By Kevin P. Wallace and L. Wright Wallace
Review by Nathan Calder
What began as an unconventional honeymoon became a 280-day, 27,106-mile journey across all 48 contiguous states to interview Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families whose stories might otherwise be lost to time. Along the way, Kevin and Lauren Wallace interviewed 317 individuals and memorialized 443 fallen heroes by painting their names on the sides of the Van of Valor itself. It is an ambitious undertaking, but one driven by a simple promise: every name deserves to be remembered.
Unlike many military books, Van of Valor is not primarily about combat. Nor is it a simple memoir or a collection of interviews. Van of Valor blends travel narrative, oral history, and personal reflection into a moving tribute to the men and women who have carried the burdens of war, along with the families who continue to carry them long after the fighting ends. Kevin Wallace, a retired Air Force senior master sergeant and Purple Heart recipient, brings credibility earned through service. Lauren Wallace, an anthropologist and historian, provides a complementary perspective that helps place each story within a broader human context. Together, they become less the focus of the narrative than its guides, introducing readers to extraordinary Americans whose courage rarely makes headlines.
One encounter, in particular, captures the heart of the book. Early in their journey, the Wallaces meet Vietnam veteran Thomas Higgins, who survived a landmine explosion because he had borrowed a fellow Soldier’s flak jacket. Decades later, after battling the long-term effects of Agent Orange and returning home to a country that often greeted Vietnam veterans with hostility, Higgins harbored no bitterness. When people thanked him for his service and asked what more they could do, his response was “It’s not about me. It’s about the people on The Wall who never made it home.”
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Those words become the emotional compass for the rest of the journey. Readers of Van of Valor will meet veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They’ll meet Gold Star families who continue to live with unimaginable loss and ordinary Americans whose acts of courage reveal the true cost of freedom. The interviews never feel sensationalized. Instead, each story is presented with dignity and respect, allowing the veterans and families to speak for themselves. The journey itself provides a natural framework for the narrative. Each state introduces new landscapes, new conversations, and new reminders that service and sacrifice are woven into every corner of the country. Even the inevitable setbacks, from mechanical failures to exhausting travel, reinforce the Wallaces’ commitment to honoring the promise they made before leaving home.
One of the book’s recurring themes is that remembrance requires action. The stories of heroes must continue to be told. That message reaches its fullest expression as the Van itself evolves into a rolling memorial before ultimately finding a permanent home as a place where future generations can learn the stories behind the names. The book is not without minor flaws. At times, historical background interrupts the momentum created by the interviews, and a few transitions between locations could be tighter. Those moments, however, are overshadowed by the authenticity of the mission and the sincerity of the storytelling. What ultimately separates Van of Valor from other military nonfiction is its perspective. The book invites readers to know the people whose sacrifices shaped the nation. For service members, veterans, military families, and civilians alike, Van of Valor serves as a reminder that freedom has always carried a human face. Behind every Purple Heart is a story. Behind every Gold Star family is an empty chair that never truly disappears. The Wallaces ensure those stories continue to be heard.
Highly Recommended.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Check out Van of Valor here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/van-of-valor-kevin-p-wallace/1150288571?ean=9781971678252
About the Authors
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Dr. Kevin P. Wallace is a retired senior master sergeant in the United States Air Force, a Purple Heart recipient, and a veteran of multiple combat deployments, including Afghanistan. He served as a combat camera operator and public affairs professional, documenting operations in some of the most dangerous environments on earth, including much of Afghanistan.
His writing has appeared in military publications, veteran advocacy platforms, and online literary journals. He holds advanced degrees in communications, photography and fine arts. He has several published fiction and non-fiction work, including: Van of Valor, Don’t Look | Can’t Look, RELEGATED, Colour of Bleach, with his first fiction novel The Lioness of Cologne scheduled for release September 23, 2026.
Wallace is the cofounder and primary driver of the Van of Valor mission, a 280-day journey across the continental United States to collect and preserve the stories of wounded warriors and the families of the fallen. The Van of Valor has traveled more than 27,000 miles, recording over 318 oral histories, and continues its mission to ensure that no warrior’s story goes unheard.
He lives in the Florida with his wife, Lauren, and their dog, Sunny.
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