These Stories of Valor are part of an ongoing oral history program of the Honor Project to ensure the experiences of our combat wounded and those who gave their all in the service of America are remembered for generations to come.
George Bates entered the Army on January 22, 1968, and served with the 25th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 5th Mechanized, in III Corps’ Iron Triangle region of Vietnam. Along with his two Purple Hearts, SSG Bates received three Bronze Stars, three Army Commendation Medals, and the Combat Infantry Badge, which he considers his most meaningful award.
Read MoreThomas Matteo enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 1963 and served for the next seven years. Along with his Purple Heart with five stars, SSgt Matteo was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his service, including the Bronze Star with “V” device, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Vietnamese Service Medal with 4 stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with device, and more.
Read MoreOn February 4, 1968, Staff Sergeant Patton was killed by small arms fire along with 21 other soldiers during this encounter with enemy forces in Thon Lieu Coc Thuong, a hamlet he troops were advancing through towards the city of Hue.
Read MoreStaff Sergeant Jonathon L. Porter, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy during an indirect fire attack while serving as the Weapons Sergeant for Operational Detachment-Alpha 1326, Special Operations Task Force-West, Nahr E Saraj District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan,
Read MoreKen Teunissen was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and later enlisting and serving for nearly a decade, including time in Vietnam and Berlin, Germany. In February 1970, Teunissen was providing cover fire when he suffered a shrapnel wound to his leg.
Read MoreLuis Martinez enlisted into the U.S. Air Force in November 1996, serving for nearly 16 years as a member of the 820th Red Horse Squadron and the 99th Civil Engineering Squadron, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In February 2009, while deployed to Tikrit, Iraq, Martinez was wounded when the vehicle he was traveling in struck an IED.
Read MoreArmando "Chris" Martinez IV was commissioned into the U.S. Army in October 2011 and served for the next decade, including time in Korea with the 9th Infantry; Fort Bliss, Texas, with the 1st Armored Brigade; Germany with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment; and Fort Wainwright with the 25th Infantry Division.
Read MoreVanessa (Brown) Schieber enlisted in the Army in April 2007 and served for the next 11 years a member of the 101st Airborne Division and later the 1st Armor Division.
Read MoreDouglas Quick enlisted into the U.S. Army in August 2000 and served for the next 12 years, including a tour in Iraq in 2006-2007. It was during that tour, that the vehicle SSG Quick was riding in took a direct hit from an enemy rocket. The blast killed the driver of the vehicle and severely injured SSG Quick.
Read MoreRon Laney enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1964, serving for over six years, including a tour in Vietnam. In August 1969, while serving near An Hoa, Vietnam, Laney was wounded during a combat operation.
Read MoreRobert Sodergren served on active duty for three years, from 1965 to 1968, including time with the 101st Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. During Operation Junction City, SSG Sodergren was on a recon patrol when he was ambushed. During the attack, Sodergren suffered a shrapnel wound to the head.
Read MoreIn 2010 he served as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. It was during that deployment, while in Logar Province with the 1-91 Cavalry, 173rd Combat Airborne Brigade, when SSG Livingston’s platoon came under enemy mortar fire.
Read MoreStaff Sergeant Flavio A. Martinez sustained injuries while engaged in operations against an opposing armed force near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on 21 December 2015.
Read MoreU.S. Army SSG Andrew Bennett did four tours of duty in Afghanistan between 2008 and 2016.
Read MoreU.S. Army Staff Sergeant Joseph Guchek was New Jersey's representative during the inaugural Purple Heart Patriot Project. Gucheck, says he is "forever thankful" for the chance to serve his country.
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