Veteran Spotlight

Curtis Coleman grew up differently than most of his peers with little money and being homeless. His brother mentioned the Marines and that he could work with helicopters, and Coleman’s life changed for the better.  “My older brother was a Marine. He …

Dan Becker spent his life knowing he wanted to join the Marines, but he would have never guessed he would join the Army and one day start a coffee company. Becker has lived an interesting life and has experienced many professions, but it all began in the …

Al Guillen has dedicated his life to helping others. He has been helping others through countless different occupations and extra activities throughout his lifetime. On a snowy February of 1967, Guillen was drafted into the U.S. Army. This was unexpected …

Weldon Crisman has never taken a moment for granted, and at 95 years old, he’s still looking for the next adventure on the horizon. Crisman was born in the Miller area in 1928 and moved out to the country off of Lincoln Highway when he was young. He lived …

Mark Volk grew up in Michigan City and attended Elston High School. After graduating from high school, Volk knew he wanted to serve his country, so he joined the Army Reserves and went to Purdue University Northwest to study electrical engineering and …

Randy Smith grew up in Lake Station and attended Thomas A. Edison High School. Firefighting had always been a big part of Smith’s life—his dad was a volunteer fireman, and Smith liked going and riding with the firemen to help out and gain experience. So …

It’s no secret that a life well lived is full of all kinds of experiences, both good and bad. Veteran John Mitchell has certainly led a well-lived life–he’s leapt at  unique opportunities, faced many hardships, and achieved incredible feats. The …

Vietnam Era Veteran Leonard Corso doesn’t know what his life would’ve been like if he hadn’t served as a Green Beret medic in the military. What he does know, though, is how much his service taught him, and for that, he’ll forever be grateful. Corso …

Valparaiso resident Jed Leifson said that serving in the U.S. Army as a nurse for more than a decade made him a more compassionate person and helped to ensure sweet success in his career. Leifson was born and raised in Utah. He graduated from Westminster …

Dennis Van Waardenburg has always been a go-getter. Graduating six months early from Crown Point High School, Van Waardenburg went straight into the Air Force. Stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Van Waardenburg was an airframe repair specialist who did …