As we venerate the heroes on Veteran’s Day who selflessly served our country, the City of Independence sought to highlight our community by sharing one of their stories. Billy Whisenant is a retired Vietnam War veteran who served in the Marine Corps during the Tet Offensive and was later discharged as a Sergeant.

After the war, as Billy worked to process his combat experiences, he began writing poetry and prose to help translate his feelings into words.

“I’ve found that in writing and expressing, you do have a tendency to connect with other people—not intentionally—but we all share similar feelings and emotions,” shared Billy. “That’s always been a rewarding part of writing for me.”

Through Billy’s stories and those of his fellow veterans, we begin to understand the sacrifices made on our country’s behalf. The City of Independence thanks all past and current military personnel for their devotion and service to our great nation.

To watch Billy’s full interview, click here: https://youtu.be/NlP66rQD1Xo