The Renton Reporter’s Tracey Compton interviewed four veterans, all members of the American Legion in Renton, to learn about their service to our country.

The interviews were conducted just before an American Legion open house at which legion members of the Fred Hancock Post 19 explained the many services and programs provided to veterans of America’s wars and their families.

Renton’s veterans are served by a number of organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, with posts in downtown Renton and Skyway. And Renton has a new Veterans Affairs office that helps homeless veterans find a place to live.

Rod Haynes was motivated to join the U.S. Navy five months after the U.S. embassy in Iran was run over by students, who took hostages.

He was also compelled to serve because many relatives had served before him.

“We have it in our blood and (because of) the situation in Iran with Ayatollah Khamenei.

Haynes served between 1980 and 1991, in Beruit, Lebanon. He was in Beruit during the attack at the Marine compound at the airport, where about 241 Marines were killed.

“A single truck drove into the lobby, with 20,000 pounds of explosives and it detonated and pancaked the building,” Haynes said.

He was 8,000 yards off shore and saw the explosion.

After serving his country, Haynes eventually came to work in social services. He currently works for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.