Michigan Silver Star Marine Captain Henry Kolakowski Jr. Gave All June 15, 1968 Remember Henry an Exemplary #America250 Hero 🇺🇸🦅

U.S. Army Private First Class Louis James Purdy killed in action June 15, 1967 M113 APC struck landmine in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam. Louie was 20 from Greenwich, Connecticut. C TRP, 3rd SQDN, 4th Calvary, 25th INF Div. Remember Louie today. #America250 Infantryman Hero.

Please help me honor Marine Cpl. Michael A. Estrella he passed today but in 2006 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom while conducting combat operations in Hadithah, Iraq. He was just special,” said his mother, Maria. “He did everything, and he never gave me any problems. He was always there for me and his brothers and sisters. He did a lot for his family.” Corporal Estrella’s personal awards include the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon.

“This is my grandfather Corporal Charles Wesley Bonner. He severed in Vietnam. When he enlisted, he was part of the 101st Airborne Division. His second tour, he was a part of the 82nd Airborne where he led his Paratrooper. He recently passed last year September. 🕊️ My grandfather was amongst very few men who was able to make it back home alive to tell their stories. I love you so much grandad & you will forever be honored.” - Niam Bonner

🙏🙏 Til they all come home! 🙏🙏

Louisiana Young Marine LCpl Willie Purfoy Seamster Gave All June 15, 1968 Cut short at 19 only 26 days in. Remember The Fallen #America250 Hero 🇺🇸

Montana Marine LCPL Donald Alexander Lehuta Gave All June 15, 1967 forever 20 Remember The Fallen #America250 Semper Fi 🇺🇸🦅 Hero

Missouri U.S. Marine PFC Larry Gene Clark Gave All June 15, 1968 19 Remember Semper Fi #America250 Hero 🇺🇸

🫡🇺🇸

Idaho Exceptional Silver Star Soldier Sergeant Leonard Lee Broenneke Gave All June 14, 1971 shy of 21 Remember his Loyalty & Courage #America250 #Army251 #FlagDay 🇺🇸

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

🇺🇸 Most Badass Football Players: Combat Veterans Edition #8 Eddie LeBaron Eddie LeBaron, a 5-foot-7 QB nicknamed “The Little General” who earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in Korea, was one badass football player. Born January 7, 1930, in San Rafael, California, LeBaron starred at the University of the Pacific. The Washington Redskins drafted him in the 10th round of the 1950 NFL Draft. Before he could begin his professional career, he answered the call to serve. He became a Marine Corps second lieutenant and deployed to Korea as a rifle platoon commander with B Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. He may be the only Marine ever sent directly into combat without undergoing standard military target practice. He arrived late to camp due to playing in a college All-Star game. During the Battle of the Punchbowl in 1951, specifically during the brutal fighting for Hill 673, he led his men through intense combat against Chinese forces. LeBaron willingly exposed himself to the enemy, sprinting across open, heavily targeted terrain to establish direct contact with a mortar platoon's forward observation post. Minutes later, an adjacent assaulting rifle platoon lost its commander to enemy fire and began to fracture under heavy casualties. LeBaron immediately ran into the crossfire, assumed command of the leaderless Marines, reorganized them under pressure, and successfully resumed the uphill assault. He was wounded twice by shrapnel during his tour, once in the leg and once in the shoulder, but continued to lead his Marines. For his courage and leadership under fire, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” and the Purple Heart. LeBaron later reflected on the weight of command, saying: “Being a commander during a war is somewhat like being a quarterback in that you have control over a bunch of other guys, and you don’t want to make a mistake on their behalf.” LeBaron was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant in 1952 and finally began his NFL career. He won Rookie of the Year in 1952. He played 11 seasons, seven with the Redskins and four with the expansion Dallas Cowboys. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and threw for over 13,000 yards. Eddie LeBaron is an American Badass. Thank you, Lieutenant! 🫡🇺🇸

🙏🏻🇺🇸🫡🇺🇸🙏🏻

U.S. Air Force Pilot Captain Gilbert Allan Rovito was killed due to Pilot error after refueling June 14, 1973 in a remote lakebed, Cambodia. Gilbert was 24 from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. 40th ARRS, 3rd Air Rescue Group, 7th AF. Remember his service & sacrifice. #America250 🇺🇸

Texas 1st Calvary Corporal Larvon “Jack” Floyd 20 Gave All June 14, 1968 Remember The Fallen #America250 Hero 🇺🇸🦅

My name is Jose Garcia Acosta. I am a United States Navy Chief. I am also Apache as my grandfather is from the Mescalero Apache tribe. Someone said it is disgraceful for me to wear a uniform for the USA if I am Native American. Let me tell you this. I am Apache and American. We do not come up with excuses not to serve or go to battle for our people." Photo via: Native American History

Out of 16.4 million service members who served in WWII there's between 42000-45000 U.S. veterans left. Between 130-300 U.S. WWII Veterans pass away daily. By 2030 it is estimated that only a few thousand will be left. Thank them for their service 🇺🇸

🚨 30 Heroes in 30 Days — countdown spirit to July 4! Major Richard “Dick” Winters Leader of Easy Company, 101st Airborne. On D-Day he led a daring assault on a German artillery battery at Brecourt Manor with just 13 men — the Germans had over 60. It’s still studied at West Point today. Through the frozen hell of Bastogne and into Germany, he led with quiet competence and unbreakable resolve. Never sought glory, just did his duty, and is perhaps the embodiment of the “Quiet Heroes” who are the backbone of America. He came to fame after Stephen Ambrose “Band of Brothers” was released and then turned into a critically acclaimed miniseries. He later was asked if he was a hero and he replied: “No. But I served in a company of heroes.” True American leadership and quiet determination. 🇺🇸 #30HeroesIn30Days #America250 #DickWinters #BandOfBrothers #EasyCompany #WWII

🇺🇸 Double Shot of Badass Americans: William J. Crawford He was a janitor at the Air Force Academy for many years. The cadets who passed him every day had no idea they were walking among a living legend. Born in Pueblo, Colorado in 1918, Crawford was drafted into the Army in July 1942. By September 1943 he was serving as a Private and squad scout with Company I, 3rd Platoon, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division in southern Italy. On September 13, 1943, his platoon attacked German positions on Hill 424 near Altavilla. After reaching the crest, they were immediately pinned down by machine gun and small arms fire from multiple enemy positions. Without orders and completely on his own, Crawford moved forward alone under heavy fire. He first located one machine gun dug in on a terrace directly in front of the platoon. He crawled through open ground under fire, closed to within a few yards of the emplacement, destroyed the gun with a hand grenade, and killed three of the crew. He kept going. Crawford spotted a second machine gun position firing on his men. Again moving alone and exposed, he advanced on the crew under fire. When he got close enough, he threw a grenade, destroyed the gun, and eliminated the crew. He still wasn't finished. He located a third German machine gun that was continuing to pin down his unit. Once more he advanced alone through enemy fire, closed on the position, killed one of the Germans with rifle fire. Two other Germans who were there fled. Crawford, the badass he was, grabbed the German machine gun, turned it around, and fired on them as they were running down the hill. Crawford had single handedly taken out all three machine gun nests that were holding up his entire platoon. A few days later he was captured by the Germans. His fellow soldiers thought he had been killed. He would spend the next 19 months as a prisoner of war. Because the Army believed he was KIA, the Medal of Honor for his actions was awarded posthumously and presented to his father in 1944. When the war ended and Crawford was returned home, he had technically already received the nation’s highest award, but he was never formally presented with it. He would stay in the military until the 1960's, retiring as a Master Sergeant. He then took a quiet job as a janitor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. For many years he mopped floors and cleaned the cadet squadrons without ever mentioning his service. Thousands of cadets passed by him over the years without the slightest clue. Then, in the late 1970s, a cadet was reading a book about the Allied campaign in Italy and stumbled upon his name. He asked the janitor about it. Crawford simply replied, “That was one day in my life and it happened a long time ago.” They were shocked to find out their janitor was that same person. The cadets spread the word and helped arrange for him to have the recognition he deserved. On May 30, 1984, nearly 41 years after his actions, President Reagan personally awarded Master Sergeant William J. Crawford his Medal of Honor during the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony. William J. Crawford is an American Badass 🇺🇸