Tag Archives: honoring troops

“The American Veterans Center” is hosting their annual Veterans Day conference November 4th – 6th in Washington, D.C., honoring America’s most distinguished veterans and active duty service members and providing them a forum to share their experiences and memories of the defining moments in American military history.

Some attendee highlights are:

Baseball Heroes of WWII, including Yogi Berra and Bob Feller (will be filmed for broadcast on MLB Network taping on Veterans Day)
The Doolittle Raiders
The Tuskegee Airmen
The Band of Brothers (including a few of the actors who portrayed the vets in the miniseries)
Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Some of the greatest heroes of Afghanistan and Iraq
A program honoring our Wounded Warriors to be televised on the Pentagon Channel on Veterans Day

For more information or to register for this event, please visit http://www.americanveteranscenter.org/events/conference.

“The mission of the American Veterans Center is to preserve and promote the legacy of America’s servicemen and women from World War II through Operation Iraqi Freedom.”

Here is the schedule of events:

Thursday, November 4
6:00 – “Honoring Our Wounded Warriors”, Featuring young service members who have been wounded in the line of duty, sharing their inspiring stories of recovery and determination. Participants TBA
6:00 – Reception
7:30 – Discussion. Location: United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Bus transportation available from the Renaissance Washington Hotel. Bus departs at 5:45 PM.

Friday, November 5Speaker Sessions at the U.S. Navy Memorial – Sessions begin at 8:30 AM. Buses from Renaissance Washington Hotel depart at 7:45 AM.
Year of Navy Supply: Boots on the Ground, featuring active duty sailors from the Navy Supply Corps who have served in operations around the world. Participants TBA

Behind Enemy Lines, featuring Major General John K. Singlaub, highly decorated veteran of OSS operations during World War II and founding member of the CIA.

All American, All the Way!, featuring Lt. Colonel James Megellas, the most highly decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star for heroism during World War II.

World War II: The Atlantic Theater – Combat stories from men who fought on the front lines against Hitler’s Third Reich. Featuring: Colonel Ed Shames – Veteran of 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in WWII. Became the first enlisted man to receive a battlefield commission in the 506th, subsequently being transferred to 2nd Battalion where he served as leader of 3rd Platoon, E Company – the “Band of Brothers.” H. Newcomb “Newc” Eldredge – Veteran of the 10th Mountain Division in the Italian Campaign, and recipient of two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart for actions during the battle for Mount Belvedere. Additional participants TBA. Moderated by Jon Guttman, Editor, Military History magazine and Senior Editor, World War II and Aviation History magazines.

The Battle of Iwo Jima: 65 Years Later – Veterans of the Marine Corps’ most legendary battle. Featuring: Jack Cole, Orrie Morgan, Donald Mates, James White.

Lunch
Film (TBA) will be screened in the Navy Memorial Theater

The Medal of Honor: Recipients of the U.S. Military’s Highest Award featuring: SFC Ronald Rosser – U.S. Army soldier awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an assault on a fortified hill near Ponggilli during the Korean War. Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr. – U.S. Navy pilot who received the Medal for his effort in trying to save the life of the Navy’s first black pilot, Ensign Jesse Brown, who was shot down during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. Colonel Harvey C. “Barney” Barnum – Marine Corps officer awarded the Medal of Honor for directing a counterattack against enemy positions in Quang Tin Province during the Vietnam War. Colonel Jack Jacobs – U.S. Army officer awarded the Medal of Honor for personally rescuing more than a dozen allied soldiers pinned down by enemy fire during operations in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Currently a military analyst for MSNBC.

Today’s Heroes – Several of the most highly decorated service members from Afghanistan and Iraq featuring: Staff Sergeant David Bellavia – Recipient of the Silver Star and recommended for the Medal of Honor for valor during the Second Battle of Fallujah. Author of House to House. Sergeant First Class Ed Malone – Recipient of the Bronze Star with Valor for actions in Tal’Afar, Iraq. Sergeant Marco Martinez – Recipient of the Navy Cross for valor during the Battle of Al Tarmiya. Author of the book Hard Corps. Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Workman – Recipient of the Navy Cross for valor during the Second Battle of Fallujah. Author of Shadow of the Sword.

Special Evening Event! – “Baseball Heroes of World War II” featuring Major League Baseball players who put their careers aside to serve in World War II. Conference attendees will make up the studio audience for a television program to be recorded for MLB Network, airing on Veterans Day. Special guests include several dozen Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. Participants include Bob Feller, Cleveland Indians – U.S. Navy, Yogi Berra, New York Yankees – U.S. Navy, Jerry Coleman, New York Yankees – U.S. Marine Corps, Lou Brissie, Philadelphia Athletics – U.S. Army, Ralph Kiner, Pittsburgh Pirates – U.S. Navy. Moderated by Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated and MLB Network. Additional invitees TBA.
Time: Evening (start time TBA)
Location: PNC Diamond Club, Washington Nationals Park
Post-event reception in the Lexus Presidents Club

Saturday, November 6
Speaker Sessions at the U.S. Navy Memorial – Sessions begin at 8:30 AM
Buses from Renaissance Washington Hotel depart at 7:45 AM

Flying Against the Rising Sun featuring Colonel James Morehead, ace pilot and recipient of two Distinguished Service Crosses, who was one of the first American fighter pilots to fly in the Pacific during the dark early days of World War II.

Most Honorable Son – featuring Ben Kuroki, the only Japanese American allowed to take part in combat missions over Japan during World War II.

The Doolittle Raiders – Veterans of Jimmy Doolittle’s legendary attack on Tokyo, April 18,
1942 featuring: Lt. Colonel Richard Cole – Co-pilot, Plane #1 (Jimmy Doolittle’s co-pilot), SSgt. David Thatcher – Engineer Gunner, Plane #7, Major Thomas Griffin – Navigator, Plane #9, Lt. Colonel Robert Hite – Co-pilot, Plane #16. Moderated by Colonel C.V. Glines, Official Historian of the Doolittle Raid.

The Band of Brothers – Veterans of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry portrayed in the famed HBO television series. Featuring Ed “Babe” Heffron, Ed Pepping, Don Malarkey, plus James Madio, actor who portrayed Frank Perconte in the series. Additional veterans and actors TBA.

The Tuskegee Airmen: Pilots from the legendary first unit of all-African American airmen
during World War II featuring Dr. Roscoe Brown, Calvin Spann, Shelby Westbrook. Additional participants TBA.

The Korean War: 60 Years Later: Participants TBA

The Real A-Team – Featuring veterans of the elite U.S. Army Special Forces, tasked with unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and counter-terrorism. Participants TBA.

The Last Ace – Featuring Brigadier General R. Steve Ritchie, the only Air Force “ace” pilot of the Vietnam War and recipient of the Air Force Cross.

SEAL of Honor: The Life of the first Medal of Honor recipient from Afghanistan , Lt. Michael P. Murphy featuring Dan, Maureen, and John Murphy – Lt. Murphy’s family. Gary Williams – Author of the book SEAL of Honor: Operation Red Wings and the Life of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, USN.

They Also Serve: The Contribution of Women to the Military – Featuring Colonel Susan Luz – The highest-ranking woman in the 399th Combat Support Hospital and recipient of the Bronze Star for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lt. Colonel Kate Van Auken and Major Lauralee Flannery – U.S. Army Reserve officers awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, two of the most highly decorated women of the war. Additional participants TBA.