U.S. Rep. Greg Steube representing Florida's 17th Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube representing Florida's 17th Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) has released a new installment in his Veterans History Project Series, featuring an interview with Lance Corporal Ron Zaleski, a Marine Corps veteran from Florida’s 17th District who served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1972.
Zaleski enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after being selected in the draft lottery in 1969. He served with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment during his deployment to Vietnam and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal for his service.
After leaving the military, Zaleski focused on supporting veterans and their families. In 2006, he founded The Long Walk Home, a nonprofit organization that works on suicide prevention and rehabilitation for veterans. That same year, Zaleski walked barefoot across the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness about issues facing veterans and their families. He later undertook several other walks across America to highlight support for returning servicemembers.
“I thank Lance Corporal Ron Zaleski for sharing his story of service to our country with the Veterans History Project,” said Rep. Steube. “From his time in Vietnam to his inspiring work on behalf of our veterans, Zaleski’s life is a testament to the character and goodwill of the U.S. Marine Corps. On behalf of a grateful nation, I salute him for his service and unfailing devotion to his fellow servicemembers and their families.”
The interview will be submitted by Congressman Steube’s office to the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center. The project collects and preserves oral histories from U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families so that future generations can learn directly from those who served. The initiative began in 2000 and includes personal accounts from veterans of World War I through more recent conflicts. These materials are used by researchers, scholars, and educators as primary sources alongside historical texts.
More information about participating in the Veterans History Project is available at https://www.loc.gov/vets/. Residents of Florida’s 17th Congressional district interested in taking part can visit https://steube.house.gov/services/vhp.
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