Danny Belvin, District #8, is Choctaw Nation’s Veteran of the Month. Belvin was born in 1948 at the Talihina Hospital and grew up in Boswell, Okla., where he attended school until his graduation in 1967.
He joined the Marine Corps in March 1968 and completed basic training in San Diego, Calif., followed by eight weeks of radio school. He was stationed at Camp LeJeune, N.C., then deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from Jan. to June 1969.
In September 1969, he was sent to Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Division. He was stationed at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, and later returned to Camp LeJeune.
In Jan. 1971, he was deployed again to Vietnam until June 1971, followed by a six-month Mediterranean Cruise. He was honorably discharged from military service as a Corporal (E-4).
He said his most memorable tour of duty was the Mediterranean Cruise, and he greatly valued his time in the military. He earned the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, the Vietnam Cross for Gallantry, and a Unit Citation during his service.
After completing his military service, Belvin returned to Boswell to work in the construction industry. He and his wife, Frances, whom he married one minute after midnight on January 1, 2000, operated a trash collection business until their retirement. He has been an active member of the Choctaw Honor Guard for approximately 15 years.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma holds our Veterans in the highest esteem and appreciates their sacrifices and contributions to preserve our freedoms and the way of life we hold dear.