Stories of Valor Archive — National Purple Heart Honor Mission

Ted Craiglow

Ted Craiglow was drafted into the Marine Corps in September 1969, serving for nearly two years including a deployment to Vietnam.

VietnamBob DriscollDecember 7, 2023United States Marine Corps, Corporal

Richard Andrew Farrer

Richard Andrew Farrer enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps, serving for nearly four years as a member of the 3rd Battalion 8th Marines India Company, including a tour in Ramadi during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Iraqi FreedomBob DriscollDecember 7, 2023Corporal, United States Marine Corps

Dale Thomsen

Dale 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.

VietnamBob DriscollDecember 7, 2023United States Army, Specialist

Josephine Keller

Josephine Keller enlisted into the U.S. Air Force in September 1991 and served for more than 26 years, including participation in Operations Southern Watch, Joint Guard, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle, and New Dawn.

Other, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Op. Enduring FreedomBob DriscollDecember 7, 2023United States Air Force, CMSgt

Edward Cruickshank

Edward 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.

VietnamBob DriscollDecember 7, 2023United States Army, Colonel

Robert Senter

Robert Senter was drafted in to the Army in February 1943, serving until May 1945 with the 83rd Division.

World War IIBob DriscollDecember 7, 2023World War II, Private First Class

Michael Bostwick

Michael Bostwick was with the 3/503rd , 173rd during his first deployment to Vietnam.

VietnamBob DriscollAugust 18, 2023United States Army

Richard Duane Keirn

Richard 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.

VietnamBob DriscollAugust 18, 2023United States Army

Gerald Bernard Marlatt

World War IIBob DriscollJune 16, 2023United States Army, World War II, Staff Sergeant

Angelo Durante

Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, was wounded in action twin during fighting in 1943. After first being wounded in July and he was wounded again in October, which still serving with the 180th Infantry Regiment.

World War IIBob DriscollMay 5, 2023United States Army, Tec 5

Danny C Hall

As 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.

VietnamBob DriscollFebruary 21, 2023United States Marine Corps

Loren Anderson

He recalled, “We were on a tiger patrol and at about midnight we arrived in this field on the outskirts of the town. There was a small farm house across the road and a little Catholic chapel. We were just standing there, and across the courtyard the Germans opened up on us…”

World War IIBob DriscollSeptember 20, 2022Corporal, United States Army

Harrison Manyoma

In July 2004, while on a routine patrol in West Baghdad, the vehicle Sgt. Manyoma’s was traveling in was right next to a suicide car bomber as it exploded. As the smoke cleared, Harrison heard the enemy engaging with AK-47s. Manyoma sprang into action, providing first aid to his medic and then returning fire to hold off the enemy.

Operation Iraqi FreedomBob DriscollSeptember 20, 2022Sergeant, United States Army

Randy McConnell

U.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.

VietnamBob DriscollSeptember 20, 2022United States Army, Sergeant

Truitt Breazeale

SGM 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.

Korean War, VietnamBob DriscollSeptember 20, 2022United States Army, Sergeant Major, Lieutenant Colonel

Calvin Chambers

On 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.

VietnamBob DriscollSeptember 20, 2022Specialist, United States Army

Tyson Walsh

In Afghanistan, in 2013, then-Capt. Taylor Walsh was exercising alone on the inside perimeter road of his coalition base, just before sunrise, when he found an insurgent trying to sneak through a gate.

Op. Enduring FreedomBob DriscollSeptember 16, 2022United States Army, Major