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World War II veteran Mark Hechler turns 100 today. Born in Detroit on June 20, 1926, he served with the 12th Armored Division in Europe, returned home, raised a family, and built a business. Happy 100th birthday, Mark. We are grateful for your service. #WeRememberThem #Happy100 #WWIIVeteran #GreatestGeneration #USArmy #WorldWarII #Detroit #SouthfieldMI

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Audie Murphy was born on this day in 1925. There is sometimes confusion over his birth year because he falsified a birth certificate to join the Army following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He entered the military as a Private at age 17 and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant before earning a battlefield commission. He was wounded three times, fighting in 9 major campaigns in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of War. He would become the most decorated soldier of World War II receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Colmar Pocket, Holtzwihr, France. After the war, he wrote the bestselling book TO HELL AND BACK and starred in 44 movies. The 1955 movie adaptation of his autobiography was Universal’s highest-grossing film until 1975. He was one of the first to bring attention to what is now known as post-traumatic stress, focusing his efforts on assisting Korean War and Vietnam War veterans. He was killed in a plane crash in 1971. He was 45. He is buried in Section 46 of Arlington National Cemetery. In part, his Medal of Honor citation reads: “With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machinegun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad that was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted.” After the war, he was asked what had motivated him to take those heroic actions that day. He replied simply: “They were killing my friends.”

U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel William Joseph O’Brien of Troy, New York, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions from June 20, 1944, to July 7, 1944, on Saipan, the Mariana Islands. O'Brien joined the Army and, by June 20, 1944, was serving as a lieutenant colonel in the 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. On June 20, 1944, on Saipan in the Mariana Islands, he braved enemy fire to reach several American tanks which were unknowingly firing on their own troops. The following week, on June 28, O'Brien orchestrated and personally led an attack on a Japanese-held ridge. When his battalion came under attack from a much larger enemy force on July 7, he refused to leave the front lines even after being wounded. He continued to lead his men until being overrun and killed. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 20, 1944, through July 7, 1944. Lieutenant Colonel O’Brien is buried at Saint Peter’s Cemetery in Troy, New York. #WeRememberThem

Happy 105th Birthday to Wold War II Veteran Nell “Mickey” Bright of Salt Lake City, Utah! Mickey is the only Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) still living. Born in Canyon, Texas, Mickey learned to fly at 19 and earned her private pilot's license. She joined the WASP program and graduated with class 43-W-7 at Avenger Field. She was one of the first 20 women chosen to be trained to fly B-25 bombers at Mather Field. Stationed at Biggs Field in Texas, Mickey flew 17 different types of military aircraft, which included towing targets for live-ammunition training and conducting night searchlight missions After the WASP program was disbanded, she worked at Luke Air Force Base where she met her husband. She later changed careers and became one of the first female stockbrokers in the Phoenix, AZ area. She stayed in the financial industry for five decades before retiring at 85. Along with the other WASP members, she was formally recognized as a U.S. Military Veteran in 1977 and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009. Happy Birthday Mickey! Thank you for your service! #WeRememberThem

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U.S. Army First Lieutenant Jack Llewellyn Knight of Garner, Texas, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on February 2, 1945, near LoiKang, Burma. #WeRememberThem

Leonard Alfred Funk Jr. of Braddock Township, Pennsylvania, one of the most decorated soldiers and paratroopers of WWII, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary actions on January 29, 1945, near Holzheim, Belgium. #WeRememberThem

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Today, we honor and remember Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) William "Ryan" Owens, who was killed in action on January 29, 2017. #NavySEALFoundation

Eric Gunnar Gibson of Nysund, Sweden, a Technician Fifth Grade in the U.S. Army, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on January 28, 1944, near Isola Bella, Italy. #WeRememberThem

Audie Leon Murphy of Kingston, TX, one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of WWII was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary actions on Jan. 26, 1945, near Holtzwihr, France. #WeRememberThem

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Today, we honor and remember Ensign (SEAL) Van Andrew Wilson, who died on January 26, 2006. #NavySEALFoundation

Thank you Mr. President!

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WWII and Korean War Navy vet Saul Popick turns 100 today. Born Jan 17, 1926, Saul served as a Navy corpsman in WWII and aboard a floating lab in Korea. He’s been married 75 years, raised 3 kids, and built a life of love and service. 🎂 Join us in celebrating Saul Popick’s remarkable 100th birthday by signing his digital birthday card today: 👉 wwiimemorialfriends.org/birthday-card/… #HappyBirthday #Happy100 #GreatestGeneration #WeRememberThem

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Today, we honor and remember Lieutenant (TECH) Thomas C. Fouke, who was killed in training on January 17, 2012. #NavySEALFoundation

Today, we honor and remember Scott Wirtz, who was killed on January 16, 2019. #NavySEALFoundation

U.S. Army Sergeant Jose Calugas of Barrio Tagsing, Leon, Iloilo, Philippines, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary actions on January 16, 1942, near Culis, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands. #WeRememberThem

Today, we honor and remember Chief Special Operations (SEAL) Christopher J. Chambers and Special Warfare Operator 1st Class (SEAL) Nathan Gage Ingram, who were killed in action on January 12, 2024. #NavySEALFoundation

Today, we honor and remember Special Warfare Operator 1st Class (SEAL) William B. Marston, who was killed in training on January 10, 2015. #NavySEALFoundation

Today, we honor and remember Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SEAL) Mark J. Minor, who died on December 25, 2016. #NavySEALFoundation

U.S. Army Master Sergeant James Richard Hendrix of Lepanto, Arkansas, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary actions on December 26, 1944, near Assenois, Belgium. #WeRememberThem

U.S. Army Major General Keith Lincoln Ware of Denver, Colorado was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary actions on December 26, 1944, near Sigolsheim, France. #WeRememberThem