Kenneth Kraus

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on February 14, 1979, the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was stormed by Fadaiyan-e-Khalq militants. During the attack, United States Marine Corps Sergeant Kenneth Kraus, who was only 22 years old, and two other marines were in the Embassy cafeteria with more than 18 civilians.

Read More
Eugene Lang

It would take 44 years before Lang would be awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds suffered on that fateful day in Vietnam. In 2012, thanks to advocacy by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and support from Donald Singer, a Peekskill lawyer and retired Army Colonel who also served as a brigadier general in the Army National Guard, Lang’s story was presented to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records,

Read More
Justin Burdette

Justin Burdette joined the Army in March 2006. He had three combat deployments - the first to Iraq and the other two to Afghanistan. Three months into his third deployment, on June 9, 2013, Justin and his platoon were on a dismounted patrol in Wardak province when they received incoming fire. Justin was hit with a 107 mm rocket.

Read More
James Adams

James Adams was born and raised in New Jersey. Shortly after completing his sophomore year of high school, he decided to enlist in the Marine Corps, and served with them for several years in the turbulent 1920s and 1930s. (1) Upon retiring, he married, found a non-service occupation as a signal plant mechanic in New Jersey, and spent several peaceful years as a civilian before the second war came.

Read More