Clayton County is honoring one of its own this month. After nearly two decades of service to fellow veterans, Herbert Ward has been named the Clayton County Senior Services Veteran of the Month. The announcement, released on the county's official website, highlighted Ward's tireless dedication to supporting his fellow servicemen and women.
Herbert Ward's military career began when he enlisted in the US Marine Corps back in October of 1978. He dedicated 21 years to the Corps before retiring in August of 1999. Ward continued to serve his community by transitioning to a role that would allow him to directly impact veterans' lives. He took up the mantle of Senior Veteran Service Officer (VSO) in 2003 for the Georgia Veterans Service. His commitment to his peers is also shown through his time as the VFW, Assistant State Service Officer.
But Ward's work wasn't confined strictly to veteran services. His post-military career also wove through the Georgia Department of Labor and the office of former US Senator Max Cleland. It's this breadth of experience in both governmental and veterans affairs that has made Ward an essential part of the veteran community in Georgia until his retirement from the Georgia Veterans Service in September 2022.
Now enjoying retirement, Ward resides in Rex, Georgia where he has settled down with his wife of 47 years. The couple's family has grown to include two children and two grandchildren. Despite stepping back professionally, Ward's legacy of helping others continues to reverberate throughout Clayton County and beyond. "Thank you for your service," reads the tribute online, a public acknowledgement of Ward's decades of dedication not only to his country but to bettering the lives of those who have served it.
