On Saturday June 17, 2017 my daughter, Emily Brooks and I will be attending the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, In Memory Program in Washington D.C. The Honor Roll recognizes those who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service.
Peggy Beaver and her daughter, Emily Brooks, will be attending the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, In Memory Program in Washington D.C. The Honor Roll recognizes those who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. Emily’s father John Allen Brooks will be honored at this ceremony held this weekend.
Corpsman Brooks received this Citation after he was
presented the Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy during the Vietnam War in 1970.
Hospital Corpsman Third Class John A. Brooks
Emily’s father John Allen Brooks will be honored at this ceremony held this weekend. These veterans’ names are not engraved on the wall, but instead, there is a special plaque that honors these Vietnam Vets and was dedicated as a part of the Vietnam Veterans memorial in 2004. In Memory began in 1999 and has since honored more than 2,800 veterans. The Plaque Reads: In Memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice.
Emily’s father, John Allen Brooks, died as a result of the Vietnam War from his exposure to Agent Orange. He was a Navy Corpsman with the Marines. John was a Noblesville resident and graduated from Noblesville High School in 1966. John was ordered to active duty in October of 1968 and served two years in Vietnam. In 1982 John died of a very rare type of lung cancer. At that time I filed a claim with the Veterans Administration, for survivor’s benefits, but it took 12 years, 1994, for a service connected death award to be established. Emily was 6 at the time, and her sister
Jennifer was 9. Emily still lives in Noblesville and currently works at Riverview Health in the dietary department. Jennifer now lives in Portland Oregon and has a son, Orion who is 10 years old. John has 2 brothers, Bill and Mike and a sister Peggy. His parents Charles R Brooks and Edna M Brooks are deceased.
During his tour oversees, John was awarded many medals, one being THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL W/COMBAT V, for his heroic actions. He was with Company I, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), will be recognizing over 400 Vietnam Veterans this weekend at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (THE WALL), in Washington D.C., this father’s day weekend. On Sunday, father’s day, there is a special “FATHER’S DAY ROSE REMEMBRANCE”. Each family member will place a rose next to the wall in remembrance of those who lost their lives during active duty. On Friday night, there will be an In Memory Family Reception held at the Crystal City Ballroom, Double Tree Hotel. This reception is held for all of the veteran’s families and gives us all an opportunity to meet others who have shared many of the same experiences. On Saturday at the memorial service, which could last as long as 3 hours, Emily will read her dad’s name aloud at the podium during the ceremony. The ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. and will last until the last veterans name is read and the sound of taps will be played. John’s name along with the other honored veterans will then be added to the Virtual Honor Roll online at www.vvmf.org/honor-roll.
I am not sure, but I believe John may be the first Noblesville Veteran to receive this honor. It is my hope that other veteran families are made aware of this program and if they have a loved one
who died as a result of the Vietnam War after they returned home, this is something they may want to research in order
to get recognition too.
That man deserved so much more than a Bronze Star! As so many did! I’ve never served with ANY BRAVER, MORE HEROIC men, in any capacity, ANYWHERE !!!