The Award

Twenty-two-year-old 2nd LT Bob Dole spoke these words to his Platoon Sergeant, Frank Carafa, on April 14, 1945, as he led the assault element of his 10th Mountain Division platoon to flank a German strong point on Hill 913 near Castel D’Aiano, Italy. He left the sergeant to establish a base of fire. The rest changed his life.

He left the security of his foxhole to drag his fatally wounded radio man to cover when a German machine gun round ripped through his body, leaving him near dead as well. He survived his grievous wounds to carve a historic role in the Senate and American political life.

In 2019, The World War II Foundation presented Senator Dole with the Foundation’s Leadership Award at its D-Day Victory Event at the French Embassy. WWII veterans, dignitaries, and senior military personnel were incredibly moved to witness this historic occasion and be in the presence of our nation’s greatest heroes. So moved, too, was Senator Dole that he agreed to allow the Foundation to name its subsequent Leadership Awards in his honor.

To preserve the legacy of Senator Dole, the Senator Bob Dole World War II Leadership Award is presented annually to an individual of the Greatest Generation or their family who, as an individual, reflects the values of self-sacrifice, public service, and everlasting commitment to our nation’s principles of freedom and democracy.

The Foundation has commissioned a statue in Senator Dole’s likeness, named “I’ll take Point,” to be presented to the award recipient.

2025 Honoree -Richard Fazzio, United States Navy, D-Day

During the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944, Richard Fazzio served as a Navy Coxswain on a Higgins Boat, transporting soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, 16th Infantry Regiment, onto Omaha Beach near Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France—specifically the “Easy Red” sector, which was heavily defended by the German 352nd Infantry Division. Fazzio piloted the fifth boat in the first wave that morning, departing 13 miles offshore from the transport ship USS Henrico. Richard was wounded during the chaos of that historic day, shot below the arm, but survived to later participate in the invasion of Southern France in August 1944. Fazzio is one of the last living first-wave veterans of D-Day. A native of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Richard enlisted in the Navy at age 17. The 2025 award was presented to him by U.S. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a veteran himself of the 82nd Airborne Division.

2024 Honorees -Three World War II Veterans who Liberated Concentration Camps in Europe

The 2024 Senator Bob Dole Leadership Award was presented to three extraordinary WWII veterans who were instrumental in liberating Nazi concentration camps:

Irving Locker, who turned 100 this month, played a key role in liberating the Gardelegen concentration camp. His lifelong commitment to educating others about the Holocaust has made him a vital voice in preserving history.
Andrew “Tim” Kiniry, now 103, served in the 45th Evacuation Hospital and was among the first to reach Buchenwald. His dedication to sharing his story ensures that future generations remember the atrocities of the Holocaust.
Harry Miller, who joined the Army at 15, was part of the 740th Tank Battalion that helped liberate Dachau. His service spanned three wars—WWII, Korea, and Vietnam—demonstrating unparalleled dedication to his country.

2023 Honoree -Lt. Col. Harry Stewart

Harry T. Stewart Jr. is one of America’s most decorated Tuskegee Airmen. He was born on 24 July 1924, in Newport News, Virginia, near Langley AFB. At the age of two, Stewart’s family moved to Queens, New York, just a few minutes from North Beach Airport. His fascination with aviation began at a very young age as he watched in awe as the planes soared overhead. At the age of 17, and aware of his imminent conscription into World War II, he passed a military exam designed to identify potential pilots. As a result, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet.

After completing his flight training at Tuskegee Air Field, Alabama, and while still a teenager, he was awarded his pilot wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Stewart then accomplished combat fighter training in both the P-40 Warhawk and the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft, and in 1944 was sent to Italy for combat operations. As a member of the all-black 332d Fighter Group, Stewart flew 43 combat missions in the P-51 Mustang. On 1 April 1945, then First Lieutenant Harry T. Stewart Jr. was one of eight red-tailed P-51 pilots escorting B-24 Liberators tasked to bomb the St. Polten marshaling yard.

The P-51s preceded the bombers and flew a fighter sweep of the Linz area in Austria. Flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the Mustang pilots spotted four German FW-190s near Wels flying in the same direction, but about 2,000 feet below. They dived to attack, but suddenly a flight of a dozen ME-109s appeared above them.

A series of individual dogfights ensued, ranging from altitudes of 5,000 feet to the deck. Although the enemy pilots attempted to out-turn the more powerful P-51s and draw them over antiaircraft artillery, the Red Tails proved victorious and shot down 12 enemy aircraft, losing only three of their own. Stewart shot down three FW-190s that day, a feat that earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross (Detroit Red Tail, Inc.)

2022 Honoree -Vice Admiral Raquel C. Bono

For nearly 30 years, Vice Admiral Raquel C. Bono, MD, MBA, FACS, served with honor and distinction as a highly respected Naval Officer and the first woman surgeon in the military to hold the rank of Vice Admiral. As the former chief executive officer (CEO) and director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), Vice Admiral (Dr.) Bono led a joint, integrated combat support agency that enabled all branches of the U.S. military – Army, Navy, and Air Force – medical services to provide health care services to combatant commands. Dr. Bono integrated an unprecedented $50 billion worldwide health care enterprise composed of 50 hospitals and 300 clinics that provide care to 9.5 million military beneficiaries; oversaw the Department of Defense (DoD) deployment of the electronic health record (EHR) system; and advanced the development of the most extensive federated health system with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

A board-certified trauma surgeon, Dr. Bono is an inspiration and role model for all surgeons, especially women surgeons across the country and in the military. Dr. Bono received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, Austin; her Master of Business Administration from Washington State University, Spokane; and her medical degree from Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, Lubbock. She completed her surgical internship and residency at the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA. She performed a trauma and critical care fellowship at the Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine, Norfolk.

2021 Honoree (Posthumously)-Senator John Warner

Senator John William Warner from Virginia served in the United States Navy 1944-1946 and in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean conflict 1950-1952; served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve 1952-1956; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1978 for the term commencing January 3, 1979; subsequently appointed by the Governor on January 2, 1979, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William Scott for the term ending January 3, 1979; reelected in 1984, 1990, 1996, and 2002, and served from January 2, 1979, to January 3, 2009; chair, Committee on Rules and Administration (One Hundred Fourth and One Hundred Fifth Congresses [September 12, 1995-January 3, 1999]), Committee on Armed Services (One Hundred Sixth Congress; One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 20, 2001-June 6, 2001], One Hundred Eighth and One Hundred Ninth Congresses).

2019 Honoree-Senator Bob Dole

Robert Dole, from Kansas, enlisted in the United States Army in 1942. Dole became a combat infantry officer in the famed 10th Mountain Division and was sent to the Po Valley in northern Italy in 1944. Dole was ordered to lead an assault against a German position there and was severely wounded. Paralyzed from the neck down and with metal shrapnel throughout his body, the medics who treated him did not think he would live. Dole was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for his combat service in Italy with the 10th Mountain Division during World War II.

After World War II, Bob Dole represented Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1961 to 1969, then as a senator from 1969 to 1996, serving as Republican Leader of the Senate from 1985 to 1996. He was the Republican nominee for President of the United States in 1996.

2018 Honoree-Jim “Pee Wee” Martin

101st Airborne D-Day, Market Garden, and Battle of the Bulge Veteran Jim “Pee Wee” Martin received the first of what will be an annual World War II Foundation Leadership Award.

Jim Martin parachuted into Normandy (landing near Saint-Côme-du-Mont behind Utah Beach) at 12:30 AM on June 6, 1944. “Pee Wee” Martin fought in the Normandy campaign for thirty-three days until the 101st Airborne was relieved and returned to England in July. He also parachuted into Holland in Operation Market Garden and Belgium in the Battle of the Bulge. He later saw action in Germany.

Senator Bob Dole WWII Leadership Award