#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Troy Bowling

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Troy Bowling.

Troy joined the Marine Corps in the 1940s, when he was 19 years old. He was serving with Easy Company, 2^nd Battalion, 27^th Marines, 5^th Division when he deployed to be among the first wave on Iwo Jima.

As he joined his fellow Marines to take Mt. Suribachi, he was shot in the chest and leg. A combat photographer found him, and helped him get the medical attention he needed.

As his wounds were being treated, he heard cheering. The Marines had taken control of Mt. Suribachi. “Upon hearing the cheers, I asked the chaplain to take me topside to see, and he did,” Bowling said. “At that sight I knew we were going to take that island. It was a great moment.”

In 1951, Troy began volunteering at Lexington VA Medical Center in the Voluntary Service office. He had nearly 76,000 hours of volunteer service during his 65 years there.

“I made a promise 70 years ago that I intend to keep.”

Troy passed away this past weekend. We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much of the information as you can put together with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating for how to create the best submission.