#VeteranOfTheDay Ronald Ansel Austin

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Ronald Ansel Austin. Ronald served during World War II as a petty officer third class from Oct. 1943 through Oct. 1945.

Ronald was born in Princeton, Indiana, in 1906 and was drafted into the military when he was 38 years old. Leaving his wife behind to serve his country, Ronald completed basic training at Camp Perry, Virginia, before joining the 130th Seabee Battalion. Ronald’s service took him through the Panama Canal, Hawaii and eventually on to Okinawa (Ryukyu Islands) where he remained until the end of the war.

In an interview with Veteran’s History Project, Ronald recalled how he provided aid during a rescue mission on his first day in Okinawa before the end of the war. A Japanese Kamikaze plane dove into a nearby Marine ship and thankfully the LST naval ship that Ronald was on was nearby, and his crew was able to rescue more than 60 Marines.

Ronald currently lives in Indiana.

Thank you for your service, Ronald!

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 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.

Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

Graphic By Kierra Willis: Kierra Willis is a Graphic Communication Major at the University of Maryland University College. She currently has an AAS in Graphic Design and Visual Communications.