Truitt Breazeale

LTC Truitt Breazeale served in the U.S. Army for 54 years - 32 years of active duty and 22 years teaching high-school Army JROTC. His service included tours at Forts Benning, Jackson, Riley, Bragg and Greely. He had three tours in Korea, two tours in Vietnam and a short time in Germany. Breazeale served as an Infantry Company Commander in Vietnam. He was wounded in combat and received the Purple Heart. He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism.

On the day of his retirement, his Sergeant Major stripes became the silver oak leaves of a Lieutenant Colonel, which began a more than two-decade career transforming the lives of young people through the JROTC.

Breazeale, who was selected to represent Mississippi during the 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project Mission, regrettably passed away on January 20, 2021 from complications related to COVID-19.