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Press Releases

Voices of Veterans: Mess Sgt. Melvin Brown Shares His Story of Service During WWII and D-Day

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this special episode, we highlight the service of Veterans who experienced D-Day. Today, we hear the story of U.S. Army Mess Sgt. Veteran Melvin Brown, who served in the 2nd Infantry Division during WWII.Brown was born on November 22, 1921 in Franklin County, Texas and is one of ten children. Read More


Voices of Veterans: Sgt. Robert "Bob" Bearden Shares His Story of Service During WWII and D-Day

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this special episode, we highlight the service of Veterans who experienced D-Day. Today, we hear the story of Veteran Sergeant Robert "Bob" Bearden, who served in the U.S. Army 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division in the Normandy invasion, D-Day, June 6, 1944.Bearden, was born in 1922 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and moved to Irving, Texas shortly after The Depression began. Read More


Voices of Veterans: U.S. Army Nurse Josephine Reaves Shares Her Story of Service During World War II and D-Day

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this special episode, we highlight the service of Veterans who experienced D-Day. Today, we hear the story of U.S. Army nurse Josephine Reaves and her experience of D-Day.Ms. Reaves lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she attended nurses' training at the Philadelphia General Hospital. She received her degree as a registered nurse just two months after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Mrs. Read More


Voices of Veterans: U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran Willie Green Shares His Story of Service During WWII and D-Day

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this special episode, we highlight the service of Veterans who experienced D-Day. Today, we hear the story of U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran Willie Green, a mechanic and copilot in the CG4A combat glider program.To listen to Mr. Green tell his story, visit VoicesofVeterans.org.Born in Hamilton County, Texas, Willie Green was raised on his family farm with three brothers and two sisters. Read More


Voices of Veterans: MSgt. Dan Abrams Shares His Story of Service During WWII

Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this episode, we hear the story of U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Dan Abrams.Born and raised in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, Mr. Abrams enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1941 after moving to Kansas City to work odd jobs to make ends meet. Read More


Commissioner Buckingham Pays Tribute to the Fallen on Memorial Day at Central Texas Veterans Cemetery

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. and Chairwoman of the Veterans Land Board Dawn Buckingham, M.D. was honored to deliver remarks on Memorial Day at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.“It is an honor to pay tribute on the hallowed ground of the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery to the brave men and woman who sacrificed all for the freedoms we enjoy today,” said Commissioner Buckingham. Read More


Voices of Veterans: Military Intelligence Officer Robert Hoch Shares His Story of Service During the Vietnam War

Today,Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this episode, we hear the story of U.S. Army Veteran Robert Hoch.To listen to Mr. Hoch tell his story, visit VoicesofVeterans.org.Mr. Hoch's family moved to San Antonio when he was young. His father served in three wars, including World War II. His two brothers also served in the military, and all three brothers served in Vietnam. He joined the U.S. Read More


Voices of Veterans: Seaman Second Class Lorrie Henderson Shares Her Story of Service During the End of World War II

Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this episode, we hear the story of U.S. Navy Veteran Lorrie Henderson.To listen to Ms. Henderson tell her story, visit VoicesofVeterans.org.Ms. Henderson grew up in a family with several members serving in the Navy, including her brother, who joined the Navy two weeks after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Read More


Commissioner Buckingham Continues Series on General Land Office’s Voices of Veterans Oral History Program

Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D. introduced the next series installment highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this episode, we hear the story of Texas Veteran Bud Farrell.To Listen to Mr. Farrell tell his story, visit VoicesofVeterans.org.Mr. Farrell grew up in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during World War II. He was inspired to join the U.S. Air Force by the service of his good friend, Ed Jeffries, who served during World War II as a gunner and flight engineer. Read More


Commissioner Buckingham Continues Series on General Land Office's Voices of Veterans Oral History Program

Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D. is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this episode, we hear the story of Texas Veteran Ross Garcia who grew up in Garland and Alice, Texas.To listen to Texas Veteran Ross Garcia tell his story, visit VoicesofVeterans.org.Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO) Garcia joined the U.S. Navy in 1988 as an Engineman. Read More