#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Joseph Walter Acevedo

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Joseph Walter Acevedo.

Joseph served from 1943 to 1945 during World War II. Joseph and his family moved to Los Angeles from his birthplace of Michoacán, Mexico when he was two years old. Following his high school graduation, he was drafted into the military and assigned to the Navy, his preferred choice. After completing boot camp and torpedo school in San Diego, California, Joseph was stationed near San Francisco. His company traveled across the Pacific to serve in New Guinea and Australia, where, at the urging of his family, he began writing to his future wife, Beatrice.

Joseph was stationed in Australia when the war ended in 1945. He married Beatrice the following year. They were married for 64 years and have four children and many grandchildren. Joseph became a United States citizen in 1948. He recalled this day as one of the happiest of his life. After his service, Joseph worked for the City of Los Angeles as a mechanic and in public works, and became a member of the American Legion. In 2005, he was unanimously elected as the San Dimas, California Senior Citizen of the Year for his community service.

Joseph passed away on January 30, 2011.

We honor his service.

This information has been obtained using the Veteran’s History Project and can be found here http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.30794

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.