STANLEY, N.C. – High in the tranquil mountains outside Charlotte, a quiet man sits reflecting on a life of service, shaped by an unshakable sense of duty and faith.

Ed Nixon, a Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient, recently opened his life to the “Van of Valor,” an organization dedicated to honoring and sharing the stories of America’s service members.

Nixon’s journey, from a young draftee to a seasoned warrior who faced death head-on, reveals a legacy of honor passed down through generations and a resolve that brought him back to the fight just days after being wounded.

A Patriot’s Upbringing

In 1968, Nixon was drafted during a time of division over the Vietnam War. He felt a strong sense of duty. This came from his father, who was also a Purple Heart recipient from World War II. Nixon, now 78 years old, explained to Dr. Kevin P. Wallace, a fellow Purple Heart recipient and Van of Valor

co-founder, that he felt the freedom in this country and did not want to avoid being drafted.

“My upbringing solidified my commitment,” said Nixon, who graduated from a strict Catholic school run by nuns. He credits his disciplined upbringing with preparing him for military service. Faith would later become a vital pillar on the battlefield.

Nixon started his military journey at Fort Bragg, N.C., for basic training. He was an 11 Bravo in the infantry. He then went to Fort Polk, La., for Advanced Individual Training (AIT). A brief leave at home provided time with his wife of three years before he shipped out to war.

A Fiery Night at a Fire Support Base

Nixon’s “most difficult experience was during a night-long battle at a fire support base in Vietnam,” he said. “My unit, with two companies, had spent a week fortifying our position. However, a reinforced regiment of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) attacked in the early morning.”

Nixon recounted that they were overrun. The fighting was intense, lasting through the night. They called in “danger close” fire, artillery that risked friendly casualties.

“I was manning an M-60 machine gun, and I ran low on ammo,” said Nixon. “I crawled through the trenches, shouting, ‘American!’ to avoid friendly fire as I got more ammo.”

After returning to his bunker, Nixon was hit by shrapnel.

“I felt something real hot on my neck,” he said, remembering only seeing blood.

Grace and Resilience

The shrapnel remains in his neck. Nixon believes his survival was a miracle.

He said that he had seen people killed nearby. The shrapnel could have hit a different place, but “for the grace of God, I’m here.”

Nixon’s tour of duty continued. He was treated for his wound, but his recovery was brief. He was back in the field within days.

This commitment moved Wallace, a veteran of the post-9/11 wars. For Wallace, the Vietnam generation’s sacrifice motivated him to start the Van of Valor. This was a promise that this treatment would not happen again.

Honoring a Generation of Heroes

Wallace spoke to a younger audience. He made sure they understood Nixon’s story. Wallace emphasized that Nixon was a war hero who was wounded and almost died for freedom.

For Nixon, the motivation was duty, a legacy from his father, and a sustaining faith. He represents a generation that fulfilled their commitment to a country they believed in. Through the Van of Valor, Nixon’s legacy, and that of others, can be told and celebrated.

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