Pleasanton Soldiers Receive Hero's Welcome Home

Here's information provided by the Pleasanton Military Families Support Group:

The following local soldiers received a hero's welcome home this past weekend from the Pleasanton Military Families Support Group.

Lt. Jonathan Leetch, Air Force

Lt. Jonathan Leetch graduated from Foothill High School in Pleasanton, and began ROTC while studying at San Francisco State University. Following his graduation, he was commissioned as an Air Force Officer and began his flight training and Initial Flight Screening (IFS) on the DA-20 single prop aircraft in Pueblo, CO.

After earning his wings in February, he went to Washington for Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training. Upon the completion of his training on the MC-12 aircraft, he was deployed to Afghanistan from August 2012 to March 2013.  During that time he logged over 700 combat flight hours piloting the MC-12.

Next, he’ll be in Oklahoma to train on the C-17 transport jet. He expects to be in a number of countries on various types of missions over the next several years.

Corporal Marc De Pretis, USMC

Corporal Marc De Pretis grew up in Pleasanton and joined the U.S. Marines shortly after graduating from high school in 2008.  After his initial training at MCRD in San Diego and graduating from the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, Marc was assigned to the 2/7 Golf of the 1st Marine Division based in Twenty Nine Palms, CA where he continued his training.  Marc has served as a team leader and a squad leader attaining his current rank of Corporal. 

Marc has deployed three times.

In 2010 he deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Southeast Asia.

During his first MEU Marc was a Jungle Warfare Instructor. That same year, Marc became a team leader.  

In 2011 he deployed a second time with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Southeast Asia, where he picked up Squad Leader as a Lance Corporal and picked up Corporal in June 2012.

In September 2012 Marc deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan where he served as an Assistant Patrol Leader and he was one of three Vehicle Commanders. He was also one of two designated marksmen in his Platoon. During his time in Afghanistan, Marc’s Squad was successful in capturing a high value terrorist.  Marc will complete his service to his Country in August 2013 having served for five years. Marc has served his Country bravely. He has been an exemplary leader and we are tremendously proud of him.

Nate began his training for Army Infantry in Ft Benning, GA in January 2011.  Upon completion of his training in April 2011, he went on to Airborne School also in Ft. Benning and graduated in May of 2011 where he was immediately assigned to the 173rd Airborne based in Vicenza, Italy.

Specialist Nathanael (Nate) De Pretis, U.S. Army

Nate has served as a paratrooper in the Army with the 173rd Airborne for nearly two years now. Nate earned his Canadian Jump wings by jumping with the Canadian Army in Poland.

In July of 2012, Nate was deployed to Afghanistan as a Grenadier for his squad and as the Advanced Combat Life Savor for his Platoon. Within 10 days of arriving, his unit was attacked and the lives of two of his closest friends were lost.  That day, Nate proved himself a hero. Nate’s squad leader, Sgt. Morrison, wrote these words when recommending him for a commendation:

“He quickly and safely maneuvered himself to support his comrades at the blast site and provided the proper lifesaving steps saving the lives of two injured Soldiers… 

Under enemy fire, without regard to his own safety, he provided casualty care, shielding them while the machine gunners suppressed enemy maneuver…

He alone moved a casualty three hundred meters and loaded him in the bird, then took up a security position and defended the site for seven more hours during remains and equipment recovery, and the exploitation of the blast site.  He was vital in repelling two more enemy small arms attacks during the next seven hours, exposing himself multiple times to enemy rounds to put fire on the enemy location.”

Nate has approximately  year remaining on his contract where he is expected to remain in Italy with the 173rd. We are exceedingly proud of our son and the man and hero that he has become.

Besides his military accomplishments, Nate has recently become the proud dad of James M. De Pretis.