Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Benjamin Ferencz Benjamin Berell Ferencz, the son of Hungarian immigrants, fought with the U.S. Army in World War II in Europe, witnessed the liberation of German concentration camps, and served as a lead prosecutor in the Nuremberg trials. For over 70 years, he has condemned atrocities against people of race or creed, and committed himself to settling disputes without the use of force.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Justin Constantine Editor’s Note: Marine Lt. Colonel, attorney and Veterans Advantage HeroVet Justine Constantine died on May 6, after a bout with cancer. Justin was severely wounded and narrowly escaped death from a sniper’s bullet to the head in Iraq in 2006. He endured countless surgeries, and with the support of his spouse, Dahlia, recovered and became a nationally recognized author and tireless advocate for Veterans. His HeroVet profile of 2016 is republished below. It is a story of great determination and resilience that serves as inspiration for all of us. He will be greatly missed.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Pat Tillman (in memoriam) Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman shattered the illusion of the football player as a "warrior" and made it a reality when he announced his intention to join the United States Army 20 years ago, in May of 2002, putting his NFL career on hold.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Dr. Linda Schwartz “If you have an opportunity to influence the outcome, to make it better, take it. You never know what else you’ll be able to do,” said Dr. Linda Schwartz when former President Obama asked her to be the first female Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Jackie Robinson This year marks the 75th anniversary of baseball legend Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball – but sports wasn’t the only place he went up to bat for his race. Robinson was an Army veteran who was court-martialed for standing his ground in a segregated military experience during World War II.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Sidney Poitier There is probably only one veteran who lied about his age to join the Army early and also went on to win an Academy Award. Bahamamian-American actor Sidney Poitier enlisted at age 16 and though his military service only lasted 10 months, his film career set records for Black individuals on screen for decades. Poitier passed away on January 6 at the age of 94.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Colin Powell Four-star general Colin Powell, 65th United States Secretary of State and first Black to hold such a high office, died on October 18, 2021 of complications with COVID-19 and his battle with myeloma, cancer of plasma cells. He was 84 years old, and was an inspiration to millions of Americans, civilians, veterans and today’s military.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Rick Rescorla Rick Rescorla was highly decorated for his battlefield bravery in Vietnam, even portrayed in a hit movie and popular book.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Luis Alvarez Each year on September 11 we recognize those lost in the terror attacks that day on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, DC in 2001. To many, NYPD officer Luis Alvarez will be a hero for those who still suffer for decades to come.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Mike Krzyzewski From captain of West Point’s basketball team to a captain in the Army and on to coach Duke’s extraordinary Blue Devils for over three decades, Mike Krzyzewski’s lifetime of leadership is admirable. Coach K, as he is known, recently announced his retirement after 47 years of coaching. He will complete the upcoming 2021-2022 season of college basketball and retire at age 75 to spend time with family.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Julia Parsons Julia Parsons was part of the first wave of women to work in the military during World War II. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we honor Julia for her contributions and service to our country.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: David Goggins “Life is not designed to be perfect. Life is designed to be a big testing ground and all of us get tested in different ways,” said Ultra Athlete David Goggins. A retired Navy SEAL who celebrated his 46th birthday this month, he is the only member of the U.S. Armed Forces to successfully complete SEAL training, including two Hell Weeks, the U.S. Army Ranger School, where he graduated as Enlisted Honor Man, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller training.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Melvin Morris In September 1969, when Melvin Morris, Sergeant 1st Class, went back into battle to retrieve his team sergeant’s corpse in Vietnam, the furthest thing from his mind was the Medal of Honor. But today, he is one of only 3 black veterans out of 69 living recipients, who hold our country’s highest military honor. 44 years after his courageous act, President Obama called Morris to apologize for taking so long to recognize his service.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: House of Representatives Chaplain Margaret Kibben In a week that was tumultuous in Washington D.C., one piece of news is good: the first female Chaplain to serve the U.S. House of Representatives was appointed - and she’s a Navy veteran with over 30 years of military experience. Retired Navy Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben replaced retiring Rev. Pat Conroy last week.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Michael Abrams Back from Afghanistan and serving as an officer recruiter in New York City, life seemed full of promise for Marine Mike Abrams. Seated in a diner near New York University and wearing his Marine uniform, he encountered a fellow Marine, Gerry Byrne, who served in Vietnam.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Col. Steve dePyssler The coronavirus pandemic has taken many great people from the military community this year, particularly from the vulnerable elderly generation of World War II veterans. Colonel Steve dePyssler, an Air Force veteran who died just days after his 101st birthday in July, is one such loss whom we mourn today.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: ViacomCBS Chief Veteran Officer Richard M. Jones "As a Ranger, you are trained that you need to ‘drive on’ and to ‘shoot, move, and communicate’ in order to survive on the battlefield,” says ViacomCBS Chief Veteran Officer Richard M. Jones. He has done just that in his successful transition from injured veteran to champion advocate. "I knew that I had to do something."
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Brigadier General Loree K. Sutton If Brigadier General Loree K. Sutton wins the race for New York City Mayor this year, she'll make history as NYC’s first woman mayor. But NYC’s former Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs believes it's her 30 years of service as a psychiatrist in the Army that sets her apart – not that she's a woman.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Jonathan Woodson, MD Jonathan Woodson, MD, and the son of a WWII veteran, was born and raised with a deep sense of service. He has served his country in a variety of capacities including while deployed to three combat zones; today as an Army Reservist; as an active board member of the Wounded Warrior Project; and his advocacy for racial equality. He is outspoken that his fellow servicemen and women should have the same opportunities to serve our country, regardless of race.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Arnold Palmer, Professional Golfing Great, Coast Guard Veteran Arnold Palmer (1929-2016) was a Coast Guard Veteran who exuded the style and expertise that represents the best of professional golf. Currently ranking fifth on the all-time PGA Tour victories list, "King" Palmer posted sixty-two victories and seven wins in Major Championships.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Chesley Sullenberger, Profiled in "Sully" Movie Sullenberger, who has flown for US Airways since 1980, flew F-4 fighter jets with the Air Force in the 1970s.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Sumner Redstone, Media Kingpin One of America’s greatest media moguls has been known to say “content is king,” but we also recognize him for the unwavering fighting spirit of an Army veteran who has helped give millions to charities and valuable causes.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: U.S. Army Veteran Laura Law-Millett, Co-Founder and Director of the GI Film Festival Celebrating 10 years of military filmmaking, the GI Film Festival continues to receive accolades under the leadership of its co-founder, U.S. Army Veteran Laura Law-Millett.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Rear Admiral Marsha J. Evans (U.S. Navy, Ret'd), President and CEO, American Red Cross As President and Chief Executive Officer of The American Red Cross (ARC), Retired Admiral Marsha J. Evans leads this unique, global life-saving organization with the experience and expertise drawn from three decades of service to her country.
