#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Anthony D. Lopez

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Anthony D. Lopez. Anthony served from 1943 to 1950 during World War II.

Anthony D. Lopez was born in 1924.  He enlisted in the Army in April 1943, just following his high school graduation. He completed basic training in Camp Roberts, California before volunteering to become a paratrooper. After training in Fort Benning, Georgia, Anthony joined the 503^rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team. In September 1943, Anthony was shipped off to Australia. After spending some time in Australia, Anthony took part in five combat missions throughout various islands from New Guinea to the Philippines. Because of the great contribution the Parachute Regimental Combat Team made to the war, the Regiment went on to receive Presidential citations from both the President of the Philippines and the President of the United States. Anthony took part in two jumps and two beach landings during the war. He also received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his actions and wounds during his service. After retiring from the Army as a Staff Sergeant, Anthony joined various organizations to spread awareness about Veterans.

Thank you for your service, Anthony!

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 Lilian Vo: Lilian Vo is an undergraduate senior at George Mason University studying Global Affairs and Intelligence Analysis.