purple heart

Felix Garcia joined the Marine Corps and deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Shrapnel wounds from an attack in November 2005 led to his medical discharge. After service, Garcia became active in the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran John “Jerry” Lesanski, who fought in the Battle of Saint-Lô during World War II and received a Purple Heart.

A great story about how VA, a Purple Heart organization…and the internet…helped the relative of a WWII Army Veteran find a home for his Purple Heart in a library’s special collection.

Donny Daughenbaugh was conducting vehicle searches in Mahmoudiya, Iraq, when a physical altercation with a driver led to severe injuries to his jaw. After recovering and leaving the Marine Corps, Daughenbaugh became involved in the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes. He now serves in the organization as a spokesperson and vice president of field operations.

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Veteran Ramona M. Valdez, who was killed in action in Iraq.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran Rose Grosshans Noël, wo received a Purple Heart during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Jay Barry Levinson, who served as a light infantry soldier in Vietnam and was killed in action.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran Joseph Keller, who served as an automatic rifleman during the Battle of Belleau Wood.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Joshua Beale, who served from 2011-2019 and died from wounds in his service in Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Richard Herrema, who was killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom and has a foundation in his memory.

Purple Heart Veteran David Causey received Birmingham VA’s first “artificial larynx.” It substitutes sound/vibration in the absence of a voice box. “I am so happy VA allowed me to get this.”

Signalman First Class Paul Kennedy was serving deck duty on the USS Sacramento in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941. After the bombings, Kennedy served on the USS Poole and helped escort landing craft crossing the English Channel into Normandy on D-Day.