Flagler County Veteran of the Week: William Campenella

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William Campenella

Branch of Military: U.S. Army
Dates of Service: 1968-1969
Rank/Occupation: Specialist 4/Military Journalist
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

William Campenella studied at the University of California in Los Angeles and received a bachelor’s degree. Immediately after graduation, he entered military service in the U.S. Army and found himself deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, assigned to the 1st Cavalry, Special Services as a military journalist. The duty of a military journalist is to be embedded with combat units and chronicle for history the events of war. It is repetitively dangerous, and Campenella was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his tour in Vietnam. He also earned an Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm device, Vietnam Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. In the years after his honorable military service, Campenella used his G.I. Bill benefits to return to school in Florida to learn farming. Campenella resides in Flagler Beach with his wife, Grace, and is an owner-operator of Gospel Gardens Nursery in Bunnell, offering expert landscaping and hardscaping.

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For information about support organizations and resources available to veterans, call 386-313-4014.