Veteran of the Month

Each month, WIRX, 99.9 Y-Country, and COSY Classic Hits join together to recognize a local veteran whose bravery and service deserve to be celebrated.

Veteran of the Month is proudly presented by The Lab: Martial Arts & Fitness and Modern Roofing and Construction – two organizations committed to strength, resilience, and community.

This month, we proudly honor James Torbet of Dowagiac, Michigan.

James served in the U.S. Army as part of the 82nd Airborne and Military Police for five years. His service during the early days of the War on Terror in Afghanistan exemplifies courage and sacrifice. While in combat, James survived a gunshot to the head—his helmet saving his life—while fellow soldiers next to him were tragically killed. He was medivac’d to Germany and later awarded the Purple Heart.

But James’s courage didn’t stop there. During a military jump, he was caught in a rigging incident known as a “towed jumper,” resulting in his bicep being severed. He continued his service in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, where he missed the birth of his first daughter and contracted malaria while deployed.

Despite everything he endured, James still has not received full support from the VA.

We honor James not only for his sacrifice and bravery, but for the resilience he continues to show today.

Join us in thanking James Torbet for his service.
Because of heroes like him, we are free.