Ron Kovic was born July 4, 1946. As a young man raised in suburban Massapequa, Long Island, Kovic grew up hearing stories of bravery and valor from World War II veterans. A combination of cold war fervor, Hollywood images of military personnel, and a desire to achieve more than his working-class father led Kovic to join the U.S. Marines in September 1964. He was twenty-one years old when he was shot and paralyzed during combat in January 1968.

His youthful patriotism and allegiance to God and country made him a perfect candidate for life as a soldier. Kovic took great pride in the link between his birthday and that of the nation: "I'd open up all the presents and blow out the candles on the big red, white, and blue birthday cake and then we'd all sing 'Happy Birthday' and 'I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy'." Kovic's birthday...