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<p><strong>From staff reports&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Larry Dandridge, a contributor to The Island News, was named the S.C. Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran of the Week for the week of Oct. 25.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Dandridge, an ex-enlisted Army infantryman, warrant officer aviator, and retired aviation commissioned officer, has written numerous columns and series of articles on veterans’ benefits, leadership, hospice car, law enforcement and other topics.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Over his 24 years in the U.S. Army, Dand r i d g e served as a flight instructor, flight examiner, flight commander, company commander, maintenance test pilot, airport manager, negotiator, locomotive operator, procurement official, and logistician. He went through counter-terrorism training and served in combat in Vietnam and Iran.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>In 1969, Dandridge was severally wounded in Vietnam while flying an attack helicopter. During his service, he received many military awards including the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, five Meritorious Service Medals, 15 Combat Air Medals, the German Silver Cross, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>He is an honors graduate of the Saint Louis County and Municipal Academy and the Southwest Alabama Police Academy.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>An editor and senior writer with Tigers, Vikings, and Vipers Publishing, LLC, Dandridge is a published author, and his military history and action book, “Blades of Thunder” (BOOK ONE), is an award winning, popular, informative, and non-fiction account of the U.S. Helicopter War in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. A chapter in the book is used among different organizations and colleges to teach leadership.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Dandridge taught courses for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Chapman University, the University of Maryland, and Lassen Community College. He has been a professor or instructor in economics, industrial operations, business aeronautics, technical writing, business law and he ran university extension divisions for 10 years.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Dandridge, who lives in Charleston, is married with five children, nine grandchildren and a miniature Italian Greyhound. He is the Vice President for Veteran and Retiree Affairs for the Lowcountry, the Good Will Ambassador for Fisher House Charleston and a volunteer Patient Advisor for the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.&nbsp;</p>
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