Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Rick Rescorla, Vietnam Vet and 9/11 Hero Rick Rescorla was highly decorated for his battlefield bravery in Vietnam, even portrayed in a hit movie and popular book. As the head of security of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, he drilled employees regularly on evacuation from the Twin Towers, always believing it was vulnerable to a terrorist attack.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Eric Greitens, Chairman and CEO of The Mission Continues Eric Greitens, a Navy SEAL Officer and Iraq War Veteran, has tapped into a unique blend of brains, heart and guts to serve his fellow Veterans. With intelligence, kindness and courage, he is doing more than helping those less fortunate get back on their feet - he is showing them how to lead in a mission-critical way.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Bonnie Carroll, Founder of T*A*P*S Grief is a powerful emotion. Left unexpressed, it can consume one’s life. However, with the proper outlet to express it, grief can lead to healing and even hope.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Joseph J. Grano, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Centurion Holdings Joe Grano has done much more than proving a kid with working-class roots can make it on the battlefield and in the boardroom. The former Green Beret earned his place with a front-row seat to events that have shaped our history over the last four decades. Today, he channels his energy and experience to inspire younger generations – including fellow vets – to find their path to success.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Times Square Heroes, Vietnam Veterans Alert Police of Bomber Threat Many times acts of heroism are embodied by the famous and powerful. But sometimes it can be just an everyday face in the crowd, an ordinary person who steps up to do something extraordinary. On the evening on May 1, 2010, two seemingly ordinary people tapped into their Veterans experience to save lives at one of the nation’s most-famous public spaces: Times Square, New York City.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Navajo Code Talkers More than sixty-five years since some of the bloodiest battles in American history, a small group of Veterans who fought in them, our earliest Americans, are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Bob Kingsley, Supporting Those Who Serve Bob Kingsley is big in American Country Music circles. He’s a leading country music radio personality and host of nationally syndicated programs, a standard for over three decades. He’s also an Air Force vet who makes supporting those who serve a life priority, including Veterans Advantage partner Wounded Warrior Project.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America For Queens, New York native John Rowan, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America, helping fellow troops in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan and beyond will always be something near – and very dear – to his heart.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Senate Chaplain Barry Black As is the case each year, Mother’s Day 2009 reminded us all of our moms and their role and impact in our lives. For the Navy’s own Barry Black, U.S. Senate Chaplain, mom is a central figure in his life of service to the country.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, USAF, Retired Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, USAF, Retired, is a career trailblazer whose efforts are receiving the praises of the Obama White House. Serving in the Air Force for more than 28 years, she was one of the few military women in the Vietnam War who was not a nurse. Inspired by the efforts of her fellow servicewomen, she led the campaign to build a national memorial to recognize their service.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet Brian Delate, Award-winning Actor and Director For Vietnam veteran and award-winning actor/director Brian Delate, the traumatic events of 9/11 underscore the challenge for generations of servicemen and women —to bring closure and meaning to their own painful battlefield memories. By recalling his own personal story, and tapping into his passion for art, he is optimistic about restoring the lives of those who need extra help.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Paul Newman, A Legacy of Film, Family and Philanthropy When WWII Navy Veteran Paul Newman died on September 26, tributes came from as far away as Iran as well as from Hollywood colleagues, many of whom wondered how such a global star, solid family man, businessman and philanthropist could defy many of the leading Hollywood conventions and stereotypes.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA Founder Many serve, few are chosen, but even fewer find a way to lead. For Paul Rieckhoff, the War on Terror has shown its face in many ways, and at each turn he's become more committed to one politically unifying goal: re-architecting the way those who serve are thanked by the nation they defend.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Greg Islan, on College Tuition Millions of Americans carry the heavy burden of making college tuition payments in an era of skyrocketing educational expenses. We all need help, but for the families of fallen servicemen, sending children to college can be an extraordinary challenge. Greg Islan’s goal is to meet that critical challenge, offering financial assistance to dependents surviving the death of a parent in uniform. His hard work and persistence in promoting this program sends a strong, patriotic message and demonstrates his resolve to stand behind the men and women who protect and defend our freedoms and care for those left behind.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Paul W. Bucha - 2007 Nearly 40 years after his moment of military heroism, Medal Of Honor (MOH) recipient Paul W. “Buddy” Bucha stands as more than a role model. He’s in the business of showing people how to become role models themselves.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: L. Gordon Sumner Executive Director, National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (NCESGR) With a unique blend of civilian and military expertise, L. Gordon Sumner, Jr., Ph.D. leads 4,200 volunteers who serve as a vital lifeline between the war on terror overseas and Americas’ employers and families, as they welcome back our National Guard & Reserves.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Wesley Autrey, Bush Lauds Subway Hero New York City subway hero and Navy veteran Wesley Autrey was hailed by the President and Congress Tuesday night -- another honor to go along with his medal, his 15 minutes of fame, and the admiration of millions for risking his life to save a man from an oncoming train.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Mike Ilitch, Supporting Entrepreneurial Veterans What does a big-time sports team owner and businessman know about veterans? Quite a lot. The Marine Corps very own, and pride of Detroit, Mike Ilitch has created an employment program to save Vets up to $68,000 in starting their own business--A Little Caesars Pizza franchise.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Chris Gardner, Inspiration Through Determination Navy Vet and former San Francisco Veterans hospital employee Chris Gardner inspires America with his epic journey from rags to riches.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: David Robinson, All-Star status Former Navy midshipman David Robinson finished in style, rounding out a prolific basketball career with a second National Basketball Association Championship in 2003. And even though he is "retired" from the sport, he retains All-Star status in his personal and charitable pursuits.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Bart Buechner, US Navy (Ret) Bart participating in “the world’s largest torchlight Armed Forces Day Parade” held annually in Spokane, WA Bolstered by the service of two generations of wartime soldiers before him, and a supportive mother, Capt. Bart Buechner rounded out 30 years of service and sacrifice to our country in 2008. But, for this extraordinarily dedicated Navy man, it’s just a beginning.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Dale Dye An Advocate for Vets in Hollywood Captain Dale Dye, USMC (ret.) has seen battle, bloodshed and bands of brothers. And although he is out of uniform today, he engages in an everyday mission to ensure the military experience is accurately portrayed by the big and small screens of Hollywood and television.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Art Goodearl, teacher Each year at about this time, millions of students graduate across the country, a magical and memorable time for so many American families. It’s also a time we acknowledge those who make it happen-our teachers. In the Army’s own Art Goodearl, we honor those who teach our young people to go the extra mile, and help them develop the skills they need to become young adults and to survive life’s ups and downs beyond just a strong SAT score.
Veterans Advantage Awards HeroVet: Rick Monday, Major League Baseball and Saving Old Glory As a Marine Corps reservist and pro baseball player, Rick Monday’s two paths led him to perform what many considered a heroic act for a split second in history—at a place you would never have expected it to happen.
