A local Purple Heart recipient has been chosen to be one of the nation’s 2026 Purple Heart Patriot Project honorees. U.S. Marine Corps Major (Maj) Larry R. Iverson Jr., Ph.D., will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as California’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded. The Purple Heart Patriot Project is a program of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.

Selected from among hundreds of nominees and deserving candidates for their courage and service, both in combat and in their communities, this annual all-expenses-paid ‘Honor Flight’-style salute will bring together Purple Heart recipients from across conflicts and generations. The multi-day Patriot Project Mission, scheduled for April 27 – May 1, 2026, will feature visits to historic sites, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; a private tour of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor; time at historic Washington’s Headquarters, where the Badge of Military Merit originated in 1782; and the 9/11 Memorial. Other special tribute events are also being planned.

Dr. Larry Iverson

“Larry and his fellow Patriot Project honorees represent the best of the best our country has to offer,” said Jeremy McVey, Chairman of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. “These honorees represent a true cross-section of America and the diversity of our combat wounded through the decades. They answered the nation’s call and continued serving. This is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation, especially for our Vietnam veterans. The Patriot Project provides the proper homecoming they never received.”

“These Patriot Project missions recognize the sacrifices made by our Purple Heart recipients and honor those who never made it home. They provide an invaluable opportunity for these heroes to bond with other combat wounded to help with healing, understanding, and, of course, know that this nation will never forget their sacrifice,” said National Purple Heart Honor Mission Executive Director Colonel Russell O. Vernon (Ret). “We received hundreds of nominations from across the country, and we look forward to honoring Larry for his courage and service, both during combat operations and in the years since returning home.”

This year’s Patriot Project honorees include men and women from all branches of military service who sacrificed for America and went on to lead their communities and professions.

Asked what his service meant to him, Maj Iverson said, “My service as a United States Marine meant everything to me. Aside from being a husband and father, becoming a Marine has been my greatest single achievement. I come from a long line of career military men. My father is a retired Master Sergeant from the United States Marine Corps, and his father was a retired Master Chief from the United States Navy, while my mother’s father was a Korean War Veteran who served in the United States Air Force. As a retired Major, I feel as though I followed in the footsteps of great men in the service of our great nation. I am also proud to have served our nation when strong men were needed. I will never forget where I was on September 11, 2001. Our country was attacked, and men were needed to hunt down those who would commit atrocities against non-combatants. As an infantryman, I was proud to hunt those who would do harm to others.

Lastly, my service was selfless. It wasn’t given because it was required; it was given because I volunteered it. Our nation thrives on an all-volunteer force, and that’s what makes our country great. To serve with heroes who voluntarily put themselves into harm’s way is what made my service an amazing experience.”

Iverson was commissioned in the Marine Corps in May 2004 and served for nearly 20 years. He was deployed during both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. As a member of Third Battalion, 7^th Marines, then-Second Lieutenant (2ndLt) Iverson’s unit was deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq, in order to combat Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and local Ba’athist insurgents. During that deployment, 2nd Lt. Iverson led over four hundred combat patrols within the City of Ramadi. On the night of October 22, 2005, 2ndLt Lieutenant Iverson’s platoon was tasked with conducting screening operations in order to protect an adjacent unit that was establishing an ambush position. Several hours into the screening operation, 2nd Lt. Iverson’s High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The blast was so strong that it lifted the vehicle approximately twenty feet in the air. All of the vehicle’s occupants (four Marines and a Navy Corpsman) were immediately rendered unconscious. After the vehicle slammed back into the ground, 2nd Lt. Iverson regained consciousness and directed the unit to fight through the enemy ambush. It was later determined by medical personnel that the four Marines and sailors had experienced traumatic brain injuries from the IED blast.

Along with his Purple Heart, Maj Iverson was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars in lieu of a fourth award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, the Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and more.

After leaving the military, Larry Iverson built a successful career in the private sector, excelling in sales, operations, and leadership roles within the HVAC and boiler industry. Today, he is the CEO of OPERATION SHIELD, a non-profit organization he founded that is dedicated to supporting our nation’s veterans and their families. He holds a Doctorate in Business Leadership and a Master of Business Administration. Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Iverson is committed to mentoring and community engagement through his active volunteer work with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Orange County, as a certified NCCER Master Trainer, an OSHA Outreach Instructor, and a youth flag football and soccer coach.

The Purple Heart Patriot Project provides an all-expenses-paid trip to Purple Heart recipients from across the country to visit the museum dedicated to their service and other historic sites connected to the Purple Heart. Located just north of West Point, New York, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is housed near the site where General George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit in 1782 during the Revolutionary War. The Badge, a purple cloth cut in the shape of a heart, was the forerunner of today’s Purple Heart medal. These powerful visits provide a unique opportunity for our Purple Heart veterans to connect with other recipients and experience the appreciation of a grateful nation committed to ensuring their courage and sacrifice are remembered for generations to come. Project Missions are supported by individual, foundation, and corporate donations.

In addition to establishing the museum, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission was instrumental in creating the Purple Heart Forever stamp and in organizing the U.S. Mint’s official Purple Heart Commemorative Coin series, which was issued in 2022. Today, the organization is developing the National Purple Heart Traveling Tribute and Education Center, which will tour the country, bringing the stories of our heroes’ service and sacrifice to communities nationwide.

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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PURPLE HEART HONOR MISSION

The National Purple Heart Honor Mission is an approved 501(c)3 non-profit organization, whose strategic objective is to pay tribute to our nation’s combat wounded and killed in action through special outreach and educational programming. Through Purple Heart Patriot Project Missions, celebration of National Purple Heart Day and other public events and programs, we engage people of all ages by telling the stories of our nation’s heroes. Learn more and support their efforts at www.PurpleHeartMission.org.

Learn more about OPERATION SHIELD, a non-profit organization at: https://oshld.org/vision/