--- title: "‘This Is Us’ honors fallen heroes in final season" date: "2022-03-20" modified: "2022-03-22" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/this-is-us-honors-fallen-heroes-in-final-season/" categories: - "Entertainment" - "Movies and TV" --- # ‘This Is Us’ honors fallen heroes in final season ![Three people are standing outdoors in a casual setting. One person, seen from the back, wears a blue checkered shirt. Another person in the center wears a gray hoodie under brown overalls and holds a wooden stick. The third person, on the right, wears a gray jacket over a green shirt and holds a small red notebook. Trees and a concrete wall are visible in the background.]() *This Is Us* has gone above and beyond to respect veterans throughout its six-season run — from telling Vietnam War and [post-9/11 storylines]() to featuring veterans in front of and [behind the camera](). Their final season is no different. It started at the top. Series creator Dan Fogelman led the way by opening his door to military storytellers, including hiring Vietnam War Veteran and author Tim O’Brien as a consultant during season three. O’Brien, a draftee himself, wrote the seminal Vietnam war story, 1990’s *The Things They Carried*. In season four, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran James LaPorta was invited to consult on post-9/11 experiences — the good at the bad — and he has remained part of the *This Is Us* family ever since. https://twitter.com/JimLaPorta/status/1503916003897581573?s=20&t=wese_OgJruzXswOfga9ybg Series lead (and occasional director) Milo Ventimiglia is the son of a Vietnam War veteran — and a champion of the military community. He has advocated for the GWOT Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., performed in USO tours across the world, and helped raise awareness about high veteran suicide rates. As a director, he leads from the front, going above and beyond to tell authentic military stories. As a consultant to the writers room, LaPorta was given the chance to honor his own experiences through the character of Cassidy, a combat veteran played by Jennifer Morrison. But they’ve gone a step further and named two characters in honor of LaPorta’s fallen friends. https://twitter.com/JimLaPorta/status/1503901549478699008?s=20&t=wese_OgJruzXswOfga9ybg Not only that, the *This Is Us* casting team, lead by Josh Einsohn, took the time to invite real military veterans who are now pursuing professional acting careers to audition. The roles went to U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Hiram A. Murray, who plays a character named for Staff Sergeant Scott R. Studenmund, and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Tatiana Zappardino, who plays a character named for Sgt. Chris Gross. There are a lot of shows about military life. They don’t always connect with real veterans like this — but I think I can speak for all of us when I say we are sure grateful when they do. You can watch the final season of *This Is Us* on NBC Tuesday nights. ## Author Shannon Corbeil has worked for We Are The Mighty as a digital video producer, writer, and host, as well as a staff writer covering military history, trivia, and valor. Shannon is a fierce veteran advocate, covering the achievements of members of the military community and volunteering in multiple veteran non-profit organizations, including Pin-Ups for Vets and Warriors for Peace Theatre. Her undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy and her Masters is in Strategic Intelligence. A screenwriter and actor recently seen on SEAL TEAM and THE ROOKIE, Shannon writes about exciting projects in the entertainment industry. She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()