The name of World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient George Mullins did not appear on the official program for USC’s 17th annual gala for veterans, service members and ROTC students on Tuesday.
But Mullins — who turns 101 years old later this month — was clearly the center of attention as the oldest of seven veterans to be honored during a presentation of surprise medals from USC for their service.
During the presentation, Mullins received a prolonged standing ovation from the more than 500 attendees gathered at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. He was then greeted at his table by a steady stream of well-wishers that included retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and event keynote speaker Reynold Hoover, USC President Beong-Soo Kim, fellow honorees and current ROTC students.
“I appreciate it,” Mullins said in a brief interview. “It makes me feel good. I’ve never seen a banquet so nice.”
Mullins’ step-granddaughter, senior Celina Villafranco of the USC Marshall School of Business, accompanied him to the dinner. Villafranco was deeply moved as she watched her heroic family member pose for selfies and receive words of admiration and praise.
“It’s important to commemorate our veterans, especially people like George who have spent their whole lives really dedicating themselves to service,” she said. “Even at his age, he’s very present, very in the moment. He loves people.”
USC veterans gala: Honorees delight in meeting each other
U.S. Air Force veterans Michael Kennedy and Daniel Carlin, U.S. Navy veteran Jane Mason Pellegrino and U.S. Army veterans Ron Reiter and Kurt Vanderwest also received medals at the event.
Immediately after the presentation, Vanderwest rose from his seat to greet Mullins before anyone else.
“My great-grandfather served in World War I and my father and three uncles in World War II, so it was an honor to go over there and shake his hand,” Vanderwest said later. “I wish that 55 years ago I got a reception when I came home from Vietnam. It’s nice to be noticed and welcomed home now.”
Medal recipient Samuel Chine Ho Huang worked alongside American military and Vietnamese physicians as a general surgeon in the Taiwan Air Force to provide aid in 1967 and 1968. Both his son and his grandson — a U.S. Marines veteran — became USC Trojans.
Kim said of the honorees: “They first answered the call of duty many years ago, and they continue to show us what courage looks like.”
University’s long tradition of military service celebrated at USC veterans gala
In his opening remarks, Kim thanked the ROTC cadets, veterans, service members and reservists who “are part of a very long and special tradition of military service at USC.”
“You’ve dedicated yourselves to defending our nation and protecting our freedoms, and we look to you as examples of how to lead lives of purpose and self-sacrifice,” he said.
Kim reminded the audience that USC is one of fewer than 60 schools in the United States that host all three ROTC programs: Navy, Air Force and Army. He pointed out that USC’s Air Force ROTC Class of 2026 has achieved a 100% pilot selection rate, which far exceeds the national average.
LA28 CEO calls on attendees to volunteer
In introducing keynote speaker Hoover, CEO of the LA28 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, Kim described him as “exactly the right man for this job.”
“This is the third time that L.A. is hosting the Olympics, and I’m proud that USC will play its part, from hosting competitions to housing media,” Kim said. “We’ll also be co-hosting the opening ceremony and fully hosting the closing ceremony at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.”
Hoover, a retired three-star Army lieutenant general, accepted his Olympics position in 2024 after a 35-year military career that included a Bronze Star for his work in explosive ordnance disposal during Operation Desert Storm. He also received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.
Hoover highlighted the LA28 volunteer program, with more than 250,000 registrants worldwide. He encouraged veterans, students and the community to volunteer and lead during the massive sporting event with roughly 15,000 total athletes competing in Olympic and Paralympic events.
“I’m asking you to serve again,” he said. “To the students, cadets and midshipmen: Be ambassadors, step forward and lead the way. To families, faculty and community members: Stand with us and help us welcome the world to Los Angeles.”
Hoover described the Olympics as “a belief that people from 206 nations can come together to compete, not in conflict, but in sport.” He also drew parallels between Olympic values and military principles and urged unity and service.
“The Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship are the very same values that the military has lived by for generations,” he said. “Excellence in preparation, respect for others and the unbreakable bond forged through shared sacrifice.”
Words of advice for ROTC students at USC veterans gala
Directly addressing the ROTC cadets in the ballroom, Hoover said that what they are learning right now at USC will matter “more than you realize,” as will all their training, discipline and character.
“You are learning how to lead when the plans fall apart,” he said. “You are learning how to decide when information is incomplete. You are learning to take responsibility when the outcome is uncertain. And as Gen. [Douglas] MacArthur once said, ‘You are learning to [create] hope when hope becomes forlorn.’”
