My Passion for SOWF: A Personal Reflection
As a member of the Board of Directors and legal counsel for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF), I am often asked why I am so passionate about our mission. The answer is deeply personal, rooted in my family’s legacy of service and sacrifice.
My connection to SOWF begins with my ancestors—men who answered the call to serve their country in times of unimaginable peril. My grandfather, Marshall Marion Ward, was a career officer in the U.S. Army and fought bravely in France during World War I. My father, Marshall Marion Ward, Jr., followed in his footsteps, dedicating his life to the U.S. Air Force. He served as a Chief Master Sergeant and, during World War II, became a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator with the 330th Bomb Squadron of the Eighth Air Force in England.
On March 16, 1944, my father’s plane was struck by enemy flak during a mission over Friedrichshafen, Germany. Forced to bail out over the Black Forest, he broke his leg upon landing and was captured by German forces. His survival was nothing short of miraculous. An American surgeon, also a prisoner, set his broken leg, saving him from a fate that befell many wounded prisoners. My father endured the infamous Death March across Germany in the winter of 1944-45, trekking 500 miles in blizzard conditions from Stalag Luft IV in Poland. He lost a third of his body weight and weighed only 98 pounds when he was finally liberated.
After returning home to Dalton, Georgia, after the war, my father’s experiences haunted him. He hid food around the house, a reminder of his near-starvation. Yet, he continued to serve, spending the remainder of his 30-year career in the Air Force, including the solemn duty of notifying families of fallen service members. I vividly remember the quiet dignity with which he carried out this role, especially after a tragic C-130 crash at MacDill AFB. Even as a young child, I sensed the weight of his responsibilities.
My father was a true hero—decorated with the Purple Heart, Air Medal and numerous other medals. He rarely spoke of his wartime experiences until the final weeks of his life. He is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, along with my mother. I am forever grateful for the lessons he imparted: resilience, compassion, and the importance of education. He insisted I attend college, making me the first in our family to do so. After my own service in the Air Force during the Vietnam era, I became a tax lawyer, specializing in nonprofit organizations.
Over a decade ago, Tom Arthur invited me to assist SOWF with legal matters. I leapt at the opportunity. Serving SOWF feels like a continuation of my father’s legacy—supporting the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I am acutely aware that, but for a twist of fate, I could have been one of the children helped by SOWF.
It is a privilege and an honor to be part of such an outstanding organization. Through SOWF, I strive to honor my father’s and grandfather’s memory and the countless heroes who never came home.
Our mission is not just a professional commitment—it is a deeply personal calling, one that connects my family’s story to the stories of every child we serve.
