Having worn our great country’s colors in combat, veterans and the unique issues they face hold a special place in my heart. Some of my favorite moments in Iowa are centered on honoring our veterans and their families with the medals and recognition they have earned.
Oftentimes, these humble heroes don’t want to step forward and receive the honor they’re due. Glenn McDole is a great example of this. Glenn served in World War II and faced some dark days — being among only 11 of 150 that survived the Palawan Massacre. Glenn was captured in 1941 and came home in 1945, and it wasn’t until the early 1980s that he started speaking about his military experience. When he returned home from war, he didn’t skip a beat in his service. He quickly joined the Iowa State Patrol and then the Polk County Sherriff’s Office. He led a life of service, yet his heroic actions in uniform would go unnoticed for so many years.
Thankfully, his family got in touch with my office and we were able to track down the more than 13 medals he should have received for his service. And earlier this year in my office in Des Moines, I had the honor of presenting the medals to his daughters.
The medals presented to Glenn’s family — and the number of other veterans and families across Iowa who have received these awards — represent duty, honor, and sacrifice. And most importantly, they’re presented with deep appreciation from a grateful nation. I’m thankful and humbled by the opportunity to publicly recognize these men and women who have served us so faithfully and selflessly.
It’s the heroic stories of these veterans, like Glenn McDole, that truly inspire me to keep fighting for our veterans day-in and day-out.
As someone who commanded men and women overseas and then served as a battalion commander of the largest battalion in the Iowa Army National Guard, I have a deep connection and appreciation for our veterans.
And as someone who commanded men and women overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom and then served as a battalion commander of the largest battalion in the Iowa Army National Guard, I have a deep connection and appreciation for our veterans.
I’ll never forget my time in military service. It’s marked me in so many ways, and has shaped my perspectives and driven me to fight to ensure our veterans get access to timely and quality health care and that they’re able to get the support they need when it comes to mental health.
In just the past few years, we’ve been able to expand access to services through legislation like the VA MISSION Act — a bipartisan bill that I proudly helped get signed into law and that included a number of my priorities, like allowing our rural or homebound veterans to receive necessary care from the comfort of their homes. And my HAVEN Act, which President Trump just signed into law this summer that protects the economic security and well-being of veterans and their families who rely on disability benefits and may be experiencing financial hardship.
We’ve also pressed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take a hard look at their hiring practices and make sure the people treating and providing care to our veterans have a record of quality care. The VA should absolutely be held accountable for how they help care for our veterans, and I’m continuing to press them on that issue.
Some of my favorite moments in Iowa are centered on honoring our veterans and their families with the medals and recognition they have earned.
Another area that sometimes gets overlooked is how we can help our veterans reenter the workforce and be successful post-service. In Iowa, we have over 50 small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans, but right now they’re at a disadvantage when it comes to contracting opportunities. A bipartisan bill I’m working on with my fellow female veteran and Senate colleague, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), would make sure that these small businesses have the same opportunities as other employers, and give our small business owners a fair shot.
Whether it’s health care access and treatment or cutting red tape for our small business owners, I’m continuing to fight for our veterans. And as we take a moment to reflect on the work we’ve done and continue to do in Congress on behalf of these men and women, we should also pause, as we do every year on Veterans Day, to simply honor their service and the sacrifices they’ve made for our country and our freedom.
Each year, Veterans Day serves as a stark reminder of the daily sacrifice made by those who have served this country bravely and selflessly. Veterans — in Iowa and across our nation — you have my support and my deepest gratitude today, and every day. May God bless my fellow veterans and their families.
Joni Ernst represents the state of Iowa as the first female combat veteran elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. In 2003, Joni served as a company commander in Kuwait and Iraq, leading 150 Iowa Army National Guardsmen during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Joni retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard after 23 years of military service.