Meet our Boston Veterans

Enoch 'Woody' Woodhouse

U.S. Army Air Corps

Woodhouse, 97, was born Jan. 14, 1927, in Roxbury, grew up in Mission Hill and attended Boston Public Schools. On his 17th birthday, he enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps in the segregated unit, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Wing at Moton Field, Tuskegee, Alabama, known as the “Tuskegee Airmen,” where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant at 19 and honored for distinguished service. Despite clear racist challenges he faced during his military service, he was discharged from active duty in 1949 and joined the Air Force Reserves, staying in the capacity until retiring in 1997. Woodhouse graduated from Yale University in 1952 and Boston University School of Law in 1955 before practicing law at his own firm. He further distinguished himself as a Department of State Diplomatic Courier in Europe and the Middle East. He was on the last flight out of Havana, Cuba in 1959 after Fidel Castro and his insurgent army had taken over the country. President George W. Bush awarded Woodhouse and other Tuskegee Airmen the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. In 2022 Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker appointed him to the State Militia with the rank of Brigadier General. At the same time, a mural honoring him was unveiled near the USO office in Terminal C at Logan Airport. Woodhouse is  a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts that was chartered in 1638.

General Edward O. Gourdin

National Army Guard

General Edward O. Gourdin was an American athlete and jurist. He was the first man in history to make 25 feet in the long jump and the first African-American and the first self-identified Native American (of Seminole descent) to be appointed a Superior Court judge in New England. He was also a barrier breaker in other endeavors, including being the first African American to win a silver medal in the Olympics in the long jump event.

RADM Michael E. Platt

United States Coast Guard

Rear Admiral Platt assumed the duties of Commander, First Coast Guard District in May 2024. He oversees all Coast Guard missions across eight states in the Northeast including over 2,000 miles of coastline from the U.S. Canadian border to northern New Jersey and 1,300 miles Offshore. Rear Admiral Platt previously served as the Military Advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security responsible for providing counsel to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary regarding policies, plans, and other affairs between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense.

Rear Admiral Platt is a native of Boston and entered the Coast Guard through the College Student Pre- Commissioning Initiative (CSPI). He graduated from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Science, American Military University with a Master of Science, and the National War College with a Master of Science in National Security Strategy. Rear Admiral Platt was also a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Fellow and an alumnus of Harvard University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative.

Rear Admiral Platt has served at six Coast Guard aviation units, commanding both Air Station Detroit and Air Station Miami. During his career, he accumulated over 3,600 hours of flight time in the MH-65 helicopter and the HC- 144 airplane. Prior to attending flight training, Rear Admiral Platt served as a boarding officer and deployable officer in charge with a Law Enforcement Detachment, and after completing National Search and Rescue School, served as a Command Duty Officer at Coast Guard Greater Antilles Section (GANTSEC) Command Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Rear Admiral Platt’s staff tours include the First Coast Guard District’s Incident Management Branch, Special Assistant to the 24th Commandant of the Coast Guard, Chief of the Homeland Defense Division and Coast Guard Liaison Officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Executive Assistant to the Director of Governmental and Public Affairs, Executive Assistant to the 31st Vice Commandant, and Executive Assistant to the 26th Commandant of the Coast Guard. Rear Admiral Platt has earned various personal, unit, and service awards, and has been designated an Honorary Chief Petty Officer.

Ralph F. Browne, Jr.

Massachusetts Army National Guard

Ralph Francis Browne, Jr. was born Feb. 20, 1931, was the oldest of five children and graduated from Roxbury Memorial High School in 1949. He served with the last all-Black Military Unit, the 272nd Field Artillery Battalion, of the Massachusetts Army National Guard awaiting activation for service during the Korean War. For 42 years he worked as a civilian for the Air Force, holding many positions in contract management. In 1964, the year the historic Civil Rights Act was enacted, Mr. Browne became the equal employment opportunity (EEO) officer at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, MA. Thus began a history of serving his community.

In Massachusetts.He served as a Director of the Roxbury YMCA, Chair of the National Board of Blacks in Government, Commander of the William E. Carter American Legion Post 16 in Mattapan, President of the Meetinghouse Hill Civics Association and the Dorchester Allied neighborhood Association, the State President of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Organization,President of the 272nd Veterans Association and the Organization of Afro-American Veterans, Affirmative Action Officer for the Ward 15 Democratic Committee and Dorchester’s Representative on the City of Boston Mayor’s Advisory Committee.

Rashuan Morris

United States Coast Guard

Master Chief Morris assumed the duties as the Reserve Command Master Chief for the 1st Coast Guard District in October of 2016. Her primary responsibility is to advise the District Commander on issues and initiatives pertaining to all Coast Guard Reserve members within the District. The First District includes eight states in the Northeast and 2000 miles of coastline from the US-Canadian border to northern New Jersey. Most recently Master Chief Morris served as the Reserve Command Master Chief Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England in Woods Hole, MA. Master Chief Morris enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1987.

Upon completion of Coast Guard Basic Training in Cape May, NJ, she was selected to conduct ceremonial operations before world leaders and dignitaries for the Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard and Silent Drill Team outside of the Washington, DC area. After graduating from Yeoman School, she provided administrative support to thousands of students rotating in and out of Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma, CA. She went on to serve at the 7th Coast Guard District in Miami, FL, Coast Guard Naval Engineering Support Unit Boston, MA and Coast Guard Group Boston, MA. After serving over 13 years of active duty, she transitioned into the Coast Guard Reserves. She was then assigned to Coast Guard Integrated Support Command Boston, MA, Coast Guard Base Boston, MA and Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, MD. She mobilized for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response in Mobile, AL and for Hurricane Sandy in Boston, MA. Master Chief Morris was born in Kansas City, MO and is a distinguished graduate of the Coast Guard Chief’s Academy where she was awarded the Altus Tendo Award.

She is also a proud graduate of the Coast Guard Senior Enlisted Leaders Course. Master Chief Morris’ personal awards include the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, four Coast Guard Achievement Medals, three Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbons, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, four Coast Guard Good Conduct Awards, five Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Awards and various other personal and unit awards. Master Chief Morris hails from Brockton, MA and has one child, Haleigh Morris.

Ethan Bridges

United States Army

Ethan is an Army Veteran and is the Director of Policy and Outreach at the City of Boston’s Office Veterans’ Services. The son of a Marine Corps Retiree and Veteran, Ethan grew up with a strong sense of duty and service. He attended the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where he earned a degree in Business Administration while playing for the university’s football team. Ethan also commissioned through the university’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program. During his Army career, Ethan was stationed at Fort Drum and served with the 10th Mountain Division as a Health Services Administration Officer. In 2022, he deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) contributing to medical operations and support efforts. After completing his military service, Ethan transitioned to serving the veteran community in Boston.

Colonel Christopher B. Shaw, USMC (Ret.)

United Marine Corps

Colonel Christopher Shaw is a 30 year Marine veteran. He is the son of Jamaican immigrants and grew up in the Mattapan area of Boston, Massachusetts. Chris graduated from Boston Latin School and the U.S. Naval Academy.  After Annapolis he was selected to serve as infantry officer and deployed on Navy ships to the Pacific and Mediterranean.  After his first tour, he led recruiting efforts in the Boston area and selected 120 college students to serve as Marine pilots, ground officers and lawyers.  The Marine Corps then chose Chris for the Marine Law Program.  He attended Boston College Law School for his Juris Doctorate and subsequently the University of San Diego to obtain an LL.M in International Law.

Quaddell Reis

United States Air Force

Quaddell Reis is a dedicated Veterans’ Integration and Transition Advocate at the City of Boston’s Office of Veterans’ Services. Before assuming this vital role, he made significant contributions at Harvard Business School, where he supported MBA students. He then embarked on a commendable service in the United States Air Force, spending several impactful years stationed in Japan, enhancing his global perspective. In 2024, he proudly earned his bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from Bridgewater State University.

Quaddell possesses a strong passion for languages. He can speak Japanese and Korean and is expanding his skills to include Italian and Mandarin. His linguistic proficiency has enabled him to achieve certification in Global Languages and a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate from Bridgewater State University. Looking ahead, Quaddell intends to apply to Northeastern University for a master's in International Relations. When he isn’t excelling as an Integration and Transition Advocate, Quaddell is driven by his love for travel, adventure in trying new cuisines, continuous language learning, and playing tennis. He is a proud veteran who honorably served on active duty for three years.

Commander Crystal L. Schaefer

United States Navy

Crystal Schaefer is a native of Medford, Wisconsin. She earned her commission through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program. Schaefer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Business and Administration from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. At sea, Schaefer served as Strike Officer on USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), Reactor Propulsion Division officer on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Operations Officer on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), and Assistant Reactor Officer on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77). Ashore, Schaefer served as Assistant Professor of Naval Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp; Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) Officer in Charge for U.S. Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy; and Prospective Commanding Officer Course Coordinator at the Surface Warfare Schools Command in Newport, RI. Schaefer’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal (four awards), and various unit, campaign, and service awards.

Jessica Frost

United States Navy

Jessica Frost of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) is now leading the Women Veterans Network. Since joining the EOVS team in November 2023, Jessica has committed herself to creating connections among women veterans across Massachusetts, valuing the diverse experiences of each member, and fostering vibrant platforms for shared wisdom and contributions.

A U.S. Navy veteran from 1993 to 1996, Jessica was one of the first women assigned to a combat-ready ship, serving as a Firefighter in the Engineering department of the USS Seattle (AOE-3), an ammunition tender. The minimal billeting space and ad-hoc accommodations for women only added to the onboard challenges of her deployment. Per her request, she became the first female veteran permanently assigned to the Engine Room. During a difficult time, Jessica maintained her determined attitude buoyed her through the roughest of seas.

Upon leaving the military, she grappled with the complexities of acclimating to civilian life without clearly understanding available benefits and services. These experiences allowed Jessica to understand the unique challenges many Veterans face when transitioning from military to civilian life. She earned a Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration and a Doctor of Management in Community College Policy and Administration. She credits her experiences in the Navy as a motivating factor for her educational achievements and her desire to help all Veterans set and achieve their goals. It took over two decades for Jessica to fully embrace her veteran identity, a transformative journey that began when she assumed a role supporting veteran and military-affiliated students in a Massachusetts community college. Informed by her personal experiences as a survivor of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and the experiences of other veterans, Jessica has made it her personal mission to support women veterans with resources, connections, and better holistic care for MST, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other service-connected mental and physical health and issues.

Leanna Lynch

United States Army

Senator Lydia Edwards

United States Air Force

Senator Lydia Edwards is a career advocate, activist, and voice on behalf of society's most vulnerable. She was raised all over the world by her military mom but chose to make East Boston her home.  Prior to being elected to the State Senate and Boston City Council, Lydia worked extensively in the legal field. Lydia pushed to reduce airport pollution, expand water transportation, address traffic congestion, ensure community voice in major energy projects, rebuild public housing and stop proposed highway expansion. She solidified her role in the community as a bridge-builder, convening and organizing community meetings to take on larger conversations like Suffolk Downs in East Boston, the Bunker Hill Redevelopment project in Charlestown, and climate resilience in the historic North End. Lydia has always been on the side of the underdog and she finds new ways to make change at each new role. As a State Senator, Lydia is continuing to fight for workers, renters, unions, immigrants, teachers, to make our commonwealth more affordable, more inclusive, and more democratic.  Senator Edwards was sworn in on October 30, 2023, as a Judge Advocate General in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. First Lieutenant Edwards received her first salute from her mother, Bridgett Edwards, a veteran who served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a master sergeant in 1995. She lives in East Boston and loves to run along the waterfront, practice martial arts, and skydive.

Stephen R. Boyd

Army National Guard

Chief Warrant Officer Five (CW5) Stephen R. Boyd was born and raised in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. He enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard in April 1984 as a Private First Class. In September 1988, he transferred to Fort Rucker, Alabama to reclassify as a UH-1 Huey Mechanic. In August 1989 he began the Aviation Warrant Officer Flight Training Program and graduated in August 1990. Boyd also holds the distinction of being the first African American soldier to achieve the rank of CW5. He is currently employed as a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist for the Department of Defense in Vicenza, Italy.

Gerard 'Eric' Hill

United States Army

Gerard Eric Hill was born in Boston, Massachusetts . Lieutenant Colonel Gerard “Eric” Hill was commissioned through the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School as an Ordnance Officer on 26 May 1999, after more than 8 years of enlisted service. As a Lieutenant in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, he served as a platoon leader in the 721st Maintenance Company, at Camp Edwards for four years.  At the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Eric’s unit, the 110th Maintenance Company, was deployed to Talil, Iraq in 2003, where he served as the Base Maintenance platoon leader.  Eric was the Company Executive Officer for the 721st Maintenance Company before transitioning to the U.S. Army Reserves, where he soon took command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 719th Transportation Battalion.  Eric’s company then deployed to Balad, Iraq under the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command. Eric was a graduate of Suffolk University Law School where he earned a Juris Doctor in Law in 2005, Northeastern University where he earned an MPA in Public Administration in 2007, and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts where he earned a BA in History in 1992.  Eric was also a graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College, the Joint Operations Planning and Execution Course, the Captain’s Career Course and the Ordnance Officer Basic Course.

Lovelle Seymore

United States Air Force

Lovelle Seymore is a United States Air Force Veteran. Lovelle studied languages and economics in Argentina, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Egypt. She served two tours of duty at Hanscom Air Force Base. There, she was a protocol specialist for NATO programs for 2 years, then served as an Information Manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory. After her military service, she served as a government contractor and Senior Information Analyst for 10 years. Feeling a call to serve veterans in education, Lovelle was hired as an instructor, recruiter, and advisor to the Veterans Upward Bound Program. In 2017, she was promoted to the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions for military and veteran students. She has served as the Veterans Resource Coordinator in the Office of Veterans Affairs for the last four years. She earned her BA in Philosophy at UMASS, completed her Masters Degree in Education Administration at UMASS, and is a Candidate for the Higher Education Administration PhD program.

Mary-Dith Tuitt

United States Navy

Mary-Dith E. Tuitt was born on the island of Montserrat and emigrated to join her parents at a young age with her brothers. She attended Boston Public Schools, graduated from Boston Technical High School in 1985, and entered the United States Navy. Marydith served fourteen (14) years as a Navy jet mechanic on active and reserve duty.  Marydith served as Chief Legislative Aide for State Representative Gloria L. Fox (for 10+ years); she has worked as Constituent Services Coordinator for Boston City Councilor Charles Yancey, providing support to the underserved communities of Boston, and has worked on various political campaigns—former Program Manager of the Veterans Outreach Center, a program of Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center.

Over the years, Marydith has always been involved and vested in her community.  She has been active with organizations and groups that focus on Veteran and Women Issues; presently serves as President of the National Association of Commissions for Women, Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, Vice President of Suffrage 100MA Board,  a member of the MA Women Veterans Network steering committee, Commander of the Wm E. Carter American Legion Post 16, a member of the Organization of African American Veterans, Holyoke Soldiers' Home Reconstruction - Access, Inclusion and Diversity Committee (appointed by Governor Baker), and Public Relations for Montserrat Progressive Society of Boston and board member of Fair Foods Boston. Mary is a proud mother, sister, grandmother and aunt. A life-long believer in “giving back to the community,” #positiveimpact, Mary uses her many skills to enrich, enhance, and empower those around her.

Lt. Col. Diontanese Monroe

United States Army

Lt. Col. Diontanese Monroe is a native of Columbus, Georgia. She attended Shaw High School and graduated from Columbus State University in 2004. Upon enlisting in the Army, she attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and was commissioned through the Army’s Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 2005. Her civilian education includes a bachelor of science in computer science and a master’s in business administration from Webster University.

Monroe currently serves as the New England Recruiting Battalion Commander. She is directly involved in conducting recruitment operations to enlist the highest-qualified men and women into the Active Army and the U.S. Army Reserve. This will sustain a professional, all-volunteer force that will ensure the security and readiness of our nation. Her awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal – 2OLC, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal – 2OLCs, the Army Achievement Medal – 1OLC, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Service Medal. She is also a recipient of the Army Signal Regiment’s Bronze Order of Mercury