Bill Karandos “Kombat” served in the U. S. Maine Corps from 1968 – 1974 during the Vietnam War. He was engaged in combat during the Vietnam War and is indeed a military hero, however, this Unsung Hero nomination is for his community service to our youth over the last decade. Kombat participated in various youth educational seminars with his Vietnam Veterans Chapter. He spoke at public schools to tell students about the U.S involvement in the Vietnam War to help free and rescue the South Vietnam people from Communism. Sadly, almost all public school students were not familiar with the war or had not even heard of the Vietnam War, which lasted almost 20 years. Kombat also mentored youth on citizenship and American values on many other occasions.
We were honored to be present when Kombat was introduced by We Can Be Heroes President Beth Heath to speak at a large, local Atlantic Coast Young Marines drill. This event was in the Spring of 2022. He was careful to keep the horrors of war out of his presentation while educating the youth about the struggles the Marines faced. He held a Q&A for the Young Marines and spoke of the honor of serving in the US Marines. His presentation was moving, educational, and tasteful. All the Young Marines expressed the traditional “Welcome Home” as they shook Veteran Karandos’s hand and thanked him for serving. The Ponte Vedra Recorder Newspaper covered the story in the April 28, 2022 issue, and it can be seen with Kombat’s picture at https://pontevedrarecorder.com/stories/young-marines-honored-at-weekly-drill,17083
Well done, and America thanks you, Bill Karandos.
Nominated by Beth Heath and Debbie Bird