Alabama Stories

Joseph Bongiovanni, Huntsville

JOSEPH BONGIOVANNI
(Nominated by Brandon Johnson)
Huntsville Jaycees Building
July 27, 2011

As a Wounded Warrior myself, I have been helped tremendously by Joe Bongiovani and the Semper Fi Community Task Force that he is a part of. Joe is a Vietnam Veteran that faced a lot of criticism when he returned (as all Vietnam Vets did), however with the help of LtGen Frank Libutti and several other service members started the Semper Fi Community Task Force so that the Veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan wouldn’t ever have to go through that. In addition to that, the SFCTF invites wounded veterans from all over the country to come to Huntsville in a “Hero’s Week” where 25-30 service members and their spouses are treated like rock stars for a little more than a week. My wife and I were struggling to make it work after I returned but getting us around people who are going through similar problems gave us the strength to get through. I attended in 2009 and have been part of the Semper Fi Community Task Force and volunteering with the organization since. Without the help of Joe Bongiovani and the Semper Fi Community Task Force, my family and I would not be where we are today.