Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran John Laing. John served during World War I from 1917 to 1919.

John enlisted in the Army a few days after the United States’ declaration of war on Germany. He was sent to Washington, D.C. for basic training. In December 1917, John went to France as a member of the American Expeditionary Force. He served in Company D, 6th Engineers, 3rd Division and earned the rank of sergeant.

John fought in five major battles and was wounded in July 1918. Before and after John’s service, he was a foreman for the Chicago Surface Lines. John was honorably discharged from the Army in May 1919. He was proud of his service to the country.

We honor your service, John.


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 Julia Wang: Julia Wang is an Economics and History of Architecture Major with a Certificate in Civic Leadership at Rice University.

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