By MARIA MACHUCA, Californian staff writer e-mail: mmachuca@bakersfield.com

As the first woman elected commander of the Bakersfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7216, Margie Ochoa Greene knows she is breaking new ground.

But at a personal level, her new office is the continuation of a family tradition and a legacy left by her father.

Alfonso R. Ochoa, a World War II veteran and former VFW Post 7216 commander, had wished his daughter would also become the post's commander, Greene said.

"I feel very proud to do what he did, because he was very good at what he did," Greene said.

Her father died more than a year ago. He was post commander for three consecutive years in the mid-1970s.

"He was very proud to be commander of the post. I think he would be very proud if he knew I'm the commander," she added.

The 54-year-old veteran became interim commander in September. In January, she was elected to serve as commander for 2001, and recently she was re-elected for 2002. She became the first female commander of the post, which has more than 100 members.

Greene's military career started when she joined the Army at age 24.

"Education was the reason I joined. I wanted to be an X-ray tech, but I couldn't afford it," she said. "My mom was a little concerned, but she knew that I wasn't going to be able to afford it."

By then, her father had retired and her brother, Edward, now 58, was serving a stint with the Marines. She said her father was her main inspiration.

"My father was a great recruiter," she said. In fact, it was her father who later enlisted her in the post.

While she was in the military, the Army trained Greene in radiology, mammography and ultrasound. After she retired, she obtained California and national licenses.

She worked as an X-ray tech in the military and headed radiology departments at three different hospitals for the last 12 years of her 22 years of service. During her service, Greene served stints in Germany and Japan.

Greene retired from the military in August 1992 and is currently working as an X-ray tech with Kern Medical Center.

After retiring, she became very active in the post and held different offices in moving through the ranks.

Greene, who has two children, William Jo-Al, 21, and Marifrances, 19, said many of the post members knew her father well.

"They are nice guys, and they help me 100 percent," she said about the post's veterans. "They help me because of my dad and because I'm working for the VFW," she said.

Bob Otto, a former post commander, said he didn't know Greene's father was a former commander, but supported her for her leadership.

"She is a tremendous commander. She handles the post very nicely," Otto said.

"They are all very happy with her. She is a lovely young lady, very diligent and a very good veteran," said Sarah Pulos, a longtime volunteer with the post.

"I was excited when she told me she was elected commander, especially because she followed my dad's footsteps," Greene's brother, Edward Ochoa, said.

He has been in the military for 36 years. He spent 20 years with the Marines and the last 16 years with the Navy and Naval Reserves.

"My grandfather left a long legacy of serving your family, your community and obviously serving the country," said Greene's nephew Ed Ochoa, 37. He also served in the military for seven years. "It's pretty neat to see that she is there," he said.