Phillis Abry enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) in 1943 and met her lover Mildred, with whom she worked on radio repair and WAAC recruiting.
Because Kazuo Yamaguchi was a Japanese American, the U.S. Army initially turned him away from a recruiting station during World War II. Yamaguchi was later drafted into the service, where he developed a sense of duty, honor, and an appreciation for his heritage.
Daniel K. Inouye served during World War II in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. During an attack on a German ridge in San Terenzo, Italy, Inouye was badly injured and lost his right arm to a rifle grenade attack. He later received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Italy. After the war, he became a lawyer and was active in Hawaiian politics. He became Hawaii’s first representative to the House and then a U.S. senator.
Paula M. Neira believes that her greatest service for the country and the Navy has come after she put away her uniform. Before she became a nurse, lawyer and advocate, she was an officer in the Navy. Neira had to sacrifice her naval career when she accepted that her gender identity didn’t align with the sex assigned at birth.
Navy Veteran Melissa A. Washington was inspired by her experiences with LinkedIn to found a company that promotes career preparation. She later founded two groups for female Veterans after realizing female Veterans needed encouragement and empowerment in the workforce.
Marine Corps Veteran Jonathan Hagerman founded the Dirt Therapy Project with his wife, Alexandra. Their nonprofit helps Veterans by connecting through mountain biking.
In their song “The Same War,” Army Captain Zach Peterson and his wife Kassie wrote about the strain couples face throughout deployments and their pursuit toward the same goal: a happy life together as a family.
Paul Koester retired from the Air Force in 2015 after 41 years of service, the longest-serving pararescue airman in history.
During the Vietnam War, Marine Corps Veteran Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong personnel.
Irvin Scott, a Marine Corps private first class in World War II, was imprisoned by the Japanese for more than three years. He survived the infamous Bataan Death March, one of the greatest war-time atrocities, and was liberated in 1945.
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed almost entirely of second-generation American soldiers of Japanese ancestry, was known as “Go for Broke.” Going for broke is thought to be a Hawaiian gambling slang that means to risk everything for a big win.
While in the Army, Sarah Roberts helped establish finance offices in Iraq and managed accounts for the Department of Treasury and Federal Reserve Bank. After her discharge, Roberts worked with companies to create employment opportunities for Veterans.