Col. Harvey Barnum, Jr., USMC (Ret) – Harvey Barnum Jr. barely had time to adjust to Vietnam as a young lieutenant before he found himself commanding a company in the middle of an enemy ambush. Barnum’s calm demeanor and swift decisions helped stabilize his badly damaged unit. His sacrifice earned him the Medal of Honor, the fourth Marine to receive the medal for actions in Vietnam.

Lt. Col. Oliver North, USMC (Ret) – Oliver North is a television host, military historian, author, and veteran of the Vietnam War.

Col. John C. Astle, USMC (Ret) – John Astle’s service included a tour of duty in Vietnam as a combat helicopter pilot and a tour as Presidential helicopter pilot. He began a 21-year commitment with the Marine Corps Reserves. During that time, he volunteered and served five months of active duty in the Persian Gulf War. He later served the citizens of Maryland as a member of the MD House of Delegates and the Senate. He was the sponsor of the SB90 bill and instrumental in getting the bill passed into law, making March 30th Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day in the state of Maryland. Astle published “Jungle Combat” the written transcripts from the audio diary of his experiences in Vietnam that he sent to his family.

Lt. Col. George Forrest, US Army (Ret) – George Forrest retired from the Army after more than 20 years. He served as commander of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, combat company commander of an infantry rifle company in Vietnam, strategic planner for NATO and author/instructor at the Army Command and General Staff College. His story and other members of The First Calvary in the Battle of la Drang was the subject of Mel Gibson’s movie “We Were Soldiers”.

Everett Alvarez, Jr. USN (Ret) – Everett Alvarez Jr. is a retired United States Navy officer who endured one of the longest periods as a prisoner of war in U.S. military history. Alvarez was the first U.S. pilot to be shot down and detained during the Vietnam War and spent over eight years (3,113 days) in captivity, making him the second longest-held U.S. POW. Alvarez has co-authored two books, writing of his prisoner of war experiences in Chained Eagle and Code Of Conduct.

Col. John Fer, USAF (Ret) – John Fer flew combat missions in Southeast Asia. His Dougas EB66C Skwarrior was shot down and he and two other crew members were captured and taken as POW in North Vietnam on February 4, 1967, spending six years in captivity, including two years alongside John McCain. Fer authored “Trampling the Serpent: Vietnam POW — Revealing True Character.”

Major General Janeen Birckhead – Major Birckhead is a U.S. military officer serving as the adjutant general of Maryland. She is a major general of the Maryland Army National Guard.

Major Michelle Holcomb, U.S. Women’s Army Nurse Corps – Michelle Holcomb’s 20-year military career started with the Women’s Army Nurse Corps. Michelle went to Vietnam in 1970-71. After a 13-month tour in both Saigon and Pleiku, she returned stateside to Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC retired out of Ft. Meade in Maryland. She helped organize the very first Rolling Thunder event in Washington, DC in 1985.

1st Sgt. Nikki Hayhurst, WAC, Clerical Clerk, Aviation Office – Nikki Hayhurst spent two years and eight months at the WAC detachment in Long Binh. She was assigned to U.S.A.R.V. in the aviation office as a clerical clerk. She was responsible for handling all the reports for the M.I.A.s, P.O.W.s and K.I.A.s in Vietnam. She also handled the reports for mechanical issues or aircraft shot down.