Who We Are
Leilani Squire was born at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu while her father (who served thirty years in the United States Navy) was deployed on an aircraft carrier during the Korean War, and raised in the military. In 2010, Leilani began a weekly creative writing workshop for veterans at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center’s Domiciliary and has been facilitating writing workshops and producing various projects for the veteran communities since. In 2017, she formed the non-profit that is Returning Soldiers Speak.
She is a playwright, published poet and author, script analyst, and CCA Certified Creativity Coach. She is an active company member of EST/LA, the company’s Playwrights Unit, The Dramatist Guild, an alumna of the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive, and a candidate for the Dramatist Guild Institute’s certification program. Leilani was one of four facilitators for Mil-Tree’s The Art of Resilience in May 2020. 15 Dead Souls won Veterans Repertory Theater’s inaugural 10-minute play competition, and opened for the theater’s The Parlor during June 2023. She was a guest artist at Veteran Repertory Theater’s Savage Wonder Festival on Memorial Weekend, 2022. She directed a play for EST/LA’s one act play festival in Spring 2022, and directed a production of 15 Dead Souls for EST/LA in November 2022.
Returning Soldiers Speak Board Members
Leilani Squire, President
Lester Probst, Treasurer
Rebecca Steward-Wilson, Secretary
William Duffy, Board Member
Ralph S. Carlson, Board Member
Lester Probst
Lester Probst served on the DMZ with the U.S. Army’s 40th Infantry Division during the Korean Conflict from 1953-54. In 1959, he graduated from New York University as an electrical engineer. His first job was designing flight simulators, and he formed and led several computer companies until he retired in 2002. In 2004, after his wife retired from teaching they moved to Los Angeles. In 2014, he joined the American Legion, Hollywood Post 43 where he was introduced to creative writing by Returning Soldiers Speak. There he co-wrote with several veterans a two-act play that was workshopped and featured at ESTLA’s 2019 Winterfest event, highlighting marginalized demographics to the community. Following that performance he began to workshop his own play, VOLUN-TEARs, which is about women in the military and Military Sexual Trauma. Then the pandemic shut everything down.
During the pandemic, he joined various groups writing and performing both live and on zoom. He wrote monologues, performed a nine-minute comedy set, and co-wrote and acted in a two-minute film. At the end of the pandemic, the Veterans Empowerment Theater produced VOLUN- TEARs at the Blue Door Theater (the theatrical home ArtsUP! LA) in Culver City, California. There were seven shows, performed by a mostly military veteran cast and crew in late December 2022 and in early January 2023. Lester is also an active member of the Dramatist Guild of America and Veterans Empowerment Theater; a member/advisor of Veterans in Media and Entertainment; and a Board member of El Pueblo Park Association.
Rebecca Stewart-Wilson
Rebecca Stewart-Wilson is a woman of substance; self-sustaining, sensitive, trustworthy and a child of God. She has learned that your life is what you make it with the assistance of God. She is the Executive Directeur/Owner of SonRoms Business Services, a virtual company that provides many services under one umbrella. The most important things in her life, are “Focusing on God, being an inspiration for her children, and helping others.” As a Professional with a unique blend of technological, organizational and development expertise, Rebecca is a highly effective communicator with knowledge of interpersonal relationships. She is a valuable problem solver which meets the needs of those she serves and builds trust and integrity with others. Rebecca’s purpose in life is to be a resourceful, creative contributor to others, and always shares her insight and understanding to help the receiver achieve their goals.
As a volunteer member for the American Legion Auxiliary, the premier service organization for Veterans, our military, and their families Rebecca works to help shape a positive future in an atmosphere of fellowship, patriotism, peace, and security. Rebecca is the National Security Chairman for Hollywood American Legion Auxiliary Unit 43. The goal of her position is to maintain and promote a strong national defense by providing the necessary means to strengthen our military families.
William Duffy
Though theatrically trained in NYC, William Duffy is best known for his 7 seasons recurring as an actor on “The West Wing”. He has also appeared in over 50 movie or TV projects, as well as over 150 theatre projects on various stages around the country. His education includes a BS Degree in Accounting/Finance, certification as a CPA, and a Masters Degree in Psychology/Counseling.
When not creating artistically on a set or stage, Duffy can be found around the country giving public seminars on improving negotiation skills to buyers and sellers in various major industries.
Ralph S. Carlson
Ralph S. Carlson, in 1964-1968, used his college deferment, then signed up for the Army Security Agency. Training in Hanoi Dialect Vietnamese at the Presidio of Monterey, California, and Security School at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas preceded assignment to Viet Nam. The last quarter of 1970, at the 8th Radio Research Field Station at Phu Bai, he translated intercepted messages from Military Station 5 on the Ho Chi Minh trail. In late December, he was assigned to the 407th Radio Research Detachment in Quang Tri Province, where he did voice intercept on Fire Support Base Sarge January to June 1971, then, at detachment operations, translated intercept from units along the DeMilitarized Zone July through September 1971.
The GI Bill helped Ralph through advanced degrees in English literature and linguistics at the University of Oregon. He taught English writing and literaure courses at Cal State San Bernardino, 1978-1981. At Azusa Pacific University, 1981-2014, he taught English literature, grammar, linguistics and creative writing:poetry classes. During his career and in retirement, Ralph has made short-term English workshop and other aid-related trips to Asia, most often to China and Viet Nam with ECF International. Over 440 of Ralph’s poems have appeared in numerous journals.
Dallas Dorsett Mathers, Graphic Designer, is the daughter of a WWII veteran, the widow of a cold war veteran and the sister of a Viet Nam War veteran. She has great respect for those who serve the country in the military, and is very happy to contribute her time and expertise to Returning Soldiers Speak.
In Memoriam
Lee Mingh Sloca was an extraordinary poet, graphic artist, tireless social and political activist, ambassador for literature and a great friend who touched countless lives. As a native of Vietnam, he escaped with his family just days before the fall of Saigon to the U.S. where, at age 10, English became a second language, heightening his sensitivity to the sound, meaning and rhythm of literary expression. After attending University of California at Santa Cruz, he worked for fourteen years with special needs children.
The Beyond Baroque literary center became a second home for Lee, where he also facilitated poetry workshops and organized special events; some that combined literature with politics. Lee’s poetry was published in numerous journals and online magazines, the last of which was "Chronogram," edited by Pulitzer Prize winning poet and current poet laureate of the United States, Philip Levine. He also worked on a book based on familiar fairy tales with an Asian American perspective and loved working with underprivileged children. Returning Soldiers Speak, which Lee originally established as Returning Soldier before his untimely passing in June 2010, is a lasting tribute to his great legacy.
If we’ve got any poets out there, now’s the time to step up.
—James Mathers, U.S. Navy and Air Force
Who We Are
Leilani Squire was born at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu while her father (who served thirty years in the United States Navy) was deployed on an aircraft carrier during the Korean War, and raised in the military. In 2010, Leilani began a weekly creative writing workshop for veterans at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center’s Domiciliary and has been facilitating writing workshops and producing various projects for the veteran communities since. In 2017, she formed the non-profit that is Returning Soldiers Speak.
She is a playwright, published poet and author, script analyst, and CCA Certified Creativity Coach. She is an active company member of EST/LA, the company’s Playwrights Unit, The Dramatist Guild, an alumna of the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive, and a candidate for the Dramatist Guild Institute’s certification program. Leilani was one of four facilitators for Mil-Tree’s The Art of Resilience in May 2020. 15 Dead Souls won Veterans Repertory Theater’s inaugural 10-minute play competition, and opened for the theater’s The Parlor during June 2023. She was a guest artist at Veteran Repertory Theater’s Savage Wonder Festival on Memorial Weekend, 2022. She directed a play for EST/LA’s one act play festival in Spring 2022, and directed a production of 15 Dead Souls for EST/LA in November 2022.
Returning Soldiers Speak Board Members
Leilani Squire, President
Lester Probst, Treasurer
Rebecca Steward-Wilson, Secretary
William Duffy, Board Member
Ralph S. Carlson, Board Member
Lester Probst
Lester Probst served on the DMZ with the U.S. Army’s 40th Infantry Division during the Korean Conflict from 1953-54. In 1959, he graduated from New York University as an electrical engineer. His first job was designing flight simulators, and he formed and led several computer companies until he retired in 2002. In 2004, after his wife retired from teaching they moved to Los Angeles. In 2014, he joined the American Legion, Hollywood Post 43 where he was introduced to creative writing by Returning Soldiers Speak. There he co-wrote with several veterans a two-act play that was workshopped and featured at ESTLA’s 2019 Winterfest event, highlighting marginalized demographics to the community. Following that performance he began to workshop his own play, VOLUN-TEARs, which is about women in the military and Military Sexual Trauma. Then the pandemic shut everything down.
During the pandemic, he joined various groups writing and performing both live and on zoom. He wrote monologues, performed a nine-minute comedy set, and co-wrote and acted in a two-minute film. At the end of the pandemic, the Veterans Empowerment Theater produced VOLUN- TEARs at the Blue Door Theater (the theatrical home ArtsUP! LA) in Culver City, California. There were seven shows, performed by a mostly military veteran cast and crew in late December 2022 and in early January 2023. Lester is also an active member of the Dramatist Guild of America and Veterans Empowerment Theater; a member/advisor of Veterans in Media and Entertainment; and a Board member of El Pueblo Park Association.
Rebecca Stewart-Wilson
Rebecca Stewart-Wilson is a woman of substance; self-sustaining, sensitive, trustworthy and a child of God. She has learned that your life is what you make it with the assistance of God. She is the Executive Directeur/Owner of SonRoms Business Services, a virtual company that provides many services under one umbrella. The most important things in her life, are “Focusing on God, being an inspiration for her children, and helping others.” As a Professional with a unique blend of technological, organizational and development expertise, Rebecca is a highly effective communicator with knowledge of interpersonal relationships. She is a valuable problem solver which meets the needs of those she serves and builds trust and integrity with others. Rebecca’s purpose in life is to be a resourceful, creative contributor to others, and always shares her insight and understanding to help the receiver achieve their goals.
As a volunteer member for the American Legion Auxiliary, the premier service organization for Veterans, our military, and their families Rebecca works to help shape a positive future in an atmosphere of fellowship, patriotism, peace, and security. Rebecca is the National Security Chairman for Hollywood American Legion Auxiliary Unit 43. The goal of her position is to maintain and promote a strong national defense by providing the necessary means to strengthen our military families.
William Duffy
Though theatrically trained in NYC, William Duffy is best known for his 7 seasons recurring as an actor on “The West Wing”. He has also appeared in over 50 movie or TV projects, as well as over 150 theatre projects on various stages around the country. His education includes a BS Degree in Accounting/Finance, certification as a CPA, and a Masters Degree in Psychology/Counseling.
When not creating artistically on a set or stage, Duffy can be found around the country giving public seminars on improving negotiation skills to buyers and sellers in various major industries.
Ralph S. Carlson
Ralph S. Carlson, in 1964-1968, used his college deferment, then signed up for the Army Security Agency. Training in Hanoi Dialect Vietnamese at the Presidio of Monterey, California, and Security School at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas preceded assignment to Viet Nam. The last quarter of 1970, at the 8th Radio Research Field Station at Phu Bai, he translated intercepted messages from Military Station 5 on the Ho Chi Minh trail. In late December, he was assigned to the 407th Radio Research Detachment in Quang Tri Province, where he did voice intercept on Fire Support Base Sarge January to June 1971, then, at detachment operations, translated intercept from units along the DeMilitarized Zone July through September 1971.
The GI Bill helped Ralph through advanced degrees in English literature and linguistics at the University of Oregon. He taught English writing and literaure courses at Cal State San Bernardino, 1978-1981. At Azusa Pacific University, 1981-2014, he taught English literature, grammar, linguistics and creative writing:poetry classes. During his career and in retirement, Ralph has made short-term English workshop and other aid-related trips to Asia, most often to China and Viet Nam with ECF International. Over 440 of Ralph’s poems have appeared in numerous journals.
Dallas Dorsett Mathers, Graphic Designer, is the daughter of a WWII veteran, the widow of a cold war veteran and the sister of a Viet Nam War veteran. She has great respect for those who serve the country in the military, and is very happy to contribute her time and expertise to Returning Soldiers Speak.
In Memoriam
Lee Mingh Sloca was an extraordinary poet, graphic artist, tireless social and political activist, ambassador for literature and a great friend who touched countless lives. As a native of Vietnam, he escaped with his family just days before the fall of Saigon to the U.S. where, at age 10, English became a second language, heightening his sensitivity to the sound, meaning and rhythm of literary expression. After attending University of California at Santa Cruz, he worked for fourteen years with special needs children.
The Beyond Baroque literary center became a second home for Lee, where he also facilitated poetry workshops and organized special events; some that combined literature with politics. Lee’s poetry was published in numerous journals and online magazines, the last of which was "Chronogram," edited by Pulitzer Prize winning poet and current poet laureate of the United States, Philip Levine. He also worked on a book based on familiar fairy tales with an Asian American perspective and loved working with underprivileged children. Returning Soldiers Speak, which Lee originally established as Returning Soldier before his untimely passing in June 2010, is a lasting tribute to his great legacy.
If we’ve got any poets out there, now’s the time to step up.
—James Mathers, U.S. Navy and Air Force