Thompson Veteran of the Month - June 2026

United States Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Jason A. Chin of North Grosvenordale, CT has been selected by the nominating committee to be recognized and honored as the June 2026 Veteran of the Month for the Town of Thompson. Jason becomes the first Army National Guardsman to be selected for our monthly award and recognition.

Jason was born in Framingham, Massachusetts in June of 1978. He began his 20-year military career in 2005 by deploying to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to complete his Basic Training as a combat engineer. In those ensuing 20 years, Staff Sergeant Chin was ordered to active-duty numerous times. On two separate overseas tours, Sargent Chin was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraq Freedom. He served in a designated “imminent danger area” for a one-year period, patrolling the roadside for cleansing of undetonated bombs from the Kuwait Seaport all the way into Iraq. Sargent Chin later reclassified as 88M, a motor transport operator and joined a transportation battalion. Jason then reclassified as 11B Infantryman where he deployed to Syria as part of base defense and security and spent approximately 9 long, dangerous months.

Stateside, Sargent Chin’s National Guard Unit was often activated for various state emergencies when the Governor needed urgent manpower for various duties and acts of God. Jason mentioned that some of those call-ups were for a number of major snowstorms, numerous Covid related issues that needed military assistance, and providing security for major state and national events. One such event was the security that the Army National Guard unit provided for the annual Boston Marathon. Sargent Chin and many other National Guard personnel were on scene during that horrific Boston Marathon Massacre event of April 15, 2013.

For Staff Sergeant Chin’s extraordinary and courageous 20 year service to the Military, he was awarded the following decorations: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal twice ,the Army achievement Medal 3 times, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement 5 times, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Non Commissioned Officer Professional Ribbon Second Award, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device second award, the Combat Action Badge, and the Driver and Mechanic Badge. As a result of his heroic actions and injuries incurred during his active duties, Sargent Jason A. Chin is designated as a 100% Disabled American Veteran.

Jason has volunteered as a suicide prevention officer for the United States Army for 18 years. He is a lifetime member of the North Andover Veterans of Foreign Wars. Jason has three children Bryant, Caden and Harper.

Please join me in saying “thank you for your service to our country from a very grateful community.”