Van of Valor

There’s a bond forged in places most will never see. In the dust, the chaos, and the deafening silence that follows. This is not a story of glory. It’s a story of shared ground. It’s in the taste of ice cream, paid for in lead on the way back. It’s in the laugh at a… Read more: Waterman story Part 2, here, tomorrow

By Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor BARTELSO, Ill. – The cornfields of Southern Illinois stretch flat and patient toward the horizon, a world away from the triple-canopy jungle Michael Detmer walked in 1967.  On a warm August afternoon at the Standin’ Proud Veteran’s Tribute in Bartelso, I sat down with Detmer as part of… Read more: The Little Ear of Corn

The number is stark: 101 CODY, WY – September 28, 2025 –  It’s a figure that, for most, appeared as a headline after October 2006—a statistic marking a tragic month in Iraq.  For 101 families, the month was life altering. “For the world, it was a tally. For us, it was a tombstone laid over… Read more: BEYOND THE NUMBER:  Honoring the 101

Van of Valor FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – On a clear December day in 2015, Staff Sergeant Flavio A. Martinez’s patrol was exfiltrating a routine mission near Bagram Airfield.  Suddenly, a Taliban operative on a motorcycle wove into the formation’s heart and stopped 20 feet behind Martinez.  The world erupted.  The suicide bomber’s blast killed… Read more: Into the Kill Zone: An Airman’s Story of Loss and Duty

Tomorrow, we share our story with North Port media, but TONIGHT, we share this first look with you—our community. In 280 days, this mission has grown from 300 to over 81,000 followers. This growth isn’t about us; it’s about you. You’ve joined this journey not through family ties or old friendships, but because you carry a… Read more: For the Community: Unveiling the Van of Valor (North Port Media Feature)

To our Van of Valor family, We come to you today not just as relayers of Valor, but as two people forever changed by the stories we are entrusted to tell.  We sit in the presence of giants, and in the quiet moments after the cameras stop rolling, we are often left in a state… Read more: A Message from the Heart: The Van of Valor Team to Our Followers, Families, and Friends

By Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor Project BARTELSO, Ill.  – The October sun over Bartelso had that particular Midwest gold to it—the kind that softens barn roofs and makes cornfields look like they’re lit from within. Terry Conner stood near the Van of Valor, one hand resting on the hood as if steadying himself… Read more: The Second Birthday

Reflections of Col. Bates’ 5 decades of service as a Marine by Dr. Kevin P. WallaceCo-Founder, Van of Valor MIAMISBURG, Ohio – As a Purple Heart recipient myself, I know that the stories of our combat-wounded veterans are not just history; they are the bedrock of our nation’s character.  At Van of Valor, our mission… Read more: Reflections of Col. Bates’ 5 decades of service as a Marine

Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor NEW ORLEANS – This Thanksgiving, our table is a rental, and the view from our window is of a busy, unfamiliar street.  The chairs are hotel perfect.  This year, Lauren and I are spending this holiday far from the bustling gatherings of families or friends. The silence in this apartment… Read more: A Thanksgiving of Empty Chairs and Full Hearts

Interview Video at Bottom By Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor BARTELSO, Ill. – The Van of Valor was mid-way on its 27,000 miles across the contiguous United States over 280 consecutive days, further than the circumference of Earth itself, when we pulled into Bartelso, Illinois, on a warm August afternoon.  The Standin’ Proud Veteran’s… Read more: The Ambush That Took His Brother

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The journey for Lauren and Dr. Kevin Wallace is not measured in miles, but in moments of memory and profound loss. This week, their “Van of Valor” project—a mission to honor fallen U.S. service members—wound its way through the heart of coastal Georgia, tracing a path from personal nostalgia to national tragedy.… Read more: Van of Valor Carries the Weight of Memory and Loss on a Journey Through Georgia

By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor PALM BAY, Fla. – The memory of Army Spc. Donald “Scott” Morrison lives on in the quiet, determined voices of his parents, Don and Kelly Morrison.  In their Florida home, surrounded by mementos of a life cut short, they shared his story not of his death, but of his… Read more: Beyond the Knock on the Door: A Gold Star Family’s Quest to Keep Their Son’s Name Alive

In the dense, triple-canopy jungles of Vietnam, where the enemy was a ghost and the terrain an impassable wall, the U.S. Army needed a new way to fight.  The answer soared above the treetops in a whirlwind of rotor blades and a storm of fire. This was the aerial reconnaissance unit of the 1st Squadron,… Read more: Hunter Killer series coming soon

Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor PUEBLO, Colo. – For weeks, the mission had a different rhythm. We conquered the soaring peaks of Colorado and the painted deserts of Utah in a rental car.  We carried the message through the neon blaze of Nevada, the deep canyons of Arizona, and the high deserts of New Mexico. … Read more: Return of ‘Van’ to Valor

Special Commentary By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – I used to be on a pretty strong speaking circuit, talking about suicide and resiliency.  You walk into a room to talk about survival, carrying the weight of your own story.  You speak about the invisible shrapnel, the dark trenches of the mind,… Read more: WHEN ONE SURVIVOR MEETS ANOTHER

By Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor cofounder Note: also a Purple Heart recipient, and Bronze Star with Valor recipient TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. – I was here, in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, this Veteran’s Day, leaning against the side of the Van of Valor’s rented substitute.  The sun was warm on the metal,… Read more: More Than a Free Cup of Coffee: A Veteran’s Day Understanding

Easter in Chattanooga (Verse 1:) From the Gulf of Mexico, where the sugar sands lie white To the Alabama pines beneath the April light We carried names of heroes on our weathered steel side In a van of stories, with the miles open wide Through Fort Benning dust and Atlanta’s sprawling glow To a Tennessee… Read more: Easter in Chattanooga

Dr. Kevin P. Wallace Van of Valor WAYCROSS, Ga. – March 28, 2025 – The journey of the Van of Valor is not about miles, but about memory. This week, the inspirational Van of Valor, dedicated to fallen U.S. service members, arrived in Waycross, Georgia, on a solemn mission: to walk in the footsteps of… Read more: Van of Valor Pilgrimage Honors Fallen Hero SGT Kennedy Sanders in Her Hometown of Waycross

A raw, unfiltered dialogue between two vets who served in the same deadly Afghan valleys. They unpack the absurdity, the trauma, and their new missions in forging knives and fostering healing.

Couple Honors a Forgotten Marine Hero YANKTON SIOUX RESERVATION, S.D. – The journey to the quiet, windswept cemetery in South Dakota began with a simple request: a buddy check on an Iraqi Freedom-era Marine. It ended with a profound act of reverence for a hero most of the world had forgotten. Dr. Kevin P. Wallace… Read more: Mission of Valor Leads to a Final Salute: 

By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – It’s August 2025. The Vermont air is thick with the scent of pine and impending rain as the Van of Valor rolls through the Green Mountains.  We are merely 80 days into a 280-day mission, a continuous blur of 27,116 miles across the lower 48. … Read more: Weight of Granite Documented Vermont’s Fallen and Faithful

Editor’s Note: This story was originally written at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, in coordination with Air Combat Command Public Affairs. I was the author, then Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace, superintendent of the 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office; this story was Published Dec. 10, 2012 at https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/203916/rpg-shoots-down-santa/. At the time this was written,… Read more: ‘RPG’ shoots down Santa?

Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor  Van of Valor Blog | Part 2 of 3 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCE, N.M. – In our first installment, “The Weight of the Heart,” we explored the profound meaning behind the Purple Heart—a meaning that extends far beyond the official description of the medal.  We spoke of its true weight,… Read more: The Names Behind the Valor: Stories from the Roll of Honor

Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor MOAB, Utah – Get ready for a powerful and raw journey into the life of a modern American hero.  In an upcoming three-part video series, we sit down with Retired Sergeant Thomas Waterman, a man whose story is as intense and finely crafted as the knives he now forges. This… Read more: The Thomas Waterman Series: From the Battlefield to the Bladesmith

Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor BRISTOL, Tenn. – The hum of the tires on the asphalt was a constant companion for the Van of Valor as it cruised through the heart of Alabama, a state steeped in both military history and a profound respect for those who serve.  Our mission was to connect with the… Read more: The Van of Valor: A Journey of Remembrance from Alabama to the Highlands

A Granddaughter’s Quest to Heal a War Hero’s Legacy By Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor BILLINGS, Mont. — For Shania Stapp, her grandfather was a ghost in the family history; a name spoken with a mixture of pride and profound sorrow.  Private First Class Floyd Stapp, a hero of the Korean War, killed himself… Read more: Long Road Home

Note: You are reading a reposting of the original story, posted in 2025. We have some tough news to share with you all, our incredible family who has supported this mission from the beginning. Our beloved Van of Valor, which has been our home and our heartbeat on the road, has broken down. The repairs… Read more: A Bittersweet Update on Our Van of Valor Family

Van of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. — After 280 days living on the road, Dr. Kevin Wallace and his wife Lauren Wallace are trading wheels for a forever home, a gift from Building Homes for Heroes. The couple, co-founders of the Van of Valor mission, concluded a 27,106-mile journey across the contiguous United States on… Read more: Building Homes for Heroes Provides Permanent Home to Veteran Behind “Van of Valor” Mission

Co-Founder Lauren Makes Proclamation View the full video above. VIEW MORE HERE: http://www.HelpVoV.com

By Lauren WallaceVan of Valor CASPER, Who. – Here at Van of Valor, our journey to honor the fallen is built on a sacred promise: to ensure that every sacrifice is remembered.  While our mission drives us forward on the highways, it’s the heartwarming discovery of fellow patriots on the same path that reminds us… Read more: Spot a Patriot Shout-Out: The Washington State Freedom Runner 

Commentary by Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor PORTLAND, Ore. – I’ve measured the weight of history on different scales. Downrange it was measured in pounds — the heft of body armor at dawn patrol, the weight of 13 loaded magazines, medical gear, food, water, camera gear, grenades, back-up gear and probably a bandolier or two… Read more: The Weight of a Name, The Length of a Nation

Commentary by Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor MIAMISBURG, OH – The familiar, sharp ache in my neck was my constant companion, a stubborn relic of years spent under the weight of body armor and the stress of service.  It’s a feeling thousands of my brothers and sisters in arms know all too well.  So, when… Read more: A Veteran’s Firsthand Look at the Mission Healing Our Heroes

It’s day two of this deployment, and I awoke rested and ready to go … and that I did. To me, the Kabul city streets looked the same as they did during my previous deployment to Afghanistan. It was my first full day at work, and the task was to command a gun truck, and… Read more: Back on that ‘horse’

With back-scene interview w/ Harvard student SUMMERVILLE, S.C. – The Van of Valor, a mobile journalism project dedicated to preserving the stories of Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families, recently rolled into South Carolina on its nationwide journey. Co-founder Lauren Wallace, a Harvard History Graduate Student and practicing Anthropologist, alongside her husband, Dr. Kevin… Read more: The Van of Valor Chronicles Stories of Sacrifice in South Carolina 

CW2 Bob Zahn’s story is one part of a great series featuring Zahn again, and a handful of other amazing Officers and Riflemen. You’ll learn so much. However, preceding will be a general story revealing the build of the famed Hunter Killer teams, from the Whites, to the Reds, to the Blues, and maybe even… Read more: Hunter Killer series coming soon – here

There’s a bond forged in places most will never see. In the dust, the chaos, and the deafening silence that follows. This is not a story of glory. It’s a story of shared ground. It’s in the taste of ice cream, paid for in lead on the way back. It’s in the laugh at a… Read more: Waterman story Part 3, here, tomorrow

BLACKFOOT, Idaho – In an era of fleeting headlines and 24-hour news cycles, some stories risk fading from the collective memory.  But on highways and backroads across America, a converted van is on a mission to be a rolling archive of remembrance.  Its occupants are not typical tourists; they are collectors of courage, preservers of… Read more: The Van of Valor: A Cross-Country Quest to Ensure No Sacrifice is Forgotten

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sneak Peek Revealed: Fans and supporters are getting an exclusive first look at A Wingman for Miss Universe, a special not-for-resale preview copy now circulating ahead of the book’s official release. The work carries a heartfelt dedication to Carl and the veterans of Bartelza, Illinois—past, present, and future—crediting them with preserving a story… Read more: “A Wingman for Miss Universe” Pays Tribute to Veterans in Upcoming Release

This Veterans Day, we honor every veteran. Discover a powerful message about why every service member’s contribution matters and how a simple “thank you” represents our nation’s collective gratitude.

The Van of Valor, a rolling tribute to service and sacrifice, embarked on an ambitious pilgrimage across the diverse and dramatic landscape of southern New Mexico, connecting the dots between America’s frontier of innovation, its borders of security, and the guardians who stand watch over both.

From the Heart of History By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – The humid Florida air hangs heavy today, not just with heat, but with the weight of a nation’s recurring grief.  Here, in our new permanent home in North Port, the Van of Valor rests in our rental unit’s driveway, a… Read more: Sacred Duty Continues in North Port

(Verse 1) Out on the windswept prairie, where the eagle learns to fly There’s a quiet place of honor ‘neath the wide and open sky We came looking for a living soul, a brother’s urgent plea But the ancestors were whispering of one we’d never see (Chorus) Rise up, rise up, Major Basil Heth Junior… Read more: Song of the Forgotten Warrior

VIRGINIA CITY, Nevada – The Purple Heart is a medal unlike any other. It is not sought, but bestowed; a small, enameled badge of courage paid for with blood and trauma.  For U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Blanca Taylor, that price came due on a dusty Iraqi road on New Year’s Day, 2005 — a… Read more: A SOLDIER’S SACRIFICE, A NATION’S PROMISE TO REMEMBER

“This isn’t just a war story. This is a story of a promise made in Puerto Rico and kept in the face of unimaginable sacrifice. 💜 Meet Sgt. Ingrid English, U.S. Marine, Purple Heart recipient, and a self-described “badass with a beautiful soul.” Her journey will give you chills: ▶️ Inspired by her grandfather’s Army photo. ⚓ Talked OUT of the Army by her aunt and into the Marines… because of the uniform. (“If I’m going to look badass, I’m going to look badass in a uniform.”) ✈️ Was in Okinawa on 9/11, a day that changed everything. 💔 Endured multiple combat deployments, separated from her young daughter. 💪 Was wounded in Afghanistan, earning the Purple Heart. 👩‍👧 Now, her daughter is a Marine, building on her legacy. Her story, and so many others, are being saved from fading memory by the incredible Van of Valor project. This is why their mission matters. Read the full, incredible story of promise, sacrifice, and resilience. You won’t forget it. Link in Bio or Read More: http://www.HelpVoV.com

MANTEO, N.C. — For Vietnam veteran Thomas E. Higgins, a Purple Heart is more than a medal—it’s a testament to his service and the decades of health issues caused by Agent Orange. In a recent interview with Dr. Kevin P. Wallace of the Van of Valor, Higgins, 80, recounted being wounded in 1965 and returning… Read more: Agent Orange and a Hostile Homecoming: A Vietnam Veteran’s Story of Sacrifice

This place makes you stop and think. About a higher power. About life. It got me thinking about a soldier named Floyd Stapp. After two years of brutal captivity and torture in Korea, he came home hating everything he once loved. But he found his way to the 22. I don’t know if this could… Read more: Reflection on Trauma and Hope

Life of service began on Currituck Sound ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Anyone who has spent a considerable amount of time in Elizabeth City (EC) must have certainly seen an older man on a rascal scooter, proudly flying an American Flag, Vietnam Service Ribbon Flag, and other veteran memorabilia. However, one must wonder how many have… Read more: PURPLE HEART COASTIE: 

Van of Valor to Release Full Story of Army Sgt. Barry McAlpine, Two-Time Silver Star Recipient Who Volunteered Three Times for Vietnam By Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – He could have played baseball in Germany while his peers fought in Vietnam. Instead, Barry McAlpine volunteered three times for combat, became a… Read more: He Ran Toward the Fire

Join Us This Saturday — We’re Raising Funds to Get a Veteran a Service Dog! 🇺🇸🐕 The Van of Valor is proud to be a guest of the Venice Lions Club at this special fundraising event. Together, we’re rallying the community to help provide a life-changing service dog to a deserving local Veteran! 🐾❤️ 🚐 About the Van of Valor:We travel… Read more: A service dog for a Veteran

Greetings from the road! The Van of Valor mission is in full swing, and the stories we’re collecting are nothing short of inspiring. Here’s the latest from this incredible journey to preserve the legacies of our heroes. We’re On the Move! Our trusty rental-car-stand-in has successfully crisscrossed the Pacific Northwest, and we’re now pushing forward… Read more: The Journey Continues! An Inside Look at the Van of Valor’s Next Chapter

Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor ST. LOUIS – Bring them all home. For decades, that promise has fueled a relentless quest, evolving from a personal pilgrimage into the core mission of the non-profit organization, Tours of Duty, founded by Amanda Rutledge. To assist, Gold Star family member Linda Moreau enlists the help of dedicated veterans.… Read more: A Daughter’s Lifelong Mission to Bring Heroes Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HUDSON, Mass. – On July 2, 2026 at 6:00 P.M., just 48 hours before the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the American Heritage Museum will host a singular event bridging the battlefields of the past and the veterans of today.  Dr. Kevin P. Wallace and Harvard Extension… Read more: Boston’s Marc Fucarile Hosts ‘Van of Valor’ Town Hall, Book Signing at American Heritage Museum

Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In every veteran’s story, there is a moment when character is forged, often long before the uniform is ever worn.  For Army Capt. Ross Pixler, that moment came not in the deserts of Iraq, but on the icy slopes of Pico de Orizaba, the third-tallest mountain in… Read more: From Mountain Rescue to Combat Leadership, the Unbroken Spirit

Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor Van of Valor Blog | Part 3 of 3 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCE, N.M. – In our previous journey together, we moved from the official meaning of the Purple Heart to the personal stories that give it its true weight.  We met the individuals behind the medals—their laughter, their loves,… Read more: The Living Legacy: Carrying the Weight Forward

Starting like most other days, Harry awoke to snow falling upon the makeshift buildings at his combat outpost, high in the mountains above the Tagab Valley in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. It was an utterly serene December morning, said then “Harry” (identity removed), an Air Force Combat Controller (CCT). But, that was all about to change.… Read more: Combat Controller Recalls Brutal Afghan Battles

Lessons from Europe By Dr. Kevin Wallace Van of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – When my wife and I set out across America in a converted FedEx truck – no running water, no kitchen, just a memorial on wheels – we weren’t simply collecting stories.  We were building an ark.  Across 27,000 miles and 317 interviews… Read more: A Shield for the Voiceless

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Wingman-Miss-Universe-Explore-Homefront-ebook/dp/B0GTK14XSR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dr. Kevin P. Wallace Van of Valor (208) 590-5766 Manteo.Creative.SPOT@gmail.com http://www.HelpVoV.com New Book Reveals Untold Story of Marine Aviator and Miss Universe, Offering a Fresh Perspective on the Vietnam War Era NORTH PORT, Fla. (March 16, 2026) – A remarkable true story that has remained untold for over… Read more: New Book Reveals Untold Story of Marine Aviator and Miss Universe, Offering a Fresh Perspective on the Vietnam War Era

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The journey for Lauren and Dr. Kevin Wallace is not measured in miles, but in moments of memory and profound loss. This week, their “Van of Valor” project—a mission to honor fallen U.S. service members—wound its way through the heart of coastal Georgia, tracing a path from personal nostalgia to national tragedy.… Read more: Van of Valor Carries the Weight of Memory and Loss on a Journey Through Georgia

“It reframes his struggle from vague ‘demons’ to the specific, severe trauma of prolonged captivity,” said the Harvard graduate student. “He wasn’t just troubled; he was carrying the immense weight of a brutal, state-sponsored effort to break him.” Wallace continued, “By uncovering this, we’re helping his family see his strength in a new light. Surviving… Read more: A sneak pre-read of a story that will be released very soon about a Korean War POW

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Wingman-Miss-Universe-Explore-Homefront-ebook/dp/B0GTK14XSR BARTELSO, IL — The silence inside the Standin’ Proud Veterans Tribute museum is a stark contrast to the roar of the jet engines that once defined the life of Marine 1st Lt. Dennis Peek.  Amid the artifacts and echoes of service, a different kind of mission was underway — one of remembrance.… Read more: A Brother’s Promise and a Community’s Enduring Tribute

CODY, WY – The American West has always been a landscape of journeys. For centuries, the path through the Shoshone River valley has carried trappers, traders, pioneers, and legends. This week, a new kind of pioneer wagon rests in a local repair shop — not a canvas-topped Conestoga, but a behemoth of a van named… Read more: The Town that Breeds the Brave

CAMBRIDGE, England —  Grasping a fist full of pound sterling, 87-year-old James Pinkerton hailed a taxi outside London Heathrow Airport, insisting the driver bring him directly to the Cambridge American Cemetery by the quickest and most-direct route. It had been more than 50 years since Pinkerton, a Purple-Heart veteran, executed orders and undertook missions supporting… Read more: James Pinkerton’s final mission

By Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – The helicopter rotor blades thundered overhead, kicking up clouds of dust as the Huey skimmed low over the treetops.  Inside, young American soldiers stood hunched against the doorframes, M16s clutched to their chests, eyes fixed on the green hell rushing beneath them.  In seconds,… Read more: Where Angels Fear to Tread

(Verse 1) Rotor blades thunder, dust devils rise Huey skims low through the morning skies M16 pressed tight to my chest Green hell below, no time to rest Drafted to Germany, baseball and beer But my brothers were dying, I couldn’t stay here Volunteered three times till they let me go Where the jungle’s thick… Read more: Hunter-Killer Sky

When my 3-year-old asked me why I was going to the desert in the earl 200s, my reply was simple. I said, “Daddy has to go feed the camels,” and that was enough to sustain his curiosity. My 7 and 8-year-olds didn’t buy it. Despite their doubt and his bewilderment, I went forth and tried… Read more: Feeding camels is tiresome, yet important task

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Wingman-Miss-Universe-Explore-Homefront-ebook/dp/B0GTK14XSR BARTELSO, IL — The Van of Valor project, dedicated to preserving the stories of Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families, today announced the release of the official book trailer for A Wingman for Miss Universe. The novel, written by cultural anthropologist and Van of Valor founder L. Wright Wallace, will… Read more: “A Wingman for Miss Universe” trailer

Some bonds aren’t made in peace. They’re forged in fire. 🔥 This is the story of two warriors, a friendship that saved a life, and a mission that continues long after the battlefield. Tune in at http://www.HelpVoV.com or any of our @VanOfValor socials on Dec. 1, for a one-in-a-kind story! You will meet a special… Read more: Mind-blown this Dec. 1

By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – As our Van of Valor rolled across the Michigan border, the odometer clicking toward another thousand miles in our 27,000-mile mission, the air felt different.  It carried the chill of the Great Lakes and the warm scent of pine — a breath of resilience.  Michigan… Read more: Heartbeats across ‘Mitten,’ Journey through MI Purple Heart Legacy

By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – In the heart of the country, Oklahoma has become a haven for the hearts of heroes. When the Van of Valor limped into Oklahoma as one of the final states in its 280-day, 27,116-mile journey across the contiguous United States, its mission was to tell… Read more: Haven for Hearts of Heroes

By Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor Thirteen years ago, I was a technical sergeant sitting in the Galaxy Club at RAF Mildenhall, living a journalist’s dream.  I had just interviewed Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Gene Cernan, men who walked on the moon, who stared into the abyss of space and came home to… Read more: An out-of-this-world breakfast with Neil Armstrong

By L. Wright WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – The progression of conversation is constant on nearly every interview: Operation Enduring Freedom veterans, particularly those who shed blood and had friends die in combat, nearly entirely disagree with the events during the withdrawal of NATO and U.S. forces. The Van of Valor team heard… Read more: The Razor’s Edge: Peaky Blinders, Taliban Morality, Fight for Afghan Identity 

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The journey for Lauren and Dr. Kevin Wallace is not measured in miles, but in moments of memory and profound loss. This week, their “Van of Valor” project—a mission to honor fallen U.S. service members—wound its way through the heart of coastal Georgia, tracing a path from personal nostalgia to national tragedy.… Read more: Van of Valor Carries the Weight of Memory and Loss on a Journey Through Georgia

The Life and Final Charge of Colonel Vicente León León By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – In the warm Florida sun of a January morning, amidst the cheerful chaos of a charity dog walk, a story of immense courage and forgotten sacrifice was quietly shared with me.  This happened to Lauren… Read more: The Unbroken Patriot

“I Was a Killing Machine at 21”: A Vietnam Vet’s Raw Speech on War and Recovery. In a moving St. Louis speech, former Army pilot Bob Zahn recounted his harrowing combat experiences and shared how he found a path to healing decades later. Read his inspiring story.

By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today is the day many Americans and indeed others across the globe have been eagerly awaiting, Super Bowl LX.  New England Patriots fans and Seattle Seahawks supporters will banter in pubs and bars, as their teams both grind on the gridiron, in effort to win the… Read more: From Gridiron Glory to the Ultimate Sacrifice

There’s a bond forged in places most will never see. In the dust, the chaos, and the deafening silence that follows. This is not a story of glory. It’s a story of shared ground. It’s in the taste of ice cream, paid for in lead on the way back. It’s in the laugh at a… Read more: Waterman story Part 4, here, tomorrow

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. – The moment that defined Ocie Gay’s 23-year Army career lasted less than a second.  It was February 29, 2004, at a security gate leading into Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone. As a Platoon Sergeant with Alpha Company, 2/6 Infantry, Gay was leading “The Wild Bunch,” a platoon implementing new, slower procedures for… Read more: From the Ashes: Summerville Chaplain Finds Calling After Surviving Baghdad Bombing

Brothers in Arms, Partners in Life Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The air at Kraken Customs in Fayetteville smelled of fresh paint, vinyl, and engine oil. Behind SSG (ret) Rick Murillo and MSG (ret) Chad McKeown, a sprawling mural of a kraken wrapped around a muscle car covered the wall, a… Read more: These Homies Get Hungry

Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor  Note: You are reading a reposting of the original story, posted in 2025. Van of Valor Blog | Part 1 of 3 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCE, N.M. – A recent article from the official sources laid out the facts: the Purple Heart is the nation’s oldest military award, established by… Read more: The Weight of the Heart: Beyond the Badge of Sacrifice

1,000 lbs of dynamite. 80+ souls lost. And one U.S. soldier was thrown into the dust—unconscious, injured, forever changed. But in the smoke… a voice came through: 🗣️ “Get up, soldier. You got work to do.” 🪖 That soldier was Ocie Gay—Platoon Sergeant, Purple Heart recipient, TBI survivor, and man of faith. He got up.… Read more: 💥 On Feb 29, 2004, a Baghdad checkpoint exploded.

By Van of Valor MIDDLESBURG, FL – For Kevin and Lauren Wallace, the mission of the Van of Valor is to chase down history before it slips away.  Traveling the country in their renovated van, they seek out Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families, ensuring that the stories of sacrifice and service are not… Read more: An Unplanned Hero: Van of Valor Captures the Raw Story of a Two-Time Purple Heart Marine

Riding on Promises (Music begins with a lone, clean electric guitar picking a melancholic, open-road melody. A soft, steady kick drum enters, like the heartbeat of the van.) (Verse 1) Georgia pines blur to a sun-bleached plain A sky like an ocean, a cleansing rain On a mural of names, rolling side to side South… Read more: Riding on Promises

By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – In August 2025, the Van of Valor, an old converted FedEx van with over 300,000 miles, rolled into the granite-lined landscapes of New Hampshire.  We were 83 days into a continuous 280-day mission, crossing 27,116 miles to document the living pulse of American sacrifice.  From… Read more: The Van of Valor’s 280-Day Vigil for New Hampshire’s Heroes

She soared with his wings when he couldn’t. 💔 Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Wingman-Miss-Universe-Explore-Homefront-ebook/dp/B0GTK14XSR Something truly special is unfolding right here in the heart of Southern Illinois—and it’s being etched into American history forever. This past August, the Van of Valor rolled into the Standin’ Proud Veteran’s Tribute in Bartelso, and what happened next will give you chills. We sat down… Read more: 🇺🇸 She soared with his wings when he couldn’t. 💔🇺🇸

// FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE // The Van of Valor Finds a Home in North Port – And Extends an Invitation NORTH PORT, Fla. – The journey of 27,116 miles is complete. After 280 consecutive days on the road, the Van of Valor — a mobile sanctuary carrying the profound stories of America’s heroes — has… Read more: The Van of Valor Extends Invitations

CAMBRIDGE, MA – The American landscape rolls by the windshield of a specially converted van, its exterior adorned with a simple, powerful name: the “Van of Valor.”  For its drivers, Dr. Kevin Wallace and his wife, Lauren Wallace, this vehicle is more than transportation; it is a mobile archive, a recording studio, and a vessel… Read more: The Van of Valor Carries the Story of CW3 Nathaniel Loomis

A first-paw account of the mission through the lower 48. By Dr. Kevin P. WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – As we continue our mission, we recognize that our most vital work often happens around the kitchen table. While the technical details of our progress are shared in meetings and reports, the heart of… Read more: Sunny’s Journey: 280 Days in that Van

The Van of Valor project is adding all 19 names of the Airmen killed in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing to their mobile memorial. Learn how this Purple Heart initiative preserves legacies of sacrifice and how you can support their mission.

w/ Special tribute to Lorraine Smith and Paul Williams Commentary by Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – The mission was everything. For 280 days and 27,000 miles across America, my wife Lauren and I lived in a van, driven by a single purpose: to capture and carry the stories of our nation’s… Read more: Gifted Diamonds From Convicts

SWAN VALLEY, Idaho – For over half a century, the memory was a fragmented, painful ghost. For Lance Cpl. Bill Klobas, the date April 26, 1969, was less a specific event and more a source of a lifelong, invisible storm. It was the day a 155 mm artillery round—friendly fire—hurled him 40 feet through the… Read more: A Quest for Closure: Van of Valor Preserves a Story Five Decades in the Making

By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – The Florida sun continues to stream through the windows of a quiet, sturdy home in North Port, but the stillness inside is now complemented by the hum of the community outside.  For Dr. Kevin P. Wallace, Lauren Wallace, and their faithful 12-year-old dachshund Sunny, the… Read more: Van of Valor team settled in, ready to go for local events

“You always fall back on training.” For Sgt. Thomas Waterman, that training now fuels a forge. Discover how this combat veteran traded his M-14 for a making hammer, finding a powerful path to healing by crafting custom knives. His story of transitioning from the dust of Afghanistan to the sparks of the studio is a must-read. From the Battlefield to the Forge: http://www.HelpVoV.com

City of North Port, Fla., City Council members honor Lauren and Dr. Kevin Wallace with Certificates of Recognition and officially make the Van of Valor a permanent city landmark.

🚨 VAN DOWN! 🚨 But the mission never stops. When the Van of Valor needs a rest, we roll up in a rental truck to get the story! 📦💨 Nothing—not even a mechanical hiccup—can keep us from working in ABSOLUTE PARADISE today. Just look at this office view in Dillon, Colorado! 🏔️ Moral of the… Read more: Passion is portable. Let’s go!

With clenched fists and a heart full of anger, I read a breaking Associated Press story today about a woman I worked closely with on a humanitarian initiative a few months back, a doctor senselessly gunned down by terrorist insurgents. The attack happened after her team provided previously-unavailable eye treatment and other health care in… Read more: Dr. Woo’s legacy of hope lives on

By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – The story of retired Senior Master Sergeant Gus Sininger’s military career began not with a grand patriotic vision, but with a movie and a draft notice. “We come out of the movie, and across the street was a recruiting office,” Sininger recalled in an… Read more: From a Movie Theater to a Gunship: The Resilient Legacy of Purple Heart Recipient Gus Sininger

Distinguished Service Cross recipient recounts deadly 2013 ambush Van of Valor NORTH PORT, Fla. – In a gripping interview with Dr. Kevin P. Wallace of Van of Valor, decorated U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician and Special Forces Ranger Sergeant First Class Jeff Dawson detailed the traumatic 2013 night that earned him the Distinguished… Read more: EOD Tech’s Harrowing Journey of Service and Sacrifice

By Dr. Kevin Wallace Van of Valor SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. – The thin, high-altitude air of the Rocky Mountains carries memories.  In the bustling towns of Frisco and Breckenridge, amid the hum of ski lifts and the chatter of tourists, the echoes of service and sacrifice remain, etched into the very landscape.  This week, the… Read more: Van of Valor team rolls through Summit County, Honors local sacrifice

By Dr. Kevin WallaceVan of Valor  WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. — In a solemn ceremony merely a few months before the Van of Valor arrived in Vermont, three National Guardsmen were honored with Purple Heart Medals. The Van of Valor team, having broken down in Boston, had to arrange a rental car and missed the… Read more: CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF VALOR ON VERMONT’S TRAILS