About Us
A Brave Service educates the public about the history and contributions of Vietnam War veterans, specifically but not solely limited to veterans of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment.
The stories of Vietnam War veterans are often untold or overlooked. A Brave Service works tirelessly to locate official records and preserve personal recollections of Vietnam War veterans.
Together we can ensure that the bravery and sacrifices of these veterans are recognized and remembered for future generations.
Mark Coonrad began A Brave Service in 2018. In 2024, Mark and the new Board of Directors established the nonprofit entity and filed for tax exemption.
Who is Mark Coonrad?
I grew up in Big Lake, Alaska, a small town 50 miles from Anchorage. After graduating high school in 1997, I enlisted as a cryptologic linguist in the US Army. While studying Arabic at the Defense Language Institute, I met my wife Garnett, a fellow soldier also studying Arabic. We were married in 2000, and I served on active duty as an Arabic and Chinese-Mandarin language linguist until 2007, including a tour in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005-06. We have five children, the oldest a 23-year-old active-duty soldier, and the youngest a nine-year-old boy. Both Garnett and I were born and raised in Alaska, and we currently call Morgantown, West Virginia home.
Why the focus on the 3-12 Infantry and the Vietnam War?
My connection to the 3-12 Infantry is through my wife Garnett’s family. Her father Dennis Sperl had a younger brother Donald who was drafted into the Army in 1967. He declared himself a Conscientious Objector and attended combat medic training at Ft. Sam Houston, TX. He did not hesitate to serve his country, but was morally opposed to taking another human life, and therefore requested not to carry a weapon. He was sent to Vietnam in January of 1968 and assigned to HHC, 3-12 and further attached to Delta Company. He was killed on May 8, 1968, in a friendly fire incident involving a Huey gunship on Rocket Ridge outside of Dak To.
After we were married in the year 2000, I heard stories about “Uncle Donald ” and how he had lost his life in Vietnam. I talked to Donald’s parents and could tell the anguish of losing their son had never diminished.
After I left the Army as a Staff Sergeant and settled into civilian life, my thoughts kept returning to “Uncle Donald”. Who was he? Where did he serve in Vietnam? What unit was he with? It took a few years for these thoughts to turn into action, and eventually I started reaching out to veterans of D Co, 3-12 and asking questions. Questions led to answers, and I was able to write Donald’s Vietnam story and share it with his family. In the process of doing this, my introduction to men from D Co made me realize they were forever linked to Donald and had stories of their own.
I started researching the battalion. I searched the National Archives online, and numerous other Vietnam websites, looking for the AARs, and Lessons Learned documents that the Army had published. I also started emailing veterans that had left their contact information on various websites. Some responded and my interest only deepened.
Through my work, I met veterans, family members of veterans, and reconnected with old friends of mine who were interested in this mission and wanted to help. The outcome is this website, and the non-profit standing behind it. Together we will continue telling the stories of the men who served in Vietnam.
Our Team
A Brave Service is managed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. Please contact us if you're interested in becoming a member of the Board or a volunteer.
Mark Coonrad
Board President and Founding Member
Jose Ortiz
Bravo Company, 3-12
(1968 - 1969)
Linda Hadley Thomason
Gold Star Sister of 1LT Leo Hadley, Alpha & Recon, 1967 - 1968 , KIA 8/14/68
David "Gonzo" Gonzalez
Board Member
Ann McDowell
Board Member