I was born on Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, where my dad served as a United States Air Force Captain after graduating from the Air Force Academy. He left the service when I was five, so I did not experience the many transitions that other military families face.
I learned the strength and sacrifice of our veterans and military families from my Pepere (grandfather), Ronald LeBlanc, who joined the Marines in July 1942. He completed basic training at Parris Island in South Carolina, attended AMF Training School in Jacksonville, Florida, and was deployed to the Pacific Theater early in 1944.
There, he served as an aircraft mechanic assigned to a fighter squadron that flew F4U Corsairs on bombing runs launched from Makin (now Butaritari) Island, the Eniwetok Atoll, and Kwajalein Island. Pepere once told me he had seven planes under his care during his service.
I asked him once how he managed to serve all seven at the same time.
“Six didn’t come back,” he said.
He always raised a toast and said a prayer for those who did not make it home—and for their families.
Pepere, who passed away in 2017 at age 95, embodied the character of our veterans and military families. He was humble, courageous, and lived his life with honor.
Today, on Veterans Day, I want to honor the strength, sacrifice, and service of our nation’s veterans and military families. It is a privilege to partner with Blue Star Families through LBC Action and to learn from the impactful leaders who work every day to make a difference. Thank you to all our veterans and military families for your service.
