The family of Herbert Olayvar has 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.
Herbert proudly served in US Marine Corp Sept 1951 to March 1971 achieving the rank of 1st Sgt. He was a highly decorated and long retired Marine Corps Veteran, having served a tour in Korea and several in Vietnam with the 3rd Recon Battalion, where countless missions into North Vietnam were conducted. He also taught hand to hand combat and guerilla warfare and was a Drill Instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. But after twenty plus years of service to our country, he finally laid his weapons down and retired. As a result of his actions while in service, a Bronze Star with Valor, a Purple Heart, and a Presidential Unit Citation, are just a few of the numerous honors bestowed him during his career. And to give credence to the term “Always a Marine”, one of his more recent patches read “Not as lean. Not as mean. But still a Marine!”
Born May 1932, in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the age of nine he witnessed the bombing of Pearl Harbor from his home in Damon Tract, which is now under the Honolulu International Airport. On December 18, 1951, he married his high school sweetheart, Patricia, and started a family that’s now four generations strong.
From an early age, martial arts became his lifestyle as he mastered several disciplines over the years. Later in life he volunteered to share his skills and knowledge at the Del Rio Community Center (now the Melba Bush Rec Center) in Oceanside, CA and became a community recognized Sensei to hundreds of kids and adults.
Most never knew that prior to his military career, back in Hawaii he was a jazz ukulele musician and pianist playing in clubs around Honolulu and the occasional radio appearance. All with close friend and now renowned ukulele great, Herb Ohta. But as retirement provided some time to chill, smooth jazz on the keys is what would often fill the air.
Another little known fact is that he was a very good artist. His work leaned towards character drawings and martial art illustrations, but while in the Marines, he also did illustrations of Vietcong tactics, encampments and tunneling strategies, that helped train and save American lives.
On the home front he was strict, but not with an iron fist that is compared to his Drill Instructor mode. His children say: "He encouraged us to better ourselves, respect ourselves and respect others, while being there in support with sports, hobbies and life in general. Even our friends could count on him and nearly everything was a teaching moment….a true Sensei to the core. But perhaps the most deep and unforgettable example of being a man that he displayed was how he loved our mom."
To Herb Olayvar, Martial Arts, the Marines and music were very important to him, but family was always first. He was a warrior at heart with an Aloha spirit. The perfect blend of each within a great man, who will be greatly missed.
Herbert is preceded in death by his wife Patricia, son Robert, siblings Jannie, Albert and Virginia and his parents Basilio and Agripina. He is survived by sons Michael, David and Joe, along with twelve grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
NOTE: This mission posting facilitates your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran.
NOTE: Arrive quietly as the service starts at 10am in the chapel. After the Church service, about 45 – 60 minutes, the family will come out of the chapel with the urn and walk to the place of interment. Military honors will be held at this time.
Time Table for Friday 30 September 2022:0915 – Stage at San Luis Rey Mission Parrish, 4070 Mission Ave., Oceanside, CA 92057
https://goo.gl/maps/gyEpVUMDA3vSfFis9 (As you drive up to the Mission follow the road to the right and around behind to the Chapel. The Chapel is where the services will be held.)
0930 – Mission briefing
1045 – Flag Line for Military Honors and Funeral Service
R/C Lorenzo Lizarraga
SoCal PGR Regional Captain619-971-2236
llizarraga@yahoo.com
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.
