The friends of Mark Komar, 62, MS-3, US Navy, 1977 - 1981; have invited the Patriot Guard Riders to be present to honor their Hero for his service to his country. It will be our privilege to do so.
In the Navy, Mark was assigned to Destroyer USS Hull DD-945. He toured the Western Pacific twice, and was stationed at US Naval Base in Subic City, Philippines (*spending over 3 of his 4 year tour of duty at sea) and attained the rank of Mess Specialist, 3nd Class (Cook) and received an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1981.
MS-3 Komar has no living relatives (verified).
In the words of his best friend, Louis Rafti (Designated guardian of remains): A Short Biography of My Friend, Mark “Marek” Komar. "In the Spring of 1968, Marek and his parents, Mira and Paul Komar escaped communist Poland and moved to North Hollywood, California. Mark was introduced to me by the playground monitor at our local elementary school and had been friends ever since. During our teens, Mark and I belonged to a Stingray Bicycle Club called Los Condors. After he was old enough to drive, Mark was briefly into Muscle Cars. In 1977 he crashed his ’71 Chevy Nova into a telephone pole, but was so drunk that he sustained absolutely no physical injuries. Shortly thereafter, Mark patriotically joined the US Navy. Following his release from active duty, Mark returned to North Hollywood and began working with his father in the Los Angeles Garment District. He also hung out at Lola’s Bar, which was just around the corner from his apartment, and also became the North Hollywood center of the 1980s cocaine epidemic. Mark became dependent upon cocaine in order to function, and later a non-functional addict. The end decade saw Mark enrolled at the Westwood VA’s Six-Month Rehabilitation Program. Mark was the first person that I knew to become clean and sober. One day in the early 90s he showed up at the door of my home, looking better than I had ever seen him look, dressed sharply in sport coat and slacks, sporting a new car and a beautiful new girlfriend. Her name is Phyllis and she was the love of Mark’s life. At that time, she and Mark were living together in a nice little apartment and making the 12 Step Circuit speaker rounds, as Recovery’s poster couple. Not too many years later, I also experienced a crisis with substance use. I thought about Mark, got myself into rehab, and just barely saved my life. Once in recovery, Mark and I became close friends again. I often saw him at 12 Step Meetings and we spoke with each other over the phone often. He also liked to ride motorcycles. Mark became not only my brother in life, but my brother in recovery as well.
Mark worked in the Men’s Garment Industry for his entire life. He worked with his father, Paul until he died in 2000. Mark took care of his dad until the end, and then honored his father by starting his own Men’s Clothing Company, “Retro Paris Clothing”. It won the “Best In Show” award at the 2014 Las Vegas Clothing Expo. Mark utilized this newly found financial independence to purchase a Harley and cultivate a “Rebel Biker” image. He lived with, and took care of his mother Mira and even convinced her to join Alcoholics Anonymous. She got sober and became an institution at AA Meetings at the Chandler Lodge Meeting Hall. I saw her there often. It was a pleasure to see her not drinking. Our families had been friends for as long as Mark and I had. Mira stayed sober until she died in 2016. Mark was with her, holding her hand. One day, in September 2020, I received a text photo of him on his Harley, heading north on PCH. That was the last I heard of him, until I received notice of his passing on June 28, 2021. One thing I am sure of, is that he was my brother. I and his friends, wish to honor him in the way that he would have wanted to be honored.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all PGR Members are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero from a hotel, across from the cemetery, a distance of less than a mile. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
NOTE: PLEASE OBSERVE ALL COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS, HAVE MASK/FACE COVERING AVAILABLE IF NEEDED.
Time Table for Saturday 28 May 2022:1000 - Stage at Hampton Inn Riverside 22440 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518 (
https://goo.gl/maps/1gPZsHGy5SVSg5fm6)
1015 - Mission Briefing
1030 – Flag line to friends car (Cremains)
1045 - KSU to Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518 (
https://goo.gl/maps/3GxCBP3s53RVPtJU7)
1100 - KSU to assigned shelter for Flag Line, Service and Military Honors
RC: Chuck "Machine" Johnson
USAF SERE Master Instructor, MSgt Ret
US Army Sgt SEA 68-70
SoCal PGR Ride Captain
American Legion Riders Post 416
760 271 2544
chuckj661@hotmail.com
“Heroes rarely get happy endings. They give them to other people.”
You do not have to be a veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. All PGR members are welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the Ride Captain (RC). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent, and with honor and respect for our Heroes. No talking, smoking, or cell phone use during the flag line or service. Please keep radios off and engine noise to a minimum. Observe the 15 MPH speed limit. Remember, cemeteries are hallowed ground. Show respect to all who are there, not just the ones we are honoring.
