Veteran Spotlight

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Looking for a way to serve while getting training for a future career, Marilyn Whitfield enlisted in the Army after graduating from high school in 1978. She completed basic training at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama. Then, she was “on the...

Born and raised in Chesterton, Indiana, John Zehner decided it was time to expand his horizons after high school. He joined the U.S. Army in 1966 and served for two years.  “I did my training at Fort Lewis Army Base in Washington state,” he...

When you ask Alicia (Trina) Wilson about service, she immediately tells you about her time with the U.S. Army and Operation Desert Storm. In reality, Wilson has been serving for as long as she can remember.  Wilson’s closeness with her family...

Brock Gonzales wanted to get experience outside of the confines of Northwest Indiana, so he decided to join the U.S. Air Force. “My mentality was, ‘Okay, my dad just retired from U.S. Steel in Gary, and my brothers are getting laid off in the...

Rodney Watson had wanted to join the military since he was a child, so when he decided to enlist at 17 years old, few were surprised. Basic training was a challenge for Watson. The training was tough, and the fear of being cut from the program was a...