Nelson DeMille (1943–2024), best-selling thriller author

Nelson DeMille was a best-selling author of thriller and suspense novels, best known for his John Corey and Joe Ryker series, published under the name Jack Cannon. 

Ralph Puckett Jr. (1926–2024), last Korean War Medal of Honor recipient 

Ralph Puckett Jr. was an Army Ranger who served with valor in the Korean War and received the Medal of Honor more than 70 years later.

Ellsworth Johnson (1923-2023), 100-year-old WWII special-ops veteran

Ellsworth Johnson was a WWII veteran and the last known surviving member of a secret U.S. military unit that operated in enemy-occupied territory in France and China.

Clarence Smoyer (1923–2022), World War II hero  

Clarence Smoyer was a World War II tank gunner known as the “Hero of Cologne” for his bravery in helping to defeat a German panther tank during the important 1945 battle.

David E. Grange Jr. (1925–2022), legendary Army Ranger

David E. Grange Jr. was a U.S. Army Ranger and three-star general for whom the annual Best Ranger Competition is named.

Alexander Jefferson (1921–2022), Tuskegee Airman

Alexander Jefferson was a U.S. Air Force veteran who served as a Tuskegee Airman in World War II.

John L. Canley (1937–2022), Medal of Honor recipient

John L. Canley was the first living Black U.S. Marine to receive the Medal of Honor, for his valor in the Vietnam War.

Justus Rosenberg (1921–2021), Holocaust hero

Justus Rosenberg was a Holocaust survivor who worked with the French Resistance to help refugees escape the Nazi regime.

Max Cleland (1942–2021), U.S. senator from Georgia

Max Cleland was a disabled Vietnam veteran and a former Democratic U.S. senator from Georgia.

Colin Powell (1937–2021), four-star general and former Secretary of State

Colin Powell was a four-star general in the U.S. Army who went on to become National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the first Black U.S. Secretary of State.

Charles Coolidge (1921–2021), oldest Medal of Honor recipient

Charles Coolidge was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II who was the oldest living recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Francis Currey (1925–2019), WWII hero earned Medal of Honor

Francis Currey was one of the last living World War II veterans who received the prestigious Medal of Honor, awarded to him for his valor during the Battle of the Bulge. Days after the horrific Malmedy massacre, U.S. Army veteran Currey singlehandedly wielded an arsenal of weapons against the First SS Panzer Division as they advanced on Allied troops. Currey counterattacked with grenades, two different machine guns, two different rifles, and a bazooka, taking out several German tanks and rescuing a number of his fellow American soldiers. In addition to his Medal of Honor, Currey received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts during his service in World War II. His death leaves just two World War II Medal of Honor recipients still living.

Stories of D-Day Veterans We Said Goodbye to This Year

Seventy-five years after the D-Day invasion of World War II, families and nations are honoring the service members who fought in one of the war's most famous battles.

Bud Moore (1925–2017), NASCAR Hall of Famer

The World War II veteran was awarded five Purple Hearts.

George Kennedy (1925 - 2016), Oscar winner for Cool Hand Luke

George Kennedy, the actor who won an Oscar for his role in the movie “Cool Hand Luke,” has died. He was 91.

Audie Murphy, Super Soldier

On , the U.S. lost one of the greatest soldiers it's ever known.

Saluting SEALs, Soldiers and Airmen

We pay tribute to the 30 brave U.S. servicemen who died August 6 when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.

Robert Aurand received Silver Star for military service in Vietnam

Robert Aurand didn’t talk much about his war experiences, but he sure was proud to have served his country.

Remembering Aaron Spelling on 90210 Day

On "90210 Day," we take a look back at the career of TV’s most successful producer.

Matthew Weikert: Bringing Afghanistan Home

In 2010, hundreds came together in Illinois to honor a Marine and Army veteran who had recently been deployed to Afghanistan.