Everyday Patriot

  Captain John Howard Yancey was born on April 27, 1918, in Plumerville, Arkansas. He graduated from Central High School and briefly attended Ouachita College but left early to enlist in the Marine Corps at the onset of World War II He volunteered for special services and was assigned to the Marine Raiders. Captain John Yancey served as the bodyguard for Lieutenant Colonel Evan Carlson. He fought during the Guadalcanal Campaign and during the Battle of Iwo Jima and earned a Navy Cross for his actions. Captain John Yancey transitioned to the Marine Corps reserves, commanding the Little Rock 15th Battalion reserves after World War II The 15th Battalion was activated for the Korean War in August 1950 and was absorbed by the 7th Marines. Captain John Yancey would fight during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, leading an assault on Hill 698, a strategic battle that would end in hand-to-hand combat. Captain John Yancey would be severely wounded during his command of the Battle of Hill 1282...

  Private First Class Ardon Bradley "Brad" Cooper was born in Seattle, Washington, on September 19, 1967. He attended primary schools in the Seattle area and relocated to Castle Rock, Colorado, where he attended Douglas County High School. Private First Class Brad Cooper was an accomplished athlete who, in addition to playing football and lacrosse, was a finalist for the 1988 US Olympic Curling Team. He enlisted in the US Army in 1989. He deployed to Saudi Arabia with the 5th Cavalry for Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the Gulf War. On February 20, 1990, during the Battle of Wadi Al-Batin, Private First Class Brad Cooper, while attempting to aid another wounded soldier, was killed when a mortar struck his gun turret. He rests at Acacia Memorial Park in Lake Forest Park, Washington. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virg...

  Private Mary "Pidgy" Wilcox Granade Gabriel was born on February 14, 1909, at Pin Point, Georgia. She attended the Georgia Infirmary School of Nursing and remained on staff at the hospital until her US Army enlistment in 1943. She served at several stateside appointments throughout World War II  Private Mary Granade returned to the Georgia Infirmary in 1945 and worked as a nurse until her death on May 20, 1968. She rests at the Eden Baptist Church Cemetery in Pin Point, Georgia. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my pa...

  Lieutenant Vincent Robert Capodanno was born on February 13, 1929, in Staten Island, New York. He graduated from Curtis High School in 1947. He worked as an insurance clerk while taking night classes at Fordham University until entering the Mary Knoll Missionary Seminary in 1949. Lieutenant Capodanno was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest on June 14, 1958. Lieutenant Vincent Capodanno traveled to the mountains of Taiwan to serve as a mission priest for the Hakka people, serving there until 1964, when he volunteered to serve as a US Navy Chaplain for forces deployed in the Vietnam War. His request was granted on August 13, 1965.  After extensive training, "Grunt Padre," as he was known, deployed to Vietnam with the 5th and 7th Marines in April 1966. Lieutenant Capodanno earned a Congressional Medal of Honor on September 4, 1967, near the Vietnamese village of Dong Song, when units of the 5th Marines fell under attack.   The Marines were outnumbered and about to be ...

  First Sergeant Lerone Robert Bennett Jr was born on October 17, 1928, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. His family moved to Jackson, where he would grow up, while he was young.   First Sergeant Bennett began his journalist career young and started writing part-time for The Mississippi Enterprise at twelve. After he graduated from Lanier High School, First Sergent Bennett went to Morehouse College, where he graduated in 1949. He was also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. He began working at Atlanta Daily World in 1949, briefly leaving in 1951/1952 to enlist in the US Army and deploy for the Korean War. First Sergeant Lerone Bennett returned to journalism and writing after the war. In 1953 he became the associate editor of Ebony magazine and, in 1958, became the magazine's executive editor. First Sergeant Bennett also taught courses at Northwestern University. Much of First Sergeant Lerone Bennett's focus was on the African enslavement period of American history. His 1954 article "T...