Celebrating Veterans Day
Honoring Our Staff Who Served
This Veterans Day, Torrance Memorial Medical Center proudly celebrates the dedication and courage of our staff members who have served in the Armed Forces. As we honor veterans across the nation, we extend our deepest gratitude to those on our own team who have worn the uniform, bringing invaluable experience, resilience, and compassion to their work every day.
Here are the stories of three inspiring veterans from our Torrance Memorial family, whose lives exemplify commitment, courage, and the spirit of service.
Frank Paour
Corporal, United States Marine Corps
1952 – 1955
Torrance Memorial Volunteer
Thirty-year volunteer escort Frank Paour was born at Torrance Memorial, as were his sister, wife, three children and grandson. He enjoys helping patients navigate the medical center, many of whom he knows from the community.
Paour was drafted during the Korean War and began his Marine Corps service in February 1952. He served as a military police (MP) officer stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island off the coast of Washington State. His duties included patrolling the station to ensure safety and order.
In June 1953, he was transferred to a division heading to Japan. During the 15-day voyage, he served guard duty on the ship, which carried over 4,000 personnel. In Japan, his MP duties included walking the base at night and marching the prisoners for exercise. He credits the service with teaching him discipline.
Paour remembers being pulled over by armed Japanese police during a rare excursion into town with a buddy. The emperor’s motorcade was about to pass by, and they were told to face away from the emperor. But his buddy managed to sneak some photos anyway.
“Being thanked for your military service is pretty recent,” he says. “I’m more often thanked for my volunteer service at the hospital.”
Steven Fontanilla
Petty Officer Second Class, United States Navy (Reserve)
2021 – Present
Pharmacy Technician, Torrance Memorial Staff
Pharmacy technician Steven Fontanilla volunteered at Torrance Memorial Medical Center for two years before joining the staff 10 years ago.
Seeing the devastation of COVID, Fontanilla did a life review and felt called to serve something greater than himself. He joined the Navy Reserves in 2021 and is assigned to two commands. He provides administration and operational readiness support to the Naval Weapons Station at Seal Beach, part of the Navy Security Forces. He also serves with the Emergency Operations Center of the Command Navy Region in Japan.
In addition to his service, Fontanilla decided to channel his passion for healthy diet and exercise into a way to help others. “I want to make a difference to people before they develop the kind of conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID,” he said. He is studying to become a dietician and plans to pursue his new profession in the Navy or in public health.
Military service, he says, “taught me to own my responsibilities, develop a strong work ethic, and take care of myself and others.”
Bruce Jackson, MD
Major, United States Air Force
1974 – 1976
Cardiologist, Torrance Memorial Physician
Staff cardiologist Bruce Jackson voluntarily enlisted in the Air Force in 1974, allowing him time to complete some of his medical training before going into active duty. Although he was attached to the 5th Air Force Division in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, Johnson was stationed at March Air Force Base in Riverside County. He spent two years as head of internal medicine and director of the Critical Care Unit.
The war was winding down and, “We saw a lot of folks in bad physical and psychological shape,” he says. “Many came back changed and turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with their issues.”
Jackson and the base psychiatrist approached participants from the local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter, asking them to volunteer as mentors to the young soldiers. “Many of them were veterans, and the arrangement worked very well.”
“I learned you do better when you cooperate with others,” says Jackson, who has been affiliated with Torrance Memorial Medical Center since 1979. “I also learned that you don’t wait for permission to do the right thing.”
On this Veterans Day, we honor Frank, Steven, Dr. Jackson, and all veterans for their service. Torrance Memorial is deeply grateful to the veterans within our team for the dedication and compassion they bring to our hospital and community.
