O.C.’s Only Native Son to Die in Persian Gulf War Honored : Memorial: Family visits plaque placed in Costa Mesa park where Air Force captain once played football.

In the park where her eldest son, Air Force Capt. Arthur M. Galvan, once played football, Doris O’Campo broke into tears Wednesday as she gazed upon the bronze plaque commemorating him--Orange County’s only native son to be killed in the Persian Gulf War.

Galvan’s 52-year-old mother, his twin brothers, sister, 2-year-old niece and several family friends assembled at Fairview Park on a clear, breezy morning to view the plaque, which the city placed Tuesday on a rock before a plum tree in honor of its native son.

Almost a year has passed, but the pain O’Campo feels is just as strong, she said.

“I’m hurt, I’m angry, I cannot . . . explain what I feel inside,” she said. “So young and he’s gone. Two weeks in the Persian Gulf and he’s gone.

“I’m not alone. I’m sure that other parents feel the same way and are hurting as much as I am,” she said, choking back tears.

Galvan’s brother, Gary Galvan, 30, a health-care worker, explained that his mother is proud of Arthur, but is also confused and upset that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein remains in power.

“My mother is angry that Hussein is still there,” he said, clasping his mother, who nodded in agreement. “She believes that they should have walked in and taken this guy. But he’s still in power, causing destruction.

“It was extremely hard during the holidays,” he added. “We sons and daughter tried to stay by her side and to keep her in good spirits. But it’s hard for her to accept this loss of her first son.”

As the family members stood before the plaque, they were filled with memories of the young Air Force officer, the first in his family to attend college and, later, to earn a master’s degree, in international relations at Troy State University in Alabama.

“I remember him . . . sitting down in the patio, just singing songs,” said Kitty Graves, a longtime family friend.

“I miss everything about him--his smile, his way of joking around with us all, his guitar playing,” his sister, Terry Galvan, 28, said wistfully. “Since he’s not buried here, the memorial is something we can come to look at.”

“We always thought he would be coming back,” Gary Galvan said. “He was so strong in his convictions. He was so proud of what he was doing. He said if something happens to me, just be proud of what I was doing.”

David Alkema, Costa Mesa parks superintendent, said the memorial site was chosen because it is visible from the road and beside Estancia High School, where Galvan played on the football team and graduated in 1975.

“We wanted to commemorate Arthur because he was a local boy--raised here, went to school here,” Alkema said. “The city wanted to show their appreciation for someone who gave it all.”

O’Campo said her son decided early on a military career, enlisting shortly after high school. He began at the lowest enlisted rank, then rose steadily to captain. His first combat experience occurred in 1989 during Operation Just Cause, the U.S. invasion of Panama that ousted Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, she said.

Galvan was assigned to the 16th Special Operations Squadron and 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field near Pensacola, Fla., but the 33-year-old bombing navigator often came to Southern California to teach other Air Force officers. During these trips, he would visit his family.

Before he returned to his home in Navarre, Fla., to spend Christmas, 1990, with his wife and now 12-year-old son, his family here had all gotten together at his request. That was the last time family members saw him.

On Dec. 28, Galvan left Florida for Saudi Arabia. Less than two weeks after the war started, his AC-130 Spectre gunship, containing 13 other crew members, was shot down during the Battle of Khafji on Jan. 31.

Shortly afterward, Galvan’s family was notified that he was missing in action. But it was more than 30 days before his death was confirmed.

“I was going through hell when he was reported missing,” O’Campo said. “I was losing my father at the same time. Two weeks after I lost my son, I lost my father.”

Galvan was buried at the Ft. Barancus military cemetery in Pensacola. He and his crew mates were posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the military’s third highest decoration for bravery. Galvan also was awarded a Purple Heart.

A scholarship fund in honor of Galvan has been established by Estancia High School. Contributions should be addressed to the Arthur Galvan Memorial Fund and may be sent directly to California Federal Savings, 2700 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626.