Honoring Our Veterans

Original Parts Group would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the Men and Women who have served and continue to serve our Country. We are not just thankful but also motivated by you. Today OPGI would like to personally thank some special employees who have protected and served. 

From left to right; Raymond Higgins, Frank Reyna, Jeff Tucker, Tom Farina, Rollie Bennett, Doug Farina, Kris Cabedo and Blaine.

Raymond Higgins known for his cowboy hat and boots here at OPGI is a very valued employee. As our Sales Manager, he manages around 25 Customer Service Representatives. Raymond joined the United States Air Force and worked as a Morse Systems Operator, stationed out of Kadena AFB Okinawa Prefecture, Japan from 1971-1973. Raymond was, “Proud to serve.”

OPGI’s Senior Desktop Operator Frank Reyna has been with OPGI for just over a year. Frank enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1988 and served until 1992. He was mainly stationed out of 29 Palms with the role of Air-Ground Radar Technician.

Customer Service Specialist, Jeff Tucker joined the United States Navy to get away from home and see the world. He was stationed in San Diego and served as a Petty Officer, Third Class Quartermaster onboard the USS Berkeley, DDG-15. While on the Berkeley he made two 6 month overseas deployments. Jeff and his unit made port visits to, South Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Australia, and Hawaii, just to name a few.

Tom and Doug Farina, the men behind our 1964 Corvair Monza Spyder build worked countless hours for 7 months to ensure the Corvair was show ready for SEMA 2018. Not only do we have that to thank these men for, but we also owe them a huge thanks for their prior service. Tom was an E5 in the US Navy, stationed in Central California for 2 years. He did boot camp in San Diego, Ca and did training in Memphis Tennessee. While in the Navy, Tom worked as an Aircraft Mechanic. Doug decided to study Aviation in the Army. He was stationed out of Vietnam where he was Crew Chief on the Cobra and also worked as Medevac Rescue on the well-known Huey.

Longtime employee Rollie Bennett has been with Original Parts Group for almost 17 years. Not long after he started back in 2002, Rollie was called to serve a tour overseas. He trained in Fort Bliss, Texas before he and his unit were stationed at Camp Doha, Kuwait where he served during Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as Operation Enduring freedom from 2003-2004. Rollie enlisted in the Army in 1999, while he was a senior in high school. Just after graduating Rollie was off to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for boot camp. Rollie also did some training in  Fort Lee, Virginia, as well as Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Kristopher Cabedo who works in our Web department was Active Duty from 2008-2012 in the US Marines. He was stationed out of Camp, Henson Okinawa Japan and also served a tour on Operation Enduring Freedom with Combat Logistics Battalion 3 from 2010-2011.

Last but not least, we have Blaine who works in our Customer Service Department. He was Active Duty in the United States Army for 5 years and 2 years National Guard. Blaine and his unit were called to assist in “CalFire” in the “CarrFire” incident in Northern California as a type 3 hand crew.

Thank you ALL for your service to protect the United States of America and for always guarding us through, OPGI salutes you!