BARRY WRIGHT

Barry Wright, a native of Chicago and Vietnam War veteran, is the founder of Concerned Veterans From Vietnam. He served in Vietnam with the United States Navy SEALs and holds the distinction of being the 10th African American to become a Navy SEAL in U.S. history. For his bravery and injuries sustained in combat, he was awarded the Purple Heart. Upon returning home, Mr. Wright dedicated himself to supporting his community. In addition to his advocacy work, he also served as the personal bodyguard to legendary comedian Redd Foxx for over a decade.

JAMES TERRY BLUE SR.

 James T. Blue, Sr., affectionately known as “Blue,” was born in Elmore, Alabama, and raised on Chicago’s West Side. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and was deployed to Da Nang and An Hoa, Vietnam, where he served under hostile conditions as a rifleman and later in Battalion Intelligence (S2), persevering through the trauma of combat and a serious bout of malaria. In civilian life, he dedicated over 30 years to public safety as a police officer at Hines VA Hospital and with Rush University Campus Police. Mr. Blue has also served for more than two decades as a Veteran Service Officer with the African American PTSD Association, helping thousands of veterans, surviving spouses, and families access the benefits they rightfully earned.