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.
Louis Zayas was drafted into the U.S. Army in October 1965 and for the next two years. While serving as a helicopter door gunner escorting other troops into a hot Landing Zone in Vietnam, Zayas’ unit came under heavy fire. During the firefight he was struck in the thigh from an explosion.
Read MoreOriginally from Los Angeles, California, George Stavropoulos enlisted in the U.S. Navy, entering the service in July 1965. He was deployed to Vietnam where he was awarded four Purple Heats as a result of wounds he suffered.
Read MoreJames Ives was drafted into the Army in November 1967 and served for the next two years as a member of the173rd Airborne Brigade, including a tour in Vietnam.
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 MoreTed Craiglow was drafted into the Marine Corps in September 1969, serving for nearly two years including a deployment to Vietnam.
Read MoreDale Thomsen enlisted into the U.S. Army in November 1966, serving for the next three years as a member of the 610th Transportation Company, including a tour in Vietnam.
Read MoreEdward Cruickshank was commissioned into the U.S. Army in June 1967 and went on to a 30 year career in the service. In 1967, while serving with the 101st Aviation Group in Vietnam, he was wounded-in-action.
Read MoreMichael Bostwick was with the 3/503rd , 173rd during his first deployment to Vietnam.
Read MoreRichard Keirn was an Engineer Advisor to the Royal New Zealand Army, as part of the Free World Forces at Chi Lang in Chau Doc Province.
Read MoreAs a young Marine in Vietnam the first time I heard that sound a young hero died and soon a mother cried. Boys became men or died. Fear turned to courage, you were there to fight for your country, but you would die fighting for your brother standing next to you. That was your new world. For Marines 13 months was your tour.
Read MoreU.S. Army Sergeant Randy McConnell is one of the Army's most decorated veterans of all time, having earned seven Purple Hearts, two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star for Valor and an Army Commendation Medal for Valor in Vietnam.
Read MoreSGM Truitt Breazeale served in the U.S. Army for 54 years - 32 years of active duty and 22 years teaching high-school Army JROTC. His service included tours at Forts Benning, Jackson, Riley, Bragg and Greely. He had three tours in Korea, two tours in Vietnam and a short time in Germany.
Read MoreOn May 25, 1970, Chambers unit had just been resupplied and the platoon was directed to take the perimeter around the top of the hill. Chambers was walking right point (lead) when the platoon walked into an ambush halfway up the hill.
Read MoreU.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Peter M. Gorczewski (Ret.) grew up in Woodburn, Oregon, and served five tours in Vietnam while attached to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. During his deployments, SGM Gorczewski earned two Bronze Stars with combat Vs and seven Purple Hearts. He later was awarded the Legion of Merit.
Read MoreIn July 1969, then-Corporal Camarillo was serving as part of the 101st Airborne Division in the A Shau Valley in Vietnam when he was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). The blast struck Camarillo under his throat, on the right side of his chest, and damaged both his ears and eyes.
Read MoreIn April 1970, while on patrol in the Vietnam jungle, SGT Carrillo’s unit was ambushed from an enemy bunker that was previously unknown to them. During the attack, Carrillo suffered a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
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 MoreA twenty-three-year veteran of U.S. Army, Steven Zerger enlisted in November 1965 and served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. In April 1971, while stationed in the A Shau Valley, Zerger was wounded during an enemy ambush.
Read MoreOn the night of August 11, 1969, three days after arriving at LZ Becky, SPC Little’s unit came under heavy mortar and rocket attack. During the course of the fighting, at approximately 3:00 a.m., while Little was serving as the Fire Direction Control for a three-gun, 155 mm howitzer unit in A Battery, his position was hit by a barrage of mortars and RPGs that destroyed all three guns and Control station.
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