Where do I begin? Let's see; In the beginning I attended; Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School, then; Richard Garvey Junior High School, then; yes, it's coming to me, Mark Keppel High School and I graduated with a great bunch of great people in 1965! That must be all of you! :-) Well hello there "friends and classmates" of the Mark Keppel High School, Silver Anniversary Class of 1965! Wow, how have you all been for over fifty-
years? Doing well and prospering I am sure! Anyway, long time no see! :-) As for me, well, after graduation from Mark Keppel High School, I joined the U.S. Navy with MKHS classmate Bill Campbell, we were sworn in on the same day and went through "Boot Camp" in San Diego together. After "Boot Camp" I served, first, as a crewmember aboard the Destroyer, USS Shields, DD-596 [state-side] and then aboard the Amphibious Assault Ship, USS Valley Forge, LPH-8 [in Vietnam] and participated in numerous U.S. Navy Brownwater and Amphibious "Gator" combat operations during the Vietnam War. I am very proud to be a U.S. Navy / Vietnam War Veteran! I was in the U.S. Navy for six-years. After my U.S. Navy service and return to the world from Vietnam, I married our MKHS classmate Judith L. Crosier, we have four-children James, Julie, Joelle and Jeannette and eight-grandchildren Dylan, Bradley, Savannah, Andrew, Davis, Alex, Zane and Zoe. Judith and I separated in 2006 after 38-years of marraige and our divorce was final in 2008. Along the way, I earned a B.S. in Police Science and Criminal Justice and an M.S. in Police Administration and a Teaching Credential. In 2007, I was diagnosed with cancer and it was determined by the VA that my cancer was Vietnam service-connected and had developed from my exposure to Agent Orange during my deployments in Vietnam, I subsequently had surgery and have been cancer free for eight-years. I am a fortunate man. I joined the Los Angeles Police Department [LAPD] in 1972 and served as a Policeman for thirty-years and two-days. During my time on the job I worked with MKHS classmate and LAPD officer David Grey, and ran into fellow LAPD officers and MKHS classmates Chuck Foote and Bob Reihm every once in awhile. It's a small world. I am now LAPD retired. I am a California Licensed Private Investigator. After my divorce from MKHS classmate Judith L. Crosier and during my Agent Orange cancer journey I met Jacqueline "Jacque" Shane and we became best friends, Jacqueline, my daughter Jeannette and son-in-law Steve were there for me throughout my Agent Orange cancer ordeal. I asked Jacqueline to marry me in April 2009 and we were married in Dana Point overlooking the harbor in June 2009. Jacque and I spend our time traveling extensively and enjoying our daily bike rides anywhere and everywhere. Jacque has a son Tye, daughter-in-law Kahnema and three grandchildren Tatianna, Samantha and Tyler, and so my family has expanded. Regarding our time at Mark Keppel High School, I would say; may each of you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best forgotten! I remember "Mark Keppel" as one of the best times of my life. I truly enjoyed the ride. It is hard to believe it has been fifty-years since our graduation from Mark Keppel High School and I am very saddened to see how many of our friends and fellow classmates are posted in the "In Memory" section of this website, it confirms my belief that every moment of our lives is a gift, may our classmates who are no longer with us "Rest-In-Peace" and for sure they will all live forever in our hearts and minds. I guess our MKHS Silver Anniversary Class is now the MKHS Golden Anniversary Class. I wish all of you continued smooth-sailing and starry-starry nights wherever you are and remember; don't let your anchors rust! As an FYI; I have remained close friends with fellow Vietnam Veteran [U.S. Army] and MKHS classmate Robert Hepler over the years and recently reconnected with MKHS classmate and U.S. Navy Officer and Vietnam Era Veteran Paul Heuser. :-)

I would like to thank the MKHS Class of 1965 Reunion Committee and everyone else involved for all their hard work,e.g., organizing this wonderful website and all the cool events planned for October. Great job! Now that's the MKHS spirit. :-)

I think I just wrote a novel.

Jim Cypert
Find Jacque and I on FB @ Jim Jacque Cypert