Van of Valor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Road of the Brave highlighted in ‘Van of Valor’ book

NORTH PORT, Fla. — It began as a converted FedEx truck. It became a sanctuary on wheels. Now, the odyssey of the Van of Valor—a 27,106-mile pilgrimage across the contiguous United States—has been etched into ink. Published by Ballast Books and authored by L. Wright Wallace and Dr. Kevin P. Wallace, Van of Valor is a one-of-a-kind anthology set for release on June 30, 2026, arriving just in time for the A250 patriotic celebrations.

The rolling memorial, its exterior covered in neat, handwritten names of the fallen and the honored, traveled from the waterfront of Manteo, NC, through the heart of the South, out to the Pacific coast, up to the rugged Northwest, and back down to the Florida Gulf Coast. At every stop, Wallace and his team unlocked the doors to listen. The result is a dense tapestry of valor, a visual and literary monument where a central Purple Heart is encircled by Silver Stars, Distinguished Service Crosses, and a Medal of Honor—each ribbon woven with the names of those who earned them.

While the book contains profiles of over 150 heroes connected to this moving sanctuary, a sneak preview into merely some of the many stories reveals a sweeping, chronological portrait of American sacrifice across generations:

World War II

• Urban, Matt – U.S. Army, Lieutenant Colonel – Known as “The Ghost,” he earned seven Purple Hearts and is celebrated as a legend in Holland, MI.

Korea

• Stapp, Floyd – U.S. Army, Private First Class – A former POW whose harrowing story of captivity was uncovered for the first time for his granddaughter.

Vietnam

• Higgins, Thomas E. – U.S. Army – The very first interview of the mission, captured on the Manteo waterfront; he survived a landmine thanks to a borrowed flak jacket.
• Allwine, David – U.S. Army, Sergeant – Endured a 40-day forced march and 755 days as a POW after his firebase was overrun.
• Zahn, Bob – U.S. Army, Pilot (9th Cav.) – Gunship pilot who took over the controls when his co-pilot was killed; a 60-year journey to peace.
• McAlpine, Barry – U.S. Army, Sergeant – A “Blue” in the 1-9 Cavalry who earned two Silver Stars and three Purple Hearts.
• Detmer, Michael – U.S. Army, Assistant Gunner – Survived the Battle of Suoi Tre where his unit was outnumbered ten to one.
• Maue, David – U.S. Army, Squad Leader – Wounded in an ambush in Cambodia; carried guilt for his trainee’s death for 50 years.
• Deeters, Chuck – U.S. Army, Infantryman – A tree slowed the bullet that struck his skull, saving his life.
• Conner, Terry – U.S. Army, Scout Pilot – A pilot shot in the leg who survived after a bullet stopped 2mm from his spine.
• McCloughan, James “Doc” – U.S. Army, Medic – A Medal of Honor recipient who saved countless lives before spending 40 years teaching and coaching in Michigan.
• Brown, Larry – U.S. Army, Colonel – Scout pilot shot down nine times; his wife Carol was a nurse who flew on a mission with him.
• Reed, Mitchell “Mitch” – U.S. Army, Specialist – Played dead in a hot zone after being shot in the chest; led 100+ Purple Heart designations in Oklahoma.
• Hampton, Floyd “Butch” – U.S. Coast Guard – A rare Coast Guard Purple Heart recipient wounded by mortar shrapnel in a forgotten corner of the war.
• Silvers, Harry – U.S. Marine Corps, Sergeant – Two-time Purple Heart recipient met serendipitously at a VFW in Florida.
• Peek, Dennis – U.S. Marine Corps, First Lieutenant – F-4 pilot shot down on his 48th mission; his story became the subject of a novel.
• Heth, Basil Jr. – U.S. Marine Corps, Major – Flew 1,500 missions as a helicopter pilot; a member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe.
• Nichols, Donald R. – U.S. Marine Corps, Lance Corporal – Spent 60 years searching for the man who saved his life, while advocating for historically Black towns recognized as Purple Heart communities.
• Mashunkashey, John H. – U.S. Marine Corps, Corporal – An Osage elder, Khe Sanh survivor, and community leader who rebuilt after war and a tornado.

Panama to Afghanistan

• Pierce, Bob – U.S. Army, First Sergeant – Sustained a severe TBI from an IED blast; now dedicates his life to healing fellow veterans through hunting.

Vietnam to Iraq

• Bates, John – U.S. Marine Corps, Colonel – Served five decades, earned two Purple Hearts, and promoted his own son to captain.

Iraq

• Tavera, Joel – U.S. Army – A quadruple amputee and blinded survivor of a rocket attack who exemplifies boundless resilience.
• Holcombe, Kirk – U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant – Called fire on his own position, earning a Bronze Star with Valor and two Purple Hearts.
• Gadson, Gregory D. – U.S. Army, Colonel – A double-amputee battalion commander who not only stayed on active duty but also served as a West Point football captain.
• Stemen, Don – U.S. Army, Gunner – Purple Heart recipient whose Humvee was hit by an RKG-3 shaped charge in Tikrit.
• Deeds, Samuel – U.S. Marine Corps, Gunnery Sergeant – A friend of the Van of Valor team whose story is now an exhibit at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.

Iraq & Afghanistan

• McKeown, Chad – U.S. Army, Master Sergeant – Green Beret wounded by an RPG in Baghdad; lifelong “hungry homie” to Rick Murillo.
• English, Ingrid – U.S. Marine Corps, Sergeant – Purple Heart recipient and member of a groundbreaking Female Engagement Team.

Afghanistan

• Haskin, Bruce – U.S. Air Force, Chief Master Sergeant – Survived a VBIED attack at Bagram Airfield in 2019; a Purple Heart recipient representing the newest generation of post-9/11 veterans.
• Morrison, Donald S. – U.S. Army, Sergeant – KIA in 2010; his family created the “Remembrance is the highest form of honor” challenge coin central to the book’s theme.
• Waterman, Thomas – U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant – Served in BMG with Kevin; a bladesmith who described the “Valley of Death.”
• Dawson, Jeffrey – U.S. Army, Sergeant First Class – EOD tech who earned the Distinguished Service Cross in a massive IED ambush.
• Murillo, Rick – U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant – Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient; co-owner of Kraken Customs with Chad McKeown.

2024 Jordan Attack

• Sanders, Kennedy L. – U.S. Army – Killed at Tower 22; the Van of Valor team documented her mural and memorial in Georgia.
• Moffett, Breonna A. – U.S. Army Reserve, Sergeant – Killed in the Tower 22 drone attack; her Gold Star parents were interviewed to ensure her legacy endures.

These are but a fraction of the voices inside the van. 

The book functions as a split-page portrait of the nation: on one side, the living — like Tom Higgins laughing on a dock, or Joel Tavera refusing to yield — and on the other, the fallen, like Kennedy Sanders and ‘Sunshine’ Morrison, forever suspended in silent honor. From the Ghost of World War II to the Gold Star families of Tower 22, the Van of Valor carries them all.

The book will be ready for pre-order soon, and another announcement will be made at that time. Stay tuned to all our socials, and www.HelpVoV.com, for updates.

For interview requests or to book the Wallaces as guest speakers, motivational speakers, or for book events, email Dr. Wallace at Manteo.Creative.SPOT@gmail.com.