Arthur “Art” Hasselbrink, Founder/President Emeritus (1926 to 2019)
Art was born a patriot with a fervent love for his country and for those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect her.
At the young age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater from 1943 to 1946 as a Navy Seabee. Art served with the 105th U.S. Naval Construction Battalion at Milne Bay and Hollandia in New Guinea and Leyte in the Philippines, the 33rd Naval Construction Battalion at Iwo Jima and Okinawa in Japan, and the 29th Naval Construction Battalion at Truck Islands until the end of the war.
Following WWII, Art remained in the United States Navy as a reservist while attending Northwestern University. Art graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.
In 1949, Art was recalled to serve in the Korean War. As a newly commissioned officer, Ensign Hasselbrink was assigned to Mobile Construction Battalion 2. The tour of duty took him to various locations: Atsugi Japan Naval Air Station, Kimbo 125 Air Base, and the Chosin Reservoir.
In 1952, Art received his honorable discharge from the United States Navy.
Upon his return to the States from Korea, Art joined the LAPD and served the citizens of Los Angeles from 1952 to 1961 before starting his own construction company in 1962.
Art is also a past president of the Orange County Navy League and the Wilshire Community Police Council. He also served on the advisory board for the Salvation Army.
In 2005, Art helped found Homefront America along with Mamie Yong Maywhort and served as the organization’s president from 2005 until his retirement in 2018.
On January 30, 2019, at the age of 92, Art was called home by our Lord. Although he is gone, his legacy continues to live on in the countless lives he touched.
Mamie Yong Maywhort, Founder and President
Following the aftermath of 09/11, Mamie saw an unprecedented number of troops deploying from Camp Pendleton to the Middle East, leaving behind families, many with young children.
“Having experienced deployments myself, I knew what the families at home were going through, and I felt that I needed to do something to help them.”
This propelled Mamie to reach out and to lend her support at a national military nonprofit organization, where she met Art. It was not long before these two realized they shared a mutual affection for our military.
In July 2005, with the blessing of her husband Adam, Art and Mamie started their own military nonprofit to focus on serving local families, especially the children.
For the first seven years, the organization operated out of the Maywhort’s home. Today, the organization is located in the heart of downtown San Juan Capistrano. As Mamie would always say, “Our home is your home. If you are ever in the neighborhood, please drop by for a visit.”
Mamie is married to Adam Maywhort, a “Navy brat” and former United States Coast Guardsmen. Prior to Homefront America, Mamie was a self-employed accountant. In 2005, she closed her accounting business to focus on her work with Homefront America. Mamie is responsible for the daily operations and finances of the organization and attributes the success of Homefront America to the “wonderful network of Angels” God sends her way.
Mamie holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration and Economics from Chapman University and a teaching credential from Cal State Long Beach in vocational education.
In addition to Homefront America, Mamie also served on the Chapman University Alumni Board and Orange County Employer Advisory Council and is a former Rotarian.
Awards and Recognitions: Mamie received the Angel Light Academy “Above & Beyond Award for Excellence,” F&M Bank “California Strongest People You Can Bank On” and “Service Above Self” Awards, PBS Community Champions Award, Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher Award, and President’s Volunteer Service Award (Gold).