21-Veteran Salute
As far back as the War of 1812, Tennessee began to build a reputation as a patriotic region willing to supply warriors to help defend America.
At the outbreak of the Mexican-American War at the end of the 19th Century, Tennessee was asked for 2,800 soldiers and 30,000 responded, cementing the nickname “The Volunteer State.”
This rich vein of patriotism and appreciation of military traditions continues into the 21st Century, as Chattanooga remains one of the few American cities to have an annual Armed Services Day parade in May.
Starting today, and continuing through Veterans Day on Nov. 11, the Times Free Press will present stories of local veterans in a series called the “21-Veteran Salute.”
Veterans featured in this series were nominated by Times Free Press readers. From the scores of nominees, a panel of reporters, editors and veterans selected the 21 honorees, who were then interviewed and photographed by Times Free Press reporters and photojournalists.
The military service of the 21 honorees spans a period from World War II to contemporary conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Readers will learn about a 94-year-old World War II pilot who was shot down over Belgium, a Marine who served in three wars, and a Vietnam War nurse who remembers holding the hands of dying soldiers, among others.
Many of the nominees hailed from the so-called Greatest Generation, the cohort of Americans who served in World War II. Only about 3 percent of the 16 million Americans who served in Word War II are still living, which makes their stories especially important to tell at this moment in history.