Jeremy McIntire is a retired Iraq War Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient. He served honorably in the United States Army and the Ohio Army National Guard from 2004 to 2014.

 

Jeremy’s military service began in 2004 when he enlisted in the United States Army. He enlisted as an infantryman and completed both basic and infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduation he was among a few selected to attend Javelin Gunnery School. During his time on active duty, Jeremy served with the 1st Battalion-38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team as a part of the 2nd Infantry Division. Jeremy was stationed at Fort Lewis Washington where he received numerous awards including the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. In 2006 Jeremy served as a part of Task Force Blaze fighting wildland fires in the Okanogan National Forest in Winthrop, Washington, for service to this task force, he was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal.

 

In 2007 when then President George W. Bush ordered a surge in troops, Jeremy served as 1 of 20,000 additional troops deployed as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom where his unit was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation. During his Iraq deployment, he spent time in Baghdad and Baqubah from April 2007 to June 2008. In July 2007 while serving as a part of a Quick Reaction Force, Jeremy’s vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device sending him and other soldiers to the hospital for treatment for which he was awarded the Purple Heart. In September 2008, Jeremy was Honorably Discharged from active duty and continued his service in the Ohio Army National Guard with the 1st Battalion-145th Armor Regiment in Northeast Ohio. He served honorably in the National Guard from 2008 until May 2014 at which time he was medically retired due to injuries sustained during his active-duty service.

 

When trying to figure out how to give back to the military for all that it has done for him, Jeremy was reminded about mail-call during his deployment to Iraq. On its website, the U.S. Postal Service explains the importance of military mail:

 

“More than 1.4 million Americans serve in the military, with about 200,000 of those troops serving overseas. Members of the armed forces can feel isolated while deployed, often in dangerous conditions. The military discovered long ago that mail boosts the morale of troops serving in other parts of the world, so it has made military mail a high priority. Military mail provides members of the armed forces with a vital link to their communities. Mail call is the moment when the frontline and home front connect”.

 

In 2020, Jeremy and his wife Claire launched Operation Valentines Day in hopes of collecting a couple thousand valentines. To their surprise, they received over 12,000 from all over the country that were sent to the brave men and women defending our country stationed overseas. Over the last 4 years, Operation Valentine’s Day has collected and distributed over 40,000 valentines thanks to supporters like you!

 

They cannot think of a better holiday to let our military know we are thinking of them than Valentine’s Day. Please join Jeremy and Claire to help bring smiles to the brave men and women serving overseas by sending them a valentine.