HEROES IN OUR MIDST, Valley Patriot of the Month – Dracut’s New VSO; US Army Veteran David Campisano

HEROES IN OUR MIDST, Valley Patriot of the Month – Dracut’s New VSO; US Army Veteran David Campisano

  By: John Cuddy – 07-22 Dracut’s newly hired, Veterans Services Officer, David Campisano joined the US Army in 2001, serving in light infantry units until 2016. David trained as an Infantryman, military occupational specialty IIB. He also qualified as an Army Ranger in 2009. Ranger training is voluntary and is one of the most […]

Lawrence, U.S. Navy Veteran Ed Nasser – VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST

Lawrence, U.S. Navy Veteran Ed Nasser –  VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST

The Silent Generation Lawrence’s Edmund “Ed” Nasser is a US Navy Veteran, who dedicated his entire life to his family, his church, and his community. He is well known in the Merrimack Valley through an involvement with St Patrick’s Church for most of his adult life. Ed Nasser grew up in South Lawrence where he […]

VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST ~ Haverhill’s Frederick “Buddy” Hansen, Jr.

VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST ~ Haverhill’s Frederick “Buddy” Hansen, Jr.

A Veteran, Father, Husband, Brother, and Hero By: John Cuddy – May, 2022 On April 16th of this year, a reunion was held on the shore of Rock Pond in Georgetown, Massachusetts. Family and friends gathered to remember a Haverhill Veteran, Frederick “Buddy” Hansen, a husband, brother, and dad, who drowned in this pond while […]

US Army Afghanistan Veteran Jeannette Mason: Life is About Choices ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

US Army Afghanistan Veteran Jeannette Mason: Life is About Choices ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

By: John Cuddy – April, 2022 EDITORS NOTE: Army Veteran Jeannette Mason was given the Valley Patriot’s “John Ratka Hero Veteran Award” last week at the newspaper’s annual BASH Scholarship and Award Night. Valley Patriot columnist and Navy veteran, John Cuddy, presented the award. State Senator Diana DiZoglio was on hand to congratulate her. A […]

Scott Hyder – US Army – Founder/President, Hidden Battles Foundation – Valley Patriot of The Month ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST

Scott Hyder – US Army – Founder/President, Hidden Battles Foundation – Valley Patriot of The Month ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST

By: John Cuddy – March, 2022 Raised in Arlington, Massachusetts in veterans housing, and now living in Pelham, New Hampshire Scott Hyder, is the founder and current President of Hidden Battles. The non-profit organization strives to help preserve the healthy minds of veterans, fire fighters, police officers and other first responders. The organization’s mission is […]

Air Force Veteran John MacDonald Pt. 1 ~ HERO IN OUR MIDST – VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

Air Force Veteran John MacDonald Pt. 1 ~ HERO IN  OUR MIDST – VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

  By: John Cuddy – Feb.  2022 This month is a rare, second interview with a local Veteran, first interviewed by our editor Tom Duggan in October of 2016. Since that time, US Air Force Veteran John MacDonald, has been very busy, assisting Veterans throughout the Merrimack Valley and the United States. Had a meeting […]

Lowell’s Barry Kuntz, USAF ~ Eyewitness to Both a Hot and Cold War ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH – HERO IN OUR MIDST

Lowell’s Barry Kuntz, USAF ~ Eyewitness to Both a Hot and Cold War ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH – HERO IN OUR MIDST

By: John Cuddy – Jan. 2022 After graduating from Lowell High School with the Class of 1965, Lowell’s Barry Kuntz enlisted in the US Air Force. Asked why? He replied, “I felt the Air Force suited me best.” After completing US Air Force Basic Training in San Antonio, Texas, Barry was assigned to McGuire AFB […]

Rene & Pam Parent: A Father & Daughter Quietly Serving Our Nation! – VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH ~ HERO IN OUR MIDST

Rene & Pam Parent: A Father & Daughter Quietly Serving Our Nation! – VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH ~ HERO IN OUR MIDST

By: John Cuddy – Nov. 2021 WESTPORT, MA -I met Pam Melanson and her father Rene “Cap” Parent at the Wheelhouse Diner in Quincy, Massachusetts on a beautiful Saturday morning. Pam, who hails from Westport, MA, served our Nation in the US Navy Reserves for over fifteen years. She was called up on active duty […]

Arthur Goulet, Cold Weather Seabee! ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH – HERO IN OUR MIDST

Arthur Goulet, Cold Weather Seabee! ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH – HERO IN OUR MIDST

By: John Cuddy – Oct. 2o21 Lawrence native Arthur Goulet attended St Anne’s Grammar School and graduated from Lawrence High School with the Class of 1955. Shortly after finishing high school, he joined the US Navy. He completed Military Basic Training at the U.S. Navy Training Center at Port Deposit, Maryland, more commonly known in […]

Dave Pelletier – A Soldier and His Dog in Vietnam! ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

Dave Pelletier – A Soldier and His Dog in Vietnam! ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

By: John Cuddy – Sept. 2021 US Army Veteran Dave Pelletier is from Salem, New Hampshire, and is now living in Haverhill, Massachusetts. After Dave withdrew from Woodbury High and served a short sentence in a reform school in Manchester, he started working at Superior Shoe. While at Superior, he enlisted in the US Army. […]

Married on the 4th of July – Celebrating 75 years of Marriage! ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST, VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

Married on the 4th of July – Celebrating 75 years of Marriage! ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST, VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

By: John Cuddy – Aug. 2021 Dracut’s Bob and Jeanette (Jenny) Iby, celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary on July 4, 2021. Married on July 4, 1946, after Bob finished his tour with the US Army Air Corp, as a Bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress. The couple attended high school together in Burlington, VT, and […]

US Navy Veteran Louis McAloon – Lifeguard Duty off the Coast of Vietnam ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST

US Navy Veteran Louis McAloon – Lifeguard Duty off the Coast of Vietnam ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST

By:  John Cuddy – June,  2021 NORTH ANDOVER – North Andover’s Louis McAloon served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War, enlisting shortly after graduating from North Andover High School. He completed Basic Training at the Naval Base Great Lakes with Recruit Company 190. After Basic, he was sent to Naval Air Station Memphis, […]

Navy Veteran and Arson Investigator, Lawrence Detective Tom Murphy ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

Navy Veteran and Arson Investigator, Lawrence Detective Tom Murphy ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

By: John Cuddy  – Feb, 2021 This is our third US Navy Seabee, who after serving in the Navy, became a police officer. Tom Murphy Jr. is a retired Lawrence Police Officer, who later retired from the Merrimack College Police Department as well. He grew up across the street from my father Jim, and my […]

US Navy Seabee & Boston Police Officer James LaCroix -Valley Patriot of the Month ~ Hero in Our Midst

US Navy Seabee & Boston Police Officer James LaCroix -Valley Patriot of the Month ~ Hero in Our Midst

“A Camping Trip with Automatic Weapons” By: John Cuddy “A camping trip with automatic weapons”, is how Hyde Park native and Boston Police Officer James LaCroix described his service in Bosnia with the US Navy Seabees as an Equipment Operator 3rd Class. James is not the only family member who served in the US Navy, […]

John Ratomski World War II US Navy Seabee and New York City Cop ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST, VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

John Ratomski World War II US Navy Seabee and New York City Cop ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST, VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

By: John Cuddy – Dec. 2020 Retired New York City Police Officer, John Joseph Ratomski, tried to enlist in the Marine Corps the year after Pearl Harbor, in December of 1942. Joe, as he was known to his friends, was found to be color blind, and the Marines rejected him for this reason. The US […]