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 MoreAs a member of the Flying Tigers, William C. Chin bravely fought not only for his country and family in the United States but for his ancestral homeland in China as well. With a legacy in the Chin family of leadership and service to the community, William did not disappoint in keeping the family tradition.
Read MoreThe stories of Vietnam War veterans are typically ignored in history, but this is not the case for Larry Branaugh. As the first service member from Thornton, Colorado to sacrifice his life in Vietnam, Larry has received significant recognition for his service, but beyond that, is remembered for his sense of duty and courage.
Read MoreJohn Francis Curry knew that his military career would “take off” after his enrollment in the Signal Corps Aviation School. First appropriated in 1911, the Aviation School was developed to test different types of airplanes and discern their potential military capabilities.
Read MoreDuring Joshua Hager’s all too brief 29 years, he became an elite soldier in the United States Army while being a dedicated family man at home.
Read MoreSam Robinson was a “true Air Force Chief” who served for 28 years in the U.S. military. He was a friend to many and “had a laugh that when you heard it you knew he was in the building. He was a dedicated worker, no matter the challenge.”
Read MoreA Second Lieutenant in the U.S Army Nurse Corps, Ruth Nelson (née Kentta) spent her life caring for others, first as a nurse in the U.S Army, an administrator in a Denver hospital, and a school nurse in the Denver Public Schools, while taking care of her family as a mother and grandmother.
Read MoreAfrican Americans served with distinction in every theater of World War II. By the end of the war, 1.2 million African Americans were serving in uniform. Norman Arnett Ford was one of these brave and resilient men.
Read MoreMilton Louis Craig was born to serve his country as he was the son of a Buffalo Soldier.
Read MoreMartin remained on Active Duty in the reserves throughout the course of the war thanks to the Thomason Act, which allowed for more reserves to join active duty. He served four campaigns on the front lines in North Africa and Italy.
Read MoreWorld War II broke out and Lou knew she could not be idle and watch her country move forward without her. She joined the army and was sworn in as a Second Lieutenant Army Nurse before she was shipped overseas to join the 95th General Hospital in England.
Read MoreSergeant George B. Booker, born April 11, 1846, had the great distinction of serving in the 17th Regiment of Colored Infantry during the United States Civil War. Born into slavery, George Booker endured the grim realities of living as an enslaved person in the American South
Read MoreIn the 1950s, at 21 years old, Kenneth left home to enlist in the Air Force as a mechanic. During his 23 years of service, he completed his basic training in California and then was stationed in Iceland, Washington, Japan, Virginia, and Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado, where he eventually retired.
Read MoreMany 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 MoreJohn William Bell loved the United States military. It shaped him and gave him opportunities he would not have otherwise had. He embraced the chance he was given and raised a family through hard work and dedication.
Read MoreJoe 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 MoreThough he only lived a short twenty-three years, Harry S. Heaney’s life would take him far away from home, and eventually into one of the most lamentable events in the history of the American West – the massacre at Wounded Knee.
Read MoreHerman Berry grew up in a society that was segregated, and he served the country he loved under the banner of segregation. Although Herman saw the way society unjustly treated African Americans, he rose above the discriminations and prejudices attached to his race and him as an African American man. Herman carried on his family’s legacy of an ingrained love and loyalty for the military and his country.
Read MoreAs a cook in the U.S. Guards, Emanuel provided a necessary service to the country during the first World War. Although Emanuel only served in the military for one year, it changed his life.
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