Cary, NC – The U.S. Veteran’s Corp honored Colonel Hal Shook (Retired) as its Veteran of the Year at a luncheon at RallyPoint on Friday.

Col. Shook, 90, was a fighter pilot in WW II, Korea and Vietnam. He recalled providing close air support for ground forces during the invasion of Normandy in 1944. “Those are the guys who deserve the honor,” he said.

The USVC also chose Shook for his life outside the military. He is a well-known motivational speaker and the author of 3 books.

The Colonel seemed pleased to receive the award and there was some light-hearted inter-service banter. “I’m glad to be here with you characters,” said the Colonel.

MORE VET NEWS

USVC brings together veterans from from all the services with a mission to get “hands on.” The idea was born after “Operation Coming Home,” a special edition of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition that built a house for a vet in New Orleans. Local vets Andrew Ladner and Chris Lawson participated in the effort and decided to founded USVC.

John Byrnes of the Veteran Leadership Council of NC-Cares spoke about the plight of homeless vets in the Triangle. He estimated that there are over 1,000 homeless military veterans in the Triangle.

Particularly acute is the plight of homeless female vets with children. VLCNC-Cares has plans for a Veterans Life Center to provide emergency and transitional housing. It will also offer a mall of services, “one stop shopping,” for Veterans in need.

Congratulations to Colonel Shook, a legendary fighter* and a true gentleman. Send your veteran’s news to the Editor.

Hal and Marilyn Shook. CaryCitizen photos by Hal Goodtree.

* Col. Shook has also received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 19 Oak Leaf Clusters, a Presidential Unit Citation, the Belgian Croix de Guerre, the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, and the Legion of Merit.

He began flying in a Stearman PT-13B, an open-cockpit, two-seater biplane.