#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Joshua Grzywa

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Joshua Grzywa. Josh served in the airborne infantry from 1999-2014.

Josh was a first responder at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, as he was assigned to the Old Guard and was on official duty when the plane hit. The day before, his platoon had gone to Gettysburg to discuss their unit history and how they might never know what it was like to serve in a “war time” army, for they had all enlisted during a time of peace. He was deployed multiple times during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom with 1-26INF The Big Red One. Josh was the recipient of two Bronze stars, a Purple Heart, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Josh currently resides in Mesa, Arizona with his wife and children. Since medically retiring in 2014 due to injuries sustained in combat, Josh has received a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in aeronautical engineering and is currently working on his master’s degree. In 2015, Josh and his wife founded Deep Sea Valkyries, a Veteran’s outreach 501(c)(3) that facilitates retreats and counseling programs to assist in PTSD recovery and development of life skills for Veterans transitioning from military service. The retreats provide a holistic approach to healing, reducing the triggers of PTSD, and equipping participants with the tools to combat those triggers, thus leading to a reduction in Veteran suicides and suicide attempts. The goal of the non-profit is to provide not only counseling to reduce PTSD, but also to reinvigorate Veterans to engage in healthy outdoor activities.

Thank you for your service, Josh!

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.

Graphic By Joanna Specht: Joanna Specht is a student at Black Hawk College with a Major in Visual Communication.