Battalion Staff Officer in LA; and in Chicago (briefly). Became Senior Evaluator at Hqs ARADCOM. Other Service: Army Aviation Systems Command; Hqs. 6th Army; Office of Management and Budget, Pentagon.

Ron Parshall

Marin Headlands - over 1000 hours volunteered Ron was stationed at SF-88 in 1957 as a launcher technician He was part of the original Bud Halsey crew who built SF-88 back in the 1990's. As a licensed electrician, he repaired the Nike Elevator system and the launchers. Without Ron, there would not be working elevators to raise the missiles in both magazines. Ron is a regular tour guide in the launcher area on open house Saturdays.

Karl Schmidt

Karl started volunteering at SF-88 in 2018. Army Veteran and Officer - Platoon Leader, 3rd Armored Cavalry A regular weekend volunteer on Fridays and Saturdays

Al Beerbaum

Nike Veteran and SF-88 volunteer.

Annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ - 2016 & 2017

These pictures are from the 2016 and 2017 events. Greg Brown was the photographer. He brought folding tables, chairs, ice, BBQ, and was also chief chef. Ranger Al Blank provided the food, drinks, and fixins. Center is Ranger Al Blank, founder of the feast :-)) Ron Parshall is in the rightmost red cap. He was an early (pre-1990) volunteer. By 1997 all of the displayed Nike equipment had been gathered and restoration largely complete. The biggest smile belongs to Terry Brown. She is substituting for Greg Brown who is now taking pictures :-)) A quiet moment for (l>r) Don Echeverria, Jerry Freight, Alec Gyorfi and Gordon Lunn Lots of food for EARLY visitors. REALLY nice day packs given to the volunteers. Does Al look like a natural BBQer ?? The young lady ranger (brown flat hat) had been assigned to Maui, Hawaii. Welcome to "Sunny" California ;-)) Ed Thelen's 4th hot dog ??? Home made cookies are in the red cans :-))) Al Blank giving visitors the "lay of the land".

Annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ - 2022

These pictures are from the 2022 event. Greg Brown was the photographer.      "Enclosed are a few pics from yesterday’s fun and frolic in the fog."      He brought folding tables, chairs, ice, BBQ, and was also chief chef.      Terry Brown and Betty Thelen assisted Ranger Al Blank provided the food, drinks, and fixins.

Annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ - 2025

These pictures are from the 2025 event. Greg Brown was the photographer.      "Enclosed are a few pics from yesterday’s fun and frolic. It was a nice day."      He brought folding tables, chairs, ice, BBQ, and was also chief chef.      Volunteers Al Beerbaum and wife Jessica along with Terry Brown. Gordon Lunn brought macaroni salad. Food and drinks were funded by generous volunteer donations. Rangers were fed for free. Ranger Vassar attended !

Emeritus - no longer active

Col. Milton R. (Bud) Halsey National Park Service page on Bud Halsey, Marin Headlands - over 1000 hours volunteered, obituary Ed Thelen Our beloved website creator and SF-88 volunteer One year Ajax IFC training, two years defending Chicago 1955-1956 (successfully ;-)) Active for a few years starting 1996, (including part of a group of 8 getting Nike spares from China Lake), 2013. getting active again, carpooling with Greg Brown until late 2023. In loving memory of Edward Shepard Thelen Oct 28 1931 - Sept. 14 2024 Austin F. Blake photo - by Greg Brown Ezio Nurisio Marin Headlands - over 1000 hours volunteered Nick Nurisio Marin Headlands - over 1000 hours volunteered John Porter - NPS Ranger, site manager from ??? to late 2012, retired, visits occasionally :-)) Dick Huey-Volunteer for 8 years on Thursdays and Saturdays. Always brought in pork buns from the SF Chinese bakery. Dick was loved by volunteers and public. Ranger Al Blank - In charge of SF-88 from 2013 to 2023. He was loved by all and could captivate the public with his excellent storytelling ability. A Viet Nam Veteran and great leader ! Donald Echeverria - Specialist E-5 with 9 years in the California National Guard. Acquisition Radar Operator. A-Battery, 2nd Missile Battalion, Nike Ajax, 250th A.D.A. Group 112th A.D.A. Brigade. April 1953-March 1959 - C Battery 271st A.A.A. Battalion Gun 90 MM Fort Funston, S.F., Calif. , Fort Scott, S.F., Calif. March 1959-March 1962 - Nike Ajax, Fort Scott, S.F., Calif. Rod Brimhall - Rod was a 23N (Nike Radar and Intercept Computer Repairman) and served at the 2/56 ADA for 5 years in Germany, achieving the rank of Staff Sargent. Rod was also on the Nuclear Surety Team during this time, where he was tasked with transporting, protecting and, if needed, destroying the weapon. After returning from Germany, Rod taught Nike Hercules for 18 months, before leaving the Army and returning to California. Larry Bently (Former Volunteer)

Visitors - this section started May 2015
On open house days - generally the first Saturday of the month -
We get lots of visitors arriving at random intervals which are awkward to photograph as a group.
The following are small pre-scheduled tours :-))

Picture from the 576th Flight Test Sq.Tour, SF-88, 5/7/2015 (I'm told the missile is scheduled for a paint job :-)) Photo by Greg Brown

A Reunion - Nike Historical Society, Sept 2, 2017

Photo by Joe Sikoryak group

Photo by Joe Sikoryak group

Food and refreshments were served, but I'm on a diet ;-))