Cardinal Spellman High School announces the recipients The John F. Ward Vietnam Veteran Patriot Award for 2008. This $2,500 scholarship amount, given to a Spellman boy and girl based on an essay competition, DUTY: God, Honor and Country, has been awarded to juniors Christian Jacobs and Linda McCaffrey. The scholarship has been made possible from a generous donor in memory of his friend, P.F.C. John F. Ward. After graduating from Cardinal Spellman in 1966, John Francis Ward attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and was designated ‘11 Bravo 40’ light weapons infantry. He then completed Advanced Individual Training in infantry tactics and advanced weaponry, and arrived in Vietnam in early July 1969. P.F.C. Ward was killed during nighttime combat operations in Vietnam on October 6th of that same year 25 days before his 21st birthday.
This is the first year the scholarship has been offered. The initial award of $2,500 each is expected to increase through the years in conjunction with the growth of the fund.
