FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tim Holbert
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
703-302-1012 ext.220
Cheri Jacobus
202/547-7358
HEROES FROM WWII, KOREA, VIETNAM AND IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN MEET IN WASHINGTON NOVEMBER 8-10
WASHINGTON, DC The American Veteran Center s Tenth Annual Conference November 8-10 at the Renaissance Washington Hotel hosts some of the greatest heroes of WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan at one of the largest annual gatherings of decorated military combat veterans.
The conference features three days of speaker panels, wreath laying ceremonies at the World War II, Korea, and Vietnam memorials and an awards banquet. The conference also features salutes to Medal of Honor recipients and service members wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Participating veterans range from America s last living veteran of WWI to serve in Europe, Frank Buckles, to decorated young heroes of today.
Iraq/Afghanistan
Sgt. Marco Martinez - Ex-gang member joined Marines and received the Navy Cross. Author "Hard Corps" How a young man changed his life and became a hero.
SSgt. David Bellavia - Nominated for Medal of Honor for Fallujah in 2004. Co-founder of Vets for Freedom (pro-mission advocacy group). Author of new book "House to House."
Maj. Kim Campbell - Female pilot decorated with Distinguished Flying Cross for flying her damaged plane through heavy fire in the initial attack into Iraq. Her call sign and nickname is "Killer Chick."
Maj. Jason Amerine - Army Special Forces. Was already in the Middle East
training forces on 9/11. Worked directly with Karzai during overthrow of Taliban in 2001. Featured in new video game produced by the Army on America's heroes.
Vietnam:
Vets from "We Were Soldiers" Well-known Vietnam veterans, due to movie and book. Hal Moore (played by Mel Gibson), Joe Galloway (Barry Pepper) and Bruce Crandall (Greg Kinnear).
B.G. Burkett - Authored "Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation
Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History." Helped identify fake heroes in Vietnam and Iraq.
Korea:
Capt. Tom Hudner - Medal of Honor recipient; saved Jesse Brown, Navy's first black pilot.
WWII:
Veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team Japanese American unit, formed from interned Japanese-Americans.
The Band of Brothers - Portrayed in the series.
Tuskegee Airmen Legendary unit of America s first black pilots.
Iwo Jima/Flags of Our Fathers - Vets from platoon that took Mt. Suribachi and raised the flags.
Full conference schedule at
www.AmericanVeteransCenter.org. For interviews or registration, contact Tim Holbert at
703-302-1012 ext. 220 or
tholbert@americanveteranscenter.org.
American Veterans Center &f World War II Veterans Committee &f National Vietnam Veterans Committee
1100 North Glebe Rd. Suite 910 Arlington, VA 22201
P: 703/302-1012 F: 571/480-4141
www.americanveteranscenter.com