Harold John Gebhart was born to Bernard and Frances Gebhart on January 1, 1920 in Holy Cross, Iowa. He was the youngest of his four brothers: Chico, Arthur, Ervin, and Zeno
Read More
It takes great strength and character to dedicate a portion of one’s life to serve in the American military. It takes even greater integrity and grit to serve in three global conflicts: World War Two, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Though Albert Abelson and his Jewish family faced many challenges while they lived in Lithuania, he became an American hero.
Read More
For many veterans, their service and association with the United States military is complete when their duties in a particular conflict are finished. But this was decidedly not the case for Mel Cooper.
Read More
While twentieth-century conflicts like World War II and the Vietnam War remain embedded in the American cultural consciousness, the Korean War has often been described as “forgotten” for its relative lack of representation and acknowledgment despite costing the lives of 36,914 American servicemen and an estimated 2,661,509 Korean civilians.
Read More
Bradford Bowker started his service in the Navy on October 15, 1940. In his early military life, just around the time before World War II, Bowker was a lieutenant in the Philippines helping build / rebuild airstrips in unsafe distance from enemy fire and territory. Bowker later made the rank of rear-admiral for the Seabees.
Read More
Joseph Katayama was born in 1926, in Salinas, Monterey County California to his father Moichi and his mother Sayo.
Read More
As Asian Americans reckon with a wave of anti-Asian hate in the wake of COVID-19, honoring the forgotten stories of Filipino veterans acts as a healing reminder of what it means to be Pinoy and American.
Read More
Archie Robinson served with the Marine Corps for around 30 years. When Archie Robinson first enlisted, he was treated differently due to racism and racial discrimination.
Read More
Although there are over 4 million Filipinx-Americans in the United States, their culture, languages, and traditions are rarely represented in predominantly white spaces and narratives. Second and third-generation Filipinos must lean on the legacy left by those like Felix B. Magalong Sr., who prove that Asians are accomplished enough to serve both their country at large and communities at home.
Read More
Throughout his whole life, from growing up in an immigrant family, to surviving the Communist Chinese prison camps, to solving his financial issues, and to challenging social and political norms, Ernest Contrearas was a true American hero.
Read More
At the age of 20, Orville enlisted into the Navy as a sonar operator, due to his experience with electrical engineering. He worked on operating and developing sonar on battleships, cruisers, and destroyers in the Pacific theater during World War II. He island hopped throughout the Pacific, guiding the guns on the ships to hit enemy targets.
Read More
Ernest served the United States from around the world. Whether it was in a Japanese Prisoners of War Camp during World War II, serving at the northernmost operational Air Force Base in Greenland, or the huge refueling base in Libya, Ernest served in the U.S. Air Force with pride.
Read More
William faced constant discrimination and challenges in his life and was often told that he would not be able to make much of himself because of his skin color. William did not let this stop him from leading a happy and successful life however and from creating that very same life for his own family as a loving and devoted father.
Read More
Milton Louis Craig was born to serve his country as he was the son of a Buffalo Soldier.
Read More
Many people believe that they will change the course of history, but few have the means and opportunity to do so. Karl Henry Timmerman, the product of German immigration, was instrumental in securing victory over forces holding the Rhine Bridge in World War II, which broke open Germany’s defenses in the west. In doing so, Karl honorably served his country and created a legacy dictated by his actions and not those of his father.
Read More
Joe loved America and dedicated his entire life to serving and protecting his country. He served in the military for multiple decades and served the Denver community for 18 years afterwards with the Sheriff’s Department. Friends remember him for his smile and his pride to be an American.
Read More
When Ronald Lett enlisted in the United States Army at the age of seventeen, the country had just wrapped on the Korean War. When he enlisted, the young soldier had no way of knowing that the longest war in United States history was just around the corner.
Read More
Wanza L. Brown was born in Oklahoma, just like his father and mother before him. Brown had two older brothers, Rogeres and Sidney, and one older sister named Joyce.
Read More
When someone mentions a military career, many think of high-ranking officers and older battle-worn veterans training cadets. However, there is much more to a military career than fighting in combat.
Read More
Lyndon made a career out of his time in the military. He served for thirty years from his enlistment in 1940 to his retirement in 1970. During this time, he experienced three completely different sets of combat: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
Read More