Eggmans celebrate family members’ military service

The Eggman family gathers every three years for a reunion and this year the family celebrated its many family members who have or are still serving in the military.

The story of the Eggman brothers, all six of them who served, has been told several times. That service by those six boys — Ardith, Max, Gene, Garland, Arthur and Ray — spanned two wars, beginning with World War II.

On Saturday, the family, about 80 in all reported Debbie Facio, daughter of Barbara Eggman (the only girl of the family), gathered at the Porterville Veterans Memorial to enjoy their long family tree and to honor all of those who have served.

In a Nov. 11, 2015 story, The Recorder detailed the service by the boys of Judith and Arthur Eggman. The Eggmans moved to the Porterville area in the 1930s, living mostly in Terra Bella and Springville. They worked on the tree fruit farms which were prevalent in this area during the Dust Bowl.

It was their oldest son who got the military involvement started. Garland served in the Navy in World War II. Gene, the second oldest, also served in World War II in the Merchant Marines.

Ardith, now 93, joined the Marines and served in both World War II and the Korean War. Brother Ray served in the U.S. Army.

Max and Arthur both joined the Marines.

At Saturday’s gathering, each brother had a story board with photos and articles about them. Ardith and Max, who is 87, both attended the family reunion.

The service goes far beyond the six brothers. Several of their children have served, including Jonathan Finnsson who served in Iraq and Nick Thompson, who fought in Afghanistan in 2014 and 2015.

Included among those children who have served is Arvada, who served in the U.S. Air Force and Patricia Eggman, who also served in the Air Force.

Facio said the family had a great time enjoying their rich history and sold some of the books detailing the family’s history, a compilation of Max’s writings on Korea and more in order to pay for the next family reunion in 2020.

“It was beautiful. We did a lot of work,” she said. “Our uncles are in bad shape,” she said of it being maybe the last time those patriarchs will be able to attend.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Eggman ‘Band of Brothers,’ from left, top, David Hammond, Jonathan Finnssani, Arthur Eggman, Michael Eggman and David Jones; bottom, Max Eggman, Susan Eggman, Arvada Spina and Ardith Eggman. Many of the Eggman family have served in the military.

Many of the Eggman family members who have served in the military were recognized with special displays during the family’s reunion last weekend. Here is the display for Gene Eggman who served in the Merchant Marines during World War II, one of the six...