AVS

Retired Army Col. Sheri Swokowski is the highest-ranking, out transgender U.S. Veteran in the United States. Today, she advocates for LGBTQ+ Veterans.

Navy Veteran and Activist Monica Helms is the creator of the Transgender Flag

Coast Guard Veteran Frank DeVita served in World War II on USS Samuel Chase (AP-24) and was involved in the storming of Omaha Beach and later the Pacific Theater in Japan.

Enshrined in the Navy Core Values Charter are honor, courage and commitment. Navy Veteran Harvey Milk upheld each of those values as he advanced gay rights.

Army Veteran Bhagat Singh Thind is an advocate for the citizenship of all Indian Americans.

Veteran Sharon Dunbar served for 32 years, becoming one of the highest ranking female Asian Americans in the Air Force.

Army Veteran Hiroshi Miyamura is the second Japanese American to receive the Medal of Honor. His award was classified by the Army for 28 months while Miyamura was held by North Korean forces as a prisoner of war during the Korean War.

People doubted Frank Wada’s loyalties because he was Japanese-American. However, Wada readily volunteered to fight for his country when given the chance.

Noboru “Don” Seki served as a member of the 442nd Regiment, an Army unit of Japanese American soldiers, during World War II.

Brigadier General Vicente P. Lim served as an Army infantry officer and was best known for leading a heroic defense of the Philippine Islands during World War II.

Air Force Veteran Eileen Collins is a NASA astronaut who was the first female pilot and commander of a space shuttle.

Veteran Bettie J. Morden was an advocate for women’s rights in the military and later became a quintessential historian, sharing her stories on and off the field.