  |
 
|
OPTIMAXPatriotism
As Optimax nears it's 20th anniversary, we have fulfilled our objective of creating the fastest, most reliable optics manufacturing factory in the world.
Why are we so passionate about our mission? Many of us have military experience or direct relationships with military personnel. Click the names below to read examples of what drives us to leverage our expertise to help the American warfighter.
- Plympton
- Gregg Plympton
A 3rd Inf Div pilot, Warrant Officer Gregg Plympton was killed in a helicopter crash. The OH-58C Kiowa scout helicopter he ws flying struck a cable and crashed in a field. He was 26 years old, survived by his wife. Though his death was shocking, he died doing the job he loved. Laser based surveillance technology that could have spared his life was being developed but had not yet reached the field.
- Orin and Everett Pittinger
- Brothers who survived the Pearl Harbor attack, Orin was stationed as a mechanic with the Harbor Defense Unit of the U.S. Army and Everett was a mechanic at Hickam Air Force Base. Orin was having breakfast when he heard aircraft flying overhead, assuming it was just maneuvers. Suddenly under attack, Orin and the men with him wanted guns and ammunition but weren't issued rifles until the afternoon. They began preparing for the invasion, putting sand bags along the beaches. Planes chased them. A week after the attack, Orin went to his brother's barracks and found it destroyed. It wasn't until a week later that the brothers were reunited.
Everett was waiting for six B-17s to arrive from the States when he saw a group of planes approach Pearl Harbor. He saw a plane pull out of a dive and drop a bomb. A second bomb hit the Arizona, blowing it up in a huge blast. All the planes sitting outside the hangar were targeted. One was 17 paces from where Everett stood. Gunners were shooting at anything that moved. Everett was soon handed a gun and instructed to ride with an ambulance taking the wounded to Tripler General Hospital in Honolulu. Everett served his country for three more years before returning home to his family.
- Brothers who survived the Pearl Harbor attack, Orin was stationed as a mechanic with the Harbor Defense Unit of the U.S. Army and Everett was a mechanic at Hickam Air Force Base. Orin was having breakfast when he heard aircraft flying overhead, assuming it was just maneuvers. Suddenly under attack, Orin and the men with him wanted guns and ammunition but weren't issued rifles until the afternoon. They began preparing for the invasion, putting sand bags along the beaches. Planes chased them. A week after the attack, Orin went to his brother's barracks and found it destroyed. It wasn't until a week later that the brothers were reunited.
- Jeremy Rathbun
Jeremy is a 1st Lieutenant for the 2-11 Field Artillery. He has led multiple patrols within Balad, Iraq to defend, train, and
build relations with the Iraqi people. He was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for his efforts.
- Gregg Plympton
- Henry
- V. Russell Henry
- V. Russell Henry was a member of the 34th Infantry Division. He was drafted after the attack on Pearl Harbor, went for basic training, and was sent to England in the fall of 1942. The 34th was soon stationed in Tunisia, North Africa, with British forces under the command of Montgomery, facing the German Afrika Corps. Henry was part of the 138th Rifle Company that occupied a hill to the south of the Kasserine Pass. In battle, the German tanks advanced through the pass. The Americans were defeated and on February 14, 1943, Henry's unit was surrounded. He was processed as a POW on February 17th and later transported to Italy, and then to Eastern Germany/Poland to Stalag IIB where he was assigned to a prison farm. In early 1945, the prisoners were marched westward under harsh conditions in response to the rapidly advancing Russians. In May, the prisoners were released and safely rejoined their comrades. Henry was reunited with his young wife.
- Fergus Hegan
Fergus Hegan, an 18 year old Irish immigrant, joined the US Army in 1942 as a member of the 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Mechanized. A Technical Corporal of vehicle maintenance, he and his unit were sent to England in 1943 to prepare for the D-Day build up. On June 6th, 1944, Hegan's unit boarded a ship in the English Channel, arriving at their destination two days later. He continued to experience the front-lines of war. His was the first American unit to reach Paris with the mission to clear out pockets of resistance and snipers. They were later involved on the northern flank of the Battle of the Bulge and held their ground against the Germans in December 1944. The 102nd fought their way into Czechoslovakia and to the town of Pilsen. To this day Pilsen has an annual celebration honoring the American forces that liberated them. Hegan married Irene, a radar specialist in the British Royal Air Force.
Fergus Hegan is among the veterans honored in Optimax's "Honoring our American Warfighers" ad. Hegan is standing in the cockpit of a German Stuka, JU-87g, an update of a d model dive bomber built in the late 1930's. These planes were remodeled into anti-tank planes for use against the newer Soviet tanks being used on the Eastern front.The plane pictured was assigned to the Western front to use against the US tanks. Hegan's unit captured the airfield after the German's retreat.
- V. Russell Henry
- Umber
- John Umber
John Umber, born in 1941, was a member of the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division from 1962 to 1966. He belonged to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, which was also known as "The Mustangs". Umber trained at Fort Bening, GA, and Fort Hood, TX, as a medic. He served in Seoul, Korea, at an Army hospital. John Umber passed away in January, 2006.
- Homer Gauthier
- Homer Gauthier, born in 1923, was a member of the U.S. Army's 87th Infrantry Division from 1942 to 1945. He belonged to the 34th Infrantry Regiment, K Company, which was also known as "The Golden Acorn". His training began in Camp McCain, MS, moved to Tennessee, and ended at Fort Jackson, SC. Gauthier was deployed to the European theater in 1944 were he saw combat in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Umber was on the front in Belgium during The Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded by Nazi artillery in Germany, for which he received the Purple Heart. Gauthier also received the Good Conduct medal as well as theater and victory awards. He carried shrapnel in his leg until the day of his death on April 10, 2000.
- John Umber
- Mendoza
- Alejandro Mendoza
Alejandro was a member of the USAF from 1998 to 2006. He served as a Senior Airman and Aircrew Life Support Instructor
for the first part of his career. After joining the ROTC program through the Rochester Institute of Technology he became
a cadet wing commander responsible for 90 cadets. Upon graduation he rose to 1st Lieutenant and was the Chief of
Standardization and Evaluation with the 10th Space Warning Squadron. A few of his assignments include: Vandenberg Air
Force Base, Cavalier Air Force Station, and Lackland Air Force Base. He was a recipient of numerous awards to include
the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Professional Performer Award, and Crew Commander of the Year.
- Alejandro Mendoza
- Mandina
- Joseph Mandina
Joseph served as a grade Tec 4 in the Core of Engineers for water systems for the Army in 1946. He was stationed in Korea
to engineer all the water systems that went in to the camps. He was given a private plane and pilot to
transport him throughout Korea. Some of awards include the WWII Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal.
- Joseph Mandina
- Bologna
- Ray Melens
Ray joined the U.S. Marine Corp. back in 1968 as a cook/rifleman. Upon completion of initial training, he was sent to the 3rd
Medical Battalion, H&S Co, 3rd Marine Div. in Quang Tri, Vietnam. He was assigned as a graveyard shift baker and his nickname
soon became, "Baker." He later was reassigned to patrol and guard duty where Ray severely injured his back due to the rugged terrain
and was sent back to the states where he soon after was discharged from the Marine Corp.
- Ray Melens
- Smith
- William F. Green
Bill served in the US Navy from 1965 to 1967 as an Aviation Jet Mechanic. He was originally stationed in Norfolk, Virginia assigned to Helicopter/Anti
Submarine Squadron 5 aboard the USS Randolph then reassigned to Squadron 7 in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. In early 1967, he switched jobs to Photographers
Mate because of his pre-Navy employment at Eastman Kodak Company. He was required to take pictures of damaged aircrafts, human casualties, Russian submarines,
and shot the recovery of the Apollo 7 astronauts. Bill retired in 1969 at the Rank of Photographers Mate 3rd Class.
- William F. Green
Here are a few examples of photonic systems to better enable and protect our troops:
- Today helicopter pilots have systems like Arrowhead that improves day and night vision. Arrowhead is the advanced electro-optical fire control system that Apache helicopter pilots use for safe flight in day, night, or bad weather missions.
- LANTIRN allows aircrews to operate worldwide, in daylight or darkness, at mission altitudes from sea level to 40,000 feet, all with outstanding targeting performance.
- AC 130 Gunship Spooky Both the AC-130U gunship's All Light Level Television and the Infrared Detection System can scan a full 360 degrees, allowing the gunship crew to search for and find targets much faster. The television also incorporates Night Vision Imaging System, with compatible lighting throughout, to support use of night vision equipment by its crew. Its strike radar provides the first gunship capability for all-weather/night target acquisition and strike.
- Guardian was developed to defend military aircraft against short-range ballistic missiles and is now being marketed to protect commercial flights.
To remain compliant with industry standards and be able to support these important programs, Optimax is ISO 9001:2008 certified and registered with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, therefore ITAR (International Traffic and Arms Regulations) compliant.
Sincerely,Rick Plympton
CEO Optimax
