Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Jesse Oxendine who served in World War II.
Jesse Oxendine was one of four brothers who served in World War II, all of whom returned home following the war. Jesse was drafted right out of high school in 1944, and he served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. One of the most memorable moments for Jesse was the liberation of the Wöbbelin concentration camp near Ludwigslust, Germany on May 2, 1945. Like many Americans, Jesse was unaware of the existence of these camps when they came across Wöbbelin. In his personal narrative found in the Veteran’s History Project he recalled thinking, “I didn’t realize what part of history I was seeing at that time… We were just trying to figure out what was going on there.”
Later in life, he became a frequent speaker at schools and religious institutions to educate younger generations about the Holocaust and the horrors he witnessed. After being discharged from the service in 1946, Jesse went on to become the North Carolina’s first licensed Native American pharmacist, owning and running his own pharmacy for over 40 years. To learn more about Jesse’s experiences, check out his profile at http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.27321/.
We honor his service.
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 to learn 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 Damin Jung: Damin Jung is a student studying Web Design. She has a BS in International Relations and Politics.
Topics in this story
More Stories
This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Navy Veteran Ken Mattingly, who served as a pilot during the 1950s and later became an astronaut during the Apollo missions.
This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Air Force Veteran Gavino Cavazos, who served from 1949 to 1973 during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Army Veteran Howard Brown, who served during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1969 and the Gulf War from 1969 to 1992.
