PRESS RELEASE: Local Purple Heart Recipient Oliver Hickok to be Honored with Trip to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, West Point

Oliver Hickok first enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in June of 1956 at the age of 17, eventually being stationed in Japan and then Hawaii, before finishing his time in Alabama. In December 1960, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and attended boot camp at Paris Island. From there, he was assigned to Memphis, Tennessee, and then the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, before going on to Okinawa, Japan, and his first tour in Vietnam as part of Operation SHUFLY. After finishing his first tour in Vietnam, Hickok returned to the U.S. and completed several schooling opportunities including the Defense Language Institution and the Army POW Interrogation-Translation School at Fort Holabird, Maryland, before being redeployed to Vietnam with the 7th ITT.

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PRESS RELEASE: Local Purple Heart Recipient Mitchell Reed to be Honored with Trip to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, West Point

U.S. Army Specialist (SPC) Mitchell “Mitch” Reed, a two-time recipient of the Purple Heart, will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Oklahoma’s representative at a multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of American’s combat wounded. The Purple Heart Patriot Project is a program of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. The all-expense-paid trip includes visits to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, historic Washington’s Headquarters, a special tour of the newly renovated National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and other tributes to service.

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SDSU: Johnson selected for 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project

“I am honored to have been nominated and selected for the Purple Heart Mission Trip. To be able to witness the National Purple Heart Museum in person and connect with fellow Purple Heart recipients is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I was informed seven women have been selected, which means more and more women are being recognized for their service and sacrifices to our nation. I am excited to meet them at an event that honors all Purple Heart recipients from all generations,” said Johnson, who was awarded her Purple Heart in 2004 after suffering injuries as a 19-year-old in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is the state’s only registered female Purple Heart recipient.

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PRESS RELEASE: Local Purple Heart Recipient Joe Wesner to be Honored with Trip to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, West Point

Joe Wesner first enlisted in the U.S. Army in May of 2001 and his military career took him around the globe, including deployments to Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. On July 27, 2010, while manning an Observation Point in Dandar, Afghanistan, a group of 5 to 8 Taliban fighters opened fire on SSG Wesner’s position with PKMs, RPGs and small arms fire.

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KFDI: Star Spangled Salute - A Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient Is Honored

Today’s Star Spangled Salute honors Veteran U.S. Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer 4 Robert Olzweski. Robert served in Vietnam and during Operation Enduring Freedom and is a Purple Heart recipient. In 1969 Robert was wounded when the tank he was riding in was hit by a mortar round. He spent 3 years in the Army and 35 years as a member of the Army Reserve.

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PRESS RELEASE: Local Purple Heart Recipient David Hugus to be Honored with Trip to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, West Point

David Hugus entered the military in February 1966 and was first assigned to Germany. He joined the 101st Airborne in Vietnam on January 28, 1968, two days before the Tet Offensive started. During his first deployment to Vietnam, Hugus was stationed at a fire base in the vicinity of Phouc Binh. On March 4, while serving as a platoon leader, Hugus and his company came under attack.

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