On this Veterans Day, the Drummond team would like to express our most sincere thanks and appreciation to the brave men and women who have served our country. Their sacrifice and acts of heroism are simply a debt that we could never repay.
While we all have friends and family that we want to honor today, the four soldiers below are great examples of why this day is so special.
We would like to thank Mark Cubbedge for wonderfully capturing the images and stories of America’s veterans below.
To our veterans and to all who are currently serving, we appreciate you more than you will ever know. Thank you for your service.
Brigadier General George Gaspard
George is a three-war combat veteran, serving first as a Marine during World War II during the Battle of Okinawa. He later served in the Army during the Korean War and Vietnam War. He is a graduate of Special Forces Class No. 1 and was a line crosser 86 times during the Korean War.
Warren Hewett
Warren is a Pearl Harbor survivor who served on the USS Pelias when the Japanese attacked on December 7. He went on to serve in both the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns, including seven successful round-trip escorts aboard the USS Hissem and the USS O’Reilly to Europe and North Africa.
Shelby Hatch
Shelby served during the War in Afghanistan with the 466 Forward Surgical Battalion. She saved many lives with her quick action and skills in the operating room, but is still haunted by those names and faces who did not make it back alive.
Kevin Crowell, with his service dog Bella
Kevin served during the War in Iraq with the 173rd Long Range Surveillance Detachment. Their mission was to gather as much intelligence as possible, to neutralize the enemy who were placing improvised explosive devices. As good as their team was, they were still blown up quite a few times. Beginning April 5, 2005 and continuing through the next few months, Kevin and his team were blown up five times, and he ultimately sustained a traumatic brain injury, and neck and back injuries. He was flown to Germany and received the Purple Heart. After having portions of his spine replaced in 2011 and living with PTSD, he was matched with a service dog named Bella, whom he credits with helping him navigate and graduate from Flagler College.
