Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Leo Nelson Adams. Leo served during World War II from 1943 to 1945.

Leo was born in May 1924 in Thatcher, Utah. He was drafted to the Army in July 1943. Leo served under General Patton in the 58th Armored Infantry Battalion, 8th Armored Division in Europe.

During his military career, Leo attempted to receive training as an Air Cadets for the Amy but was called for deployment shortly after arriving in San Antonio for training. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge as an armored infantry soldier and was specialized in the .50 caliber machine gun, the m-1 rifle, and the 60-mm mortar.

Leo misplaced his military records in Czechoslovakia and was not officially award any medals he might have earned, but the Veterans of Foreign Wars informed Leo that he qualified for at least one Bronze Star medal for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the enemy and earned the Combat Infantry Badge on March 26, 1945.

After his military service, Leo had a family, managed a small airport and ran a dairy business with his cousin. He also took some college courses and enjoyed a successful career in the insurance business while owning and operating various apartment complexes and rental houses.

We honor your service, Leo.


Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating for how to create the best submission.

Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.


Graphic By Antonio Roberson: Antonio Roberson is a Information Systems Major from The University or North Carolina at Greensboro. He currently serves as a Digital Media Specialist.

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One Comment

  1. claudio Alpaca September 14, 2017 at 10:59

    Who we are and why we act is said by any of us, each with his peculiarity but all with the same dedition, all with the same determination and fidelity on serving, on offering our life and making it a sacrifice. That is substanbtially what constitute us, what mouve us, what drive any on the way to act and be determined and fidel on our service. Service, for us a mission, for us the way for make human rights respected, democracy concretized, valors and honor a natural one to whom we all are looking to. Substantially all that is what we call heroism, what constitute our nerbature, what make us able to face all challenges and saying a hard life ours but the only we love and live for. That the reason for we may say a name may distinguish any of us, but a common identity and nature, the same DNA is making us a only one, further formed and forged, but already existent by our embrionic state. What a peculiarity and what a realized ideal ours. That is why we, on speaking of one of us, on reading of any of us, may say we are reading of us all, we are reading of the family we are part of and live for.

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