#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Jeremy Becker

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Jeremy Becker, who served in the National Guard and the Army Reserve from 2008-2016.

As a fourth-generation service member, Jeremy Becker aspired to serve his country from an early age. After graduating from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security, Becker joined the Mississippi Army National Guard. He commissioned as an armor officer in 2008.

Two years later, Becker deployed to Afghanistan as a route clearance platoon leader with a combat engineer unit. He later returned to an armored reconnaissance unit where he served in various positions, including troop executive officer, squadron assistant operations officer and troop commander. In 2014, Becker transferred to the Army Reserves, where he served as a transportation battalion maintenance officer.

Becker medically retired from the United States Army in 2016 after serving for eight years. Throughout his service, he earned multiple awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Unit Citation and overseas service awards.

Following his military retirement, Becker and his spouse moved to a small horse farm outside Pensacola, Florida. He now owns and runs a consulting firm, using both his military background and his business education.

In 2019, Becker had the opportunity to participate in a memorial unveiling that commemorated his great-grandfather’s National Guard unit in World War I. Just under a hundred years prior, his great-grandfather Harold Becker deployed with the New York National Guard Company F, 108 Infantry. He shipped out to the European theater, where his unit attached to British military troops in France. While this story was lost through oral tradition, Becker’s keen interest in military history helped connect him with his great-grandfather’s service contributions.

Becker recently resumed playing the violin and enjoys horseback riding, fishing and photography. He remains active in the military community by volunteering with several Veteran nonprofit initiatives, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Association of the United States Army and the National Guard Association of the United States. He also currently serves as a board member for a Military Officers Association of America chapter. Locally, Becker has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Manna Food Pantry and Wreaths Across America. Continuing the spirit of service that his military experience inspired remains a priority for him.

Thank you for your service!

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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/.

Contributors

Writer: Claire Pei 

Editor: Kelly Dooley

Fact checker: Giancarlo Gilbert-Igelsrud

Graphic artist: Michelle Zischke