Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel was presented the Distinguished Sercive Medal at the 97th National Convention in Baltimore.
A recipient of two Purple Hearts for his injuries and actions while serving in the Vietnam War –including the moment when he saved the life of his brother Tom – former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel earned a place in the hearts and minds of those who served as the champion of military and veterans issues.
Hagel was presented with the highest honor that The American Legion can bestow, the Distinguished Service Medal, at the 97th National Convention in Baltimore on Sept. 1.
After his service in the U.S. Army, Hagel served in various capacities for several organizations and agencies, including the Veterans Administration.
Hagel recently served under President Barack Obama as the 24th Secretary of Defense from February 2013 to February 2015. Appointed as the first enlisted combat veteran to serve in that role, Hagel’s integrity, fairness and bipartisanship was widely admired in Washington, D.C. He issued a memo to increase access to military installations for The American Legion and other organizations.
National Commander Michael Helm praised Hagel for his dedication and support of veterans causes.
“He brought his core values of hard work, perseverance, fairness and dedication to the United Service Organization where he served as CEO," Helm said. "As a two-term senator from Nebraska, he continued to be an unwavering advocate for a strong national defense, while insisting that mission objectives and exit strategies be clearly established before American troops are sent to war.”
Before accepting the Legion award, Hagel shared his family ties to The American Legion. His father served several terms as the commander of his local Legion post, while his mother served as the president of the Auxiliary. Both Hagel and his brother are lifetime Legion members.
The strong Legion ties are what made the occasion that much more memorable, Hagel told the crowd.
“I am particularly proud of this honor,” he said. “I recognize there are so many of you and people across this country – veterans that have given so much – that deserve it far more than I do.”
See all recipients of The American Legion's Distinguished Service Medal award here.
- Convention