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Navy gunner’s mate Ramona Ross-Bacon
Navy veteran Ramona Ross-Bacon was a gunner’s mate who handled Tomahawk missiles, air-to-surface rockets and torpedoes during the Gulf War. While she was proud of her service, working on this powerful weaponry deeply troubled Ramona's moral conscience. “Don’t get me wrong, I continued to do my job. I didn&rsq...
Brooke Hock with hitting coach Brad Foytik
Brooke Hock was scrolling through TikTok on her phone when something made her pause: a video about the number of veteran suicides that happen in our country every day.  Immediately, Brooke’s thoughts raced to her grandfather, Ed LaTour, a Vietnam veteran. As a little girl, she would run her fingers across the brightly colore...
Harold Shaffer, a Vietnam veteran and Kasey Mosser’s grandfather, was the teen’s inspiration to donate to DAV
Kasey Mosser—an Eagle Scout candidate—drove around his hometown of Claysburg, Pennsylvania, searching for a tribute to America’s service members. When he couldn’t locate a memorial to our fallen veterans, he decided to build one.  “As I looked around, nothing stood out to me that...
The Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period runs from October 15 through December 7. Veterans who have the option to select a Medicare Advantage plan to complement their Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits should consider some key factors as they research plan options: Understand how Medicare Advantage w...
The Cartober donation drive is on!  Make this October, Cartober, when you donate a car, truck, RV, or boat to DAV.  And, if you donate your car in October, you’ll get a FREE car air freshener for your new or existing vehicle. Did you know that vehicle donations can drive hundreds and sometimes even...
Steven Culp turned 18 only nine days after 9/11.  “I felt the call to serve immediately after that event,” said Culp. He served six years in the Navy as an electronic warfare technician and a cryptologic technician.  After his separation from the military, Culp enrolled in college and earned a...
Questions about donating your property to DAV? We’ve got answers.
If you have a real estate asset that is costing you money or not being utilized, donating it to DAV (Disabled American Veterans) is a great way to leverage one of your most valuable investments to achieve maximum impact for the men and women who served and sacrificed for our country.  We make the donation process easy, and you may...
While some young men were drafted into military service, Candido Mascarenas convinced his parents to sign his enlistment forms so he could join the Army at 17. Little did he know he would be captured by the North Korean army and become a prisoner of war by the time he was 19. After basic training, Mascarenas was assigned to the 34th In...
Richard Nesbitt had surgery due to sarcoma in his leg, which ruled out his running in the DAV 5K. But, he could walk. So, he recruited some company to join him—fellow DAV member Wayne Pittsley—and someone who could run for him—his daughter Molly. “Dad emailed me and asked me about it. He us...
The DAV 5K is back again! This walk, roll, run and ride event is a great way to thank the men and women who have sacrificed for our freedoms. Read what motivated previous participants to go all out for our nation’s heroes! "What an honor and pleasure to be a 
The two-time top fundraiser for the virtual DAV 5K believes in raising awareness to meet the needs of his fellow disabled veterans. As a member of DAV, Kurt Oehlstrom Fraschetti received an email about participating in the DAV 5K. He didn’t hesitate to sign up. “I saw it as an opportunit...
Coral Osborne follows DAV on social media to stay informed about the work being done for her and her fellow disabled veterans. She likes being in the loop regarding DAV’s legislative advocacy at the local and federal levels, as well as hearing about fun events like the DAV 5K. “DAV helped me to file my...
Joseph Malcom and DAV Past National Commander Chad Colley were buddies in college. Last year, Malcom dedicated his DAV 5K in remembrance of his longtime friend. “Rooming next to each other in college, Chad provided a world of experiences to me and others. He was such an inspiration,” Malcom said. However, Malcom w...
In 2020, Dayne Lindsey was faced with the news that he might lose one of his legs.  A decade prior, he was on a 7-mile circuit run as part of his active duty training in the Navy. Dayne had just made the first part of his run from the naval base in Newport, Rhode Island, to the halfway marker known as “The Wave” (a sta...
Annette Smith walked into a DAV office in Philadelphia utterly distraught. When she sat down with benefits advocate Joe Kauffman, she revealed that her husband, Jimmy, had passed away a few months before. Having never worked outside of the home, the recent widow didn’t have any source of income beyond her VA Survivors Pension. ...