OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Capt. Stephen Petty is no stranger to leadership and service, having served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as a helicopter pilot. He was awarded a vast number of decorations including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart.
His service to others since leaving the military has been equally impressive. He is involved with multiple community organizations, helping veterans and their families navigate the challenges they face after leaving the service. He has certainly earned the designation of being called one of Marion County’s Hometown Heroes.
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, Capt. Steve Petty Day, honoring the man who flew more than 1,000 combat missions, for his service. This recognition, along with Petty’s induction into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame in Tallahassee on Nov. 6, 2025, is one of the many honors of distinction that Petty has received, for a lifetime of service and leadership.
Valor and sacrifice
Marion County Commissioner Craig Curry, the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard, Dr. Matt Cretul, Sr., Marion County’s legislative manager and a number of representatives from Marion County staff were in attendance at the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame induction ceremony, said Petty. A man renowned for his selflessness, Petty was truly humbled by the experience.
“There were about 12 or 15 members of the Honor Guard that were up there, and then there were some other folks from the Hospital District, Curt Bromund (Marion County Hospital District CEO) came up,” said Petty. “It was a wonderful experience. The support was great. We were able to talk a lot about Marion County and the support they gave.”
It was a process, said Petty about the Hall of Fame honor, with the selection committee insisting that the applicants be made aware of what was happening. Those who know Petty, who is renowned for his quiet dignity and integrity, however, say it’s his humility that resonates with those who have had the privilege of interacting with him.
“It was actually almost embarrassing,” said Petty. “It’s much appreciated, but I feel like there are so many others that were working hard, and as much as I appreciated what they were doing, I felt like some of the others should have been selected. That was their decision. I’m extremely honored. Shocked, because they had to tell me the application was going in and gather some background information from me. It was a deep, deep honor.”
Petty joins U.S. Army Col. Craig Ham as the second Marion County resident to be inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. Both men share the additional distinction of being well-known for their community involvement.
Selflessness and service
It wasn’t until after the induction process that Petty realized that the honor was a gift that could allow him to do more by opening new doors to help veterans and advocate for them. Petty recognizes the value of the honor and how it can be beneficial for other veterans moving forward.
“I just sort of assumed there were going to be so many others, and they said that there were about 500 applications, so I didn’t think it was going to happen,” said Petty. “I had very mixed emotions because for so long, I tried to stay so much under the radar believing I could do more. I’m looking at it as something that will allow me, Bob Levinson and the Veterans Resource Center, to make more headway at the state level on our requests for allocation for our cancer programs. All that we’re trying to do is to match that need for the benefit with the benefit that’s available and make sure that our veterans get that result.”
Petty maintains a full schedule, with the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard, his work with Galleri Cancer Screenings, Veterans Resource Center and Veterans Helping Veterans. Petty and Levinson created a website for veterans that had goalposts and signposts for how to get answers to specific questions that proved to be an invaluable resource.
“It wasn’t the answer; it was how to get the answer and where to go to find something,” said Petty.
The reason that Petty and a lot of other veterans in the community are able to do things for their peers is because of the support they receive from Marion County and the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, particularly Craig Curry, Kathy Braynt and Michelle Stone, who’ve opened doors and made opportunities become realities, he said.
“Marion County makes so many of these things available to their citizens that are free, that other counties don’t have,” said Petty. “Part of that is because of the way their attitudes are, and part of it is because of the Hospital District and Curt Bromund’s attitude, in the way they use those dollars because state law says he has to use them for the benefit of Marion County residents only. They have put so many things in place here in Marion County.”
Honor and humility
But if you ask Petty, he’ll tell you he was just doing his job when he was serving in the military.
“I flew with a bunch of guys, we flew all the time, we did these missions that were repetitive, into fire and doing medivacs, doing all these things, and that’s just what we were doing because of the troops on the ground, and we were trying to save and help them,” said Petty. “I just happened to be fortunate enough to be a survivor, and that’s one of the things that I wrestle with all the time. I’m probably a poster boy for PTSD and survivor guilt, and I’ve been fighting that all my life.”
When Petty returned stateside after serving in Vietnam, the reception was less than welcoming, and there were a series of challenges, but he remained focused and kept moving forward.
“It’s wonderful to be acknowledged, but there were so many people who did so many things, and still do,” said Petty. “I was honored to be selected for induction into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame more for what I’ve been able to do to help veterans here now rather than the activities and the awards that I received when I was in the service. I think the things that they were looking at, and what really makes me proud, looking at the work that Bob and I were doing and have been doing, giving it a lot of credibility and acknowledging it.”