March 31, 2023: William Ward
William Ward joined the Marine Corps in 1992. He was assigned to the 12th Marine Regiment in Okinawa, Japan, and received his first assignment as a forward observer. He served in Japan until 1993, when he was promoted to Corporal with the 1st Tank Battalion communications platoon until 1998. He deployed twice, to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
After returning to the U.S., Ward became a recruiter and was stationed at the Recruiting Sub-Station in Schenectady, New York. In 2004, he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and became the Recruiting Operations Chief at the Watervliet Arsenal, leading Marine recruiting sub-stations in the Capital District of upstate New York. This included stations in Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer and the state capital Albany.
However, Ward’s career changed in 2005 when motorcycle accident injuries left him with a spinal cord injury and paralysis from the chest down. He was medically discharged in 2008 and has since become an active member of his community.
Ward is now a member of Team Albany’s adaptive sports program that uses unique equipment to help Veterans rehabilitate after injuries. The program works in partnership with the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany. Ward is an avid adaptive cycling, billiards, golf, ski and wheelchair basketball athlete and has competed in the National Veteran’s Wheelchair Games, having won several medals.
Currently, Ward works in IT for research and development companies and volunteers his services in website development for the American Legacy Project. He spends much of his free time working on computers, flying drones, making landscape photographs, and watching sports and gaming. He also enjoys traveling with his wife Jessica.
We honor his service and wish him well during his events at this week’s National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay
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It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
Writer: Matthew Rosine, Sarah McDonald
Graphic Designer: Kiki Kelley
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Semper Fi Gunny Ward…Semper Fi !!