This Veterans Day, we’re reminded of the commitment and dedication put forward by the men and women who gave everything to make our country the greatest.
Veterans Day is a day for honoring the men and women who have served our country — men and women who have made sacrifices for our freedom and protection. At American Locker, we value the contributions of great Americans and celebrate them as our inspiration.
And because we hold American Ingenuity in such high regard, it comes as no surprise to us that, beyond serving our country, many American veterans have another specialty: invention. As it happens, there are a multitude of American veteran inventors who have changed the world with their ideas.
As a reminder to us all of the importance of innovation and in honor of Veterans Day, we’re highlighting some of those ingenious and brilliant American veteran inventors who have changed the world with their dreams and hard work.
John Goodenough In WWII, John Goodenough was a meteorologist, but he’s also the man responsible for the lithium-ion battery. That’s the same battery that powers our cell phones, laptops, digital cameras, and more. That’s the same battery that we help to recharge today in our Charging Lockers. Way to go, Goodenough!
Wilson Greatbatch Wilson Greatbatch was a military radioman who served during World War II. After military service, he attended Cornell University (as part of the GI Bill), became an American engineer, and invented the implantable cardiac pacemaker. Greatbatch is responsible for saving three million hearts around the world.
Norman Woodland Working as a technical assistant for the Manhattan Project, Norman Woodland was a member of the Army Air Corps. However, what he is most known for is being the inventor of the barcode. That’s the very same bar code that’s read by a scanner every day at grocery stores and retailers everywhere.
Gary Walters U.S. Army Sergeant Gary Walters is responsible for creating the prosthesis cooling system. Walters, alongside a team of eight others, created Leto Solutions to discover a remedy for uncomfortable prosthetics. Together they invented the Aquilonix Prosthesis Cooling System, which helps to cool and dry the way a prosthesis fits so it stays comfortable.
George Westinghouse You’ve probably heard of George Westinghouse and the Westinghouse Electric Company. But did you know that before becoming an inventor, Westinghouse served in the Union Army from 1862-1863 before joining the Union Navy as an engineer? His invention of AC power has helped power the machinery we use for nearly everything we make.
Laurens Hammond A World War I veteran inventor, Laurens Hammond is responsible for the creation and manufacturing of the first electric organ in 1935. His device was an alternative to expensive, wind-driven pipe organs. His organ was made famous when Jimmy Smith, a legendary jazz musician, used the Hammond organ as his iconic instrument.
Of course, we’re not surprised by the amazing accomplishments of these American veterans. Our country has always been driven forward by the inspiration and accomplishments of people with vision and tenacity. It’s those qualities that we honor in our veterans, and it’s those same qualities that we celebrate every day when we go to work at American Locker.