Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps and Iraq War Veteran David A. Wyatt and his #OperationSong, “Chattanooga Rain.”
I’ll always see you through the Chattanooga Rain
On July 16, 2015, the Navy Operational Support Center Chattanooga was attacked. Four Marines and one Navy sailor were killed. Among them was Staff Sgt. David Wyatt. David’s wife, Lorri, worked with Operation Song to write a tribute to her husband, “Chattanooga Rain,” while working through her grief.
He loved his country, his friends and family, his brothers in the Corps, his kids and me
David joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and served as a field artillery operations man. He served two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and one tour for Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon returning home, he was assigned to the base in Chattanooga as part of the Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment.
They were called the “fallen five” and he was one of them
At the time of the attack, David was the first to call the police. He then helped Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan move personnel to safety. David also instructed his junior colleagues to move the children playing at a nearby park to safety.
David was awarded the Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for non-combat heroism.
Check out “Chattanooga Rain” here on SoundCloud to see Lorri Wyatt’s tribute.
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.
Operation Song
Operation Song™ has spent the last five years bringing songwriting to the military and Veteran community to help with healing, service-related issues and injuries. A 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Nashville, Operation Song™ holds weekly workshops in Middle Tennessee and sponsors events and group retreats throughout the Southeast. Those they serve need no musical background, only the desire to tell their story. In a typical session, the songwriter listens and encourages the participant to lay out the “puzzle pieces” of his or her experience. Together, they arrange those pieces into verses and choruses. The result is a complete song that they can call their own. Operation Song serves Veterans of all conflicts. For more information about Operation Song™, visit their website: http://www.operationsong.org/
Graphic By Joanna Specht: Joanna Specht is a student at Black Hawk College with a Major in Visual Communication.
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.
