Bryan Anderson, John Chapman, & Oliver Stone
Bryan Anderson
Sergeant Bryan Anderson is an American Veteran of the Iraq War, triple amputee, and spokesperson. Anderson is also an author, writing a memoir titled No Turning Back. Anderson was deployed on September 11, 2001, and served two tours of duty in Iraq. On October 23, 2005, while taking his unit commander on a routine mission to visit Iraqi Police Stations, Anderson's Humvee rolled over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in southeast Baghdad. Due to the impact of the explosion, Anderson spun backward in his seat and lost both his legs and left hand immediately. Adding to his injuries, Anderson's right lung collapsed when the bomb hit. Anderson is the Iraq War's fourth triple amputee. Because of these injuries, Anderson was awarded a Purple Heart.
John Chapman
John Chapman was a combat controller in the U.S. Air Force who was awarded the Medal of Honor on August 22, 2018. On March 4, 2002, Chapman, along with members of the U.S. Navy SEALs, took part in Operation Anaconda. Their MH-47E Chinook helicopter came under enemy fire, causing a Navy SEAL, PO1 Neil C. Roberts, to fall out. The helicopter landed 4.5 miles away, and Chapman radioed for help. After being rescued, Chapman and the team volunteered to save their team member from the enemy stronghold. Chapman charged forward, killing two enemy soldiers, without regard for his own life. He then kept advancing toward a dug-in machine gun nest. The team came under fire from three directions, and Chapman exchanged fire with minimum personal cover. He succumbed to multiple wounds and was later credited with saving the lives of the entire rescue team.
Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone is an American writer, filmmaker, and conspiracy theorist. Stone won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as the writer of Midnight Express (1978) and wrote the acclaimed gangster movie Scarface (1983). Stone achieved prominence as Director/Writer of the war drama Platoon (1986), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Picture. Platoon was the first in a trilogy of films based on the Vietnam War, in which Stone served as an infantry soldier. He continued the series with Born on the Fourth of July (1989), for which he won his second Best Director Oscar. His latest film is Snowden (2016).
Stone enlisted in the U.S. Army and requested combat duty in Vietnam. From September 16, 1967, to April 1968, he served in Vietnam and was twice wounded in action. He was then transferred to the 1st Cavalry Division, participating in long range patrols. Finally, he was transferred to drive for a Motorized Infantry Unit of the division, where he stayed until November 1968.
For his service, his military awards include the Bronze Star with Valor for heroism, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster to denote two awards, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
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Did you know...
- In February 2020, Jeff Bezos bought the most expensive property in California: a $165 million mansion. It was designed for Jack Warner (the former president of Warner Bros. entertainment company). It took a decade to construct (spanning the 1930s and 40s). It comes complete with 9 acres of Beverly Hills land, a main house, a guest house, a tennis court, a golf course, and terraces.
- Jackie Kennedy is famous for redecorating and renovating the interior of the White House. Actually, on just her first day, she ordered $50,000 in changes for new rooms for the children and upgrades to the kitchen. She later hosted a tour of the White House for CBS News which was viewed by 56 million people and won her an Emmy Award.
- Jennifer Aniston's star-defining role on friends started a hair craze in the 90s that even lasted into the early 2000s. Called "The Rachel," Aniston's shoulder-length haircut had grown-out bangs and highlights styled to perfection. A hairdresser in Detroit noted that at the peak of its popularity, 40% of her business was devoted to recreating "The Rachel." Too bad that it was notoriously difficult to maintain on your own at home.
- When Rihanna debuted her famous red locks in 2010 (around the same time she was featured on Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie"), she started a red-hair trend. Over the next twelve months, she changed her hairstyle 13 times—more than once a month! But that came at a pricey cost. Sources say the annual price tag came out to $1,168,000 on just her hair.
- In the summer of 2007, Joh Hamm became a household name when Mad Men premiered to critical acclaim and strong ratings. Just over a year and a half later, Ellie Kemper stole America's hearts (and Dwight's and Andy's) when she became the new receptionist on The Office. Before they were famous, Hamm was Kemper's high school drama teacher!