This Veterans Day, we’re celebrating a few remarkable individuals whose legacies continue to inspire, decades and generations later.
Art donated by Navy Federal Credit Union. Photo by Cade Martin.
Courage On and Off the Battlefield
Born in rural Tennessee in 1887, Alvin York grew up in a deeply religious household and was initially a conscientious objector during World War I due to his pacifist beliefs. However, after reconciling his faith with his sense of duty, York served with the 82nd Infantry Division in France. On Oct. 8, 1918, he famously led a small group of soldiers against a heavily fortified German machine-gun nest, turning the tide of the engagement. For his actions, York was awarded the Medal of Honor. After the war, he returned home a national hero and devoted his life to education and helping rural communities in Tennessee. Using the fame of his wartime deeds, York raised funds and eventually founded a private agricultural school in Jamestown, still open to this day — the Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute.
Copyright Underwood & Underwood, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sgt. Alvin York
John Glenn began his military career as a Marine Corps pilot, serving during World War II and later in Korea, flying 149 combat missions across both conflicts, eventually earning numerous awards, including 6 Distinguished Flying Crosses. Yet Glenn’s legacy extended far beyond the battlefield. In 1962, he became the first American to orbit the Earth as a member of the newly formed NASA, solidifying his status as a national icon. Glenn later served as a US Senator from Ohio for 24 years, advocating for science, education and Veterans' issues. His courage in both combat and space, combined with decades of public service, made him one of the most admired figures in American history.
John Glenn
Courage On and Off the Battlefield
Harold "Hal" Moore graduated from West Point in 1945 and went on to serve in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. In November 1965, as a lieutenant colonel, Moore led the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment during the Battle of Ia Drang—the first major engagement between US and North Vietnamese forces. Vastly outnumbered and under relentless attack, Moore's calm leadership and tactical brilliance saved hundreds of lives. His experiences were later chronicled in the book “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young”, which he co-authored with Joseph L. Galloway, and which became a major motion picture. After retiring as a three-star general, Moore continued to support Veterans and military families through scholarships and direct advocacy, embodying the same strength and humility he displayed in combat.
Lt. Col. Hal Moore
Courage On and Off the Battlefield
US Army, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Born into poverty in rural Texas in 1925, Audie Murphy enlisted in the Army at just 17 years old after being turned down by other branches for his small stature. During World War II, he quickly distinguished himself and became one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of the war. His most legendary act came in January 1945, when he single-handedly held off a company of German troops for over an hour near Holtzwihr, France—while wounded and using a burning tank destroyer's machine gun. Murphy received the Medal of Honor and a string of other awards for valor, including the Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals and two Bronze Star Medals with “V” device. After the war, he became a successful actor, starring in more than 40 films, including “To Hell and Back,” based on his own war memoir. Murphy also became an outspoken advocate for Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, years before the disorder and its effects on military members were widely recognized.
Audie Murphy
Despite the Odds
U.S. Army, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Best known for his resolute leadership during the Battle of the Bulge, Anthony McAuliffe was a career artillery officer who rose through the ranks during World War II. In December 1944, as acting division commander of the 101st Airborne, he and his troops were surrounded by German forces in the Belgian town of Bastogne. When the Germans demanded surrender, McAuliffe famously replied with a single word: “Nuts.” His defiance and determination helped galvanize American forces until reinforcements arrived. After the war, McAuliffe continued to serve in high-level Army positions before retiring in 1956.
Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe
Despite the Odds
A New Jersey native born in 1916, John Basilone enlisted in the Marine Corps before World War II and quickly proved himself in battle. During the grueling Guadalcanal campaign in 1942, Basilone commanded 2 machine-gun sections against a fierce Japanese onslaught. For days, he held his position under constant fire, repairing guns, resupplying ammunition and personally fighting off waves of attackers. His valor earned him the Medal of Honor. Offered a safer role back home, Basilone instead chose to return to combat. Tragically, he was killed in action on Iwo Jima in 1945 while leading a charge on the beach. Basilone was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. His selfless heroism is memorialized in monuments, documentaries and the HBO series “The Pacific.” His story is still taught to generations of Marines at boot camp to this day.
Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone
The Last Full Measure
USMC Archives from Quantico, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
US Army, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
John Chapman served in the US Air Force as a combat controller, trained to coordinate air support in the most dangerous conditions. During Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan in March 2002, Chapman and his team engaged in a fierce battle atop Takur Ghar mountain. Believing he was mortally wounded, his team withdrew without him. However, surveillance later revealed that Chapman regained consciousness and re-entered the fight alone, engaging enemy forces with deadly effect. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2018, becoming the first Air Force airman to receive the award since Vietnam. Chapman’s story exemplifies all who made the ultimate sacrifice—continuing to fight and protect his fellow warriors despite overwhelming odds and the certainty of death.
Tech. Sgt. John Chapman
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Last Full Measure
These heroes—York, Glenn, Moore, Murphy, McAuliffe, Basilone and Chapman— represent different eras, battles and branches of the military. Yet they share common values: courage in the face of fear, duty that transcends self-interest and a commitment to the country.
Let’s celebrate their service and the service of all Veterans this Veterans Day.
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NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons