About the Foundation
About Joseph Galloway, Jr.
Joseph L. Galloway Jr. (1941–2021) was a renowned journalist, war correspondent, and author whose career was defined by his deep commitment to truth, courage under fire, and unwavering support for the men and women of the U.S. military.
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Born in Refugio, Texas, Galloway began his career in journalism as a reporter for The Victoria Advocate and later worked for United Press International (UPI), where he became one of the most respected combat correspondents of his time. His most defining experience came during the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam, where he was embedded with U.S. troops in one of the war's first major engagements. Amid intense combat, Galloway carried a severely wounded soldier to safety under enemy fire—an act of heroism for which he became the only civilian awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device for valor by the U.S. Army.
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His time in Vietnam forged deep bonds with the soldiers he reported on, and later inspired the best-selling book We Were Soldiers Once… And Young, co-authored with Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore. The book, based on their firsthand experience of the Ia Drang battle, was adapted into the critically acclaimed film We Were Soldiers, starring Mel Gibson.
Over the course of his career, Galloway covered conflicts in Vietnam, Iraq, and beyond, working with media outlets including U.S. News & World Report, Knight Ridder, and McClatchy Newspapers. He was known not only for his battlefield reporting but also for his advocacy for veterans, especially those suffering from the invisible wounds of war, such as Post-Traumatic Stress.
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General H. Norman Schwarzkopf once described Galloway as “the finest combat correspondent of our generation – a soldier’s reporter and a soldier’s friend.”
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Joe Galloway’s legacy lives on through the Joe and Gracie Galloway Foundation, which continues his lifelong mission of honoring, supporting, and empowering military service members and veterans—particularly combat medics and corpsmen—as they transition into civilian medical careers.
About Dr. Gracie Galloway
Gracie Galloway is a Nurse Practitioner with a PhD in Public Health, specializing in addiction and mental health. Her early experience volunteering in Vietnam for over three years, starting at age 17, shaped her lifelong commitment to serving others.
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A passionate advocate for social justice, Gracie co-founded Richmond’s first domestic violence shelter and launched initiatives to stop child abuse. She advanced her education rapidly—completing nursing school through the VA system, earning an MBA, and ultimately a PhD—balancing work and study as a way to stay busy and maintain her mental health while managing PTSD.
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Gracie has learned to wear PTSD as a “badge of honor” and demonstrates that success and happiness are possible alongside mental health challenges. She also trains service dogs, a life-altering pursuit for both herself and her late husband, Joe Galloway.
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Together, Gracie and Joe became steadfast advocates for understanding and recognizing PTSD, embodying resilience and the power of partnership. They met in 1969 and lived by the mantra: “Marry your best friend.”
About the Foundation
The Joseph and Gracie Galloway Foundation was established by Dr. Gracie Galloway following the passing of her husband, Joe Lee Galloway. The Foundation is dedicated to honoring Joe’s legacy by providing financial support to veterans, particularly military Combat Medics and Corpsmen, as they transition into civilian medical careers.
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The Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible and are accepted unconditionally with the full assurance that 100% of all contributions go directly to benefiting scholarship recipients. Overhead and administrative costs are covered by separate funding sources, ensuring every dollar donated makes a direct impact.​
​Your support helps continue the mission and values of Joe and Gracie Galloway—empowering those who serve to build meaningful futures.
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Foundation Name: The Joseph & Gracie Galloway Foundation
Founded: In honor of Joseph L. Galloway — the only civilian recipient of the Bronze Star with “V” Device for Valor for heroism during the Vietnam War.
Headquarters: Concord, NC 28025
Entity Type: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Counties Served: Cabarrus, Robeson, and Anson