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Department of Veterans Affairs

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Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Bill Mohr. Bill served during World War II. Bill and his twin brother, Joseph, were born in October 1908. Bill enlisted in the Army in 1940 and served as a sergeant and member of the 381st Replacement Company European Front in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. He was awarded the Legion of Honor, Chavelier by the French government for his service in the Beachhead Invasion of St. Tropez in August of 1945. Bill was honorably discharged in 1946 due to a back injury, which left him unable to walk for two years. Recently, while visiting the National World War II Memorial, he received a military welcome and attended the annual Veterans Day breakfast at the White House with president. Bill, who was one of the oldest surviving World War II Veterans in the U.S., passed away Sunday, Dec. 18. He was 108 years old. We honor your service, Bill. #HonoringVets
Philadelphia VA Medical Center thanks Communications Union 20000 which donated over 300 coats for our Veteran patients. This delivery is always a surprise for our Veterans and we are appreciative of the Berry family (Brian, Jess, and Frances) who coordinate and run the show. Thanks to volunteers Nick, Cassidy, Joe, Kristen, Addisha, and VA staff member Rhonda who helped make this event run smoothly.
Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Air Force Veteran Mathias “Mat” Leupold. Mat served during World War II. Mat grew up in Queens, New York, and joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 as a college freshman. He has always been drawn to planes, and the adventure associated with being a pilot appealed to him. In the spring of 1943, Mat was called to duty and went to pre-flight and primary flight school. It was there that his superior officers told him he wasn't fit to be a pilot. Instead, Mat was sent to navigation school and was eventually assigned to a 10-man combat crew. On Christmas Day in 1944, Mat and his crew found themselves in Scotland as part of the European Theatre. For several months, Mat and his crew embarked on bombing missions during the dead of night -- a total of 26 bombing flights. As the war drew near its end, the crew switched from dropping bombs to dropped food to residents of the German occupied Netherlands. When the war ended, Mat returned to the United States was eventually discharged from the Army Air Corps in the spring of 1946. Last summer on Bastille Day, Mat was awarded the French Legion of Honor. Although for most of his life, Mat felt indifferent about his service in World War II, he has since become inspired to share his story with others, especially young people. Mat participated in the Natick Veterans Oral History Project in Massachusetts and shares his war experiences with the students in Natick’s Kennedy School on Veterans Day. Thank you for your service, Mat!
Thank you to Santa and the wonderful elves from the Chicagoland Toys For Tots for hosting a spectacular holiday party for the families and Veterans at Hines VA Hospital @fisher_house_inc. We are always grateful for the support of out community and volunteers. #HonoringVets
VA's Tennessee Valley Healthcare System saluted Clyde Richmond this week for his 100th birthday. The Army and Air Force veteran celebrated with friends and family. Together, they enjoyed a dinner that he selected – fried catfish and potatoes. Clyde joined the Army in November 1940 and later transitioned to the Air Force before he retired in September 1964. He served in Spain and Germany, as well as several duty stations throughout the United States including Washington, California, Oklahoma Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. Clyde said one of his most memorable tours involved working for one of the toughest generals in the Army, General George S. Patton. Happy 100th birthday, Clyde! #HonoringVets
Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Richard Keirn. Richard served during the Vietnam War. Richard joined the Army at age 17. Eventually, he worked his way up to Sergeant in the Army Corps of Engineers. From 1971 to 1972, Richard served in Chi Lang, Chou Doc Province, South Vietnam, as an advisor with the Royal New Zealand Army, under the Free World Forces. Richard was awarded with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was also awarded the Royal New Zealand Engineer Badge. Thank you for your service, Richard!
Herb Weatherwax, affectionately known as “Uncle Herb” around Hawaii, was a native Hawaiian born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 3, 1917. Raised in Hilo, Herb was drafted into the U.S. Army on June 6, 1941, and was assigned to the 298th Infantry Regiment located at Schofield Barracks. On Dec. 7, 1941, Herb was on a weekend pass in Honolulu when he heard an announcement on the radio that Pearl Harbor was under attack by Japanese forces. All military personnel were instructed to immediately return to their duty stations. On his way back to Schofield Barracks, he passed by the horrific scenes that were still unfolding at Pearl Harbor and Wheeler Army Airfield. When they arrived at Schofield, they changed from their civilian clothes into their uniforms, were handed their weapons, and a convoy took them to their positions in the field. The Army’s mission was to protect the island of Oahu from a Japanese land invasion that was anticipated to follow the air attack. They held their position for days, while Oahu went into an island-wide blackout – no lights were allowed past dusk. The only light that was showing was the USS Arizona, as it burned for two-and-a-half days. In 1944, Herb left Hawaii for training in the signal corps. He was reassigned to the 272nd Infantry Regiment, 69th Division stationed at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The 69th Division was sent to Europe and entered combat at the Eifel Forest in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. From there, his regiment moved inland to join Russian troops in a town called Torgau, which was located on the west bank of the Elbe river in eastern Germany. Herb joined the National Park Service volunteer program in 1996 and enjoyed sharing his war stories with many of the USS Arizona Memorial visitors. He participated in the “Witness to History” videoconference program where he spoke with students all around the world. Uncle Herb passed away on Monday, Dec. 12. He was 99 years old. He attended the most recent 75th National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration Ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Dec. 7. According to his family, it was his final wish. We honor his service.
Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Orval Thomas Wilson. Orval served during World War I. Orval Thomas was the third child born to Frank and Fannie Wilson in 1896 in Neosho, Missouri. Orval was inducted into the U.S. Army’s Medical Department June 1918 and was sent to Fort Riley in Kansas. On September 11, he departed from the U.S. and arrived overseas September 29. Orval served six months in France before he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He was sent to Field Hospital # 358 and four other units before entering the General Hospital #16 at New Haven, Connecticut, where he remained for about a month. Then he transferred to the U.S. Army General Hospital #21 at Denver, Colorado, in June 1919. Orval was honorably discharged January1920, though he remained in poor health. Orval passed away in February 1964 at the age of 67. We honor your service, Orval.
Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Kentucky on #wreathsacrossamerica day. #HonoringVets
At VA national cemeteries today, Wreaths Across America is honoring those who served. At Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Kentucky, an honor guard presented seven wreaths in honor of the @usarmy, @usmarinecorps, @usnavy, @usairforce, @uscg, the U.S. Merchant Marines and a final wreath honoring POW/MIAs. In all, more than 1300 wreaths were placed at Camp Nelson. #HonoringVets #wreathsacrossamerica
At Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Kentucky, a child carries a wreath to be placed on a Veteran's grave site. Today, at national cemeteries across the country, volunteers with Wreaths Across America are placing wreaths in honor of those who served. #wreathsacrossamerica #HonoringVets
Today at national cemeteries across the country, volunteers are placing wreaths at the grave sites of America's Veterans. At Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Kentucky, volunteers with Wreaths Across America placed more than 1300 wreaths. #wreathsacrossamerica #HonoringVets
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