Dragons Veteran Salute Program to Honor Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum on May 19

DAYTON, Ohio - CareSource Military & Veterans™ and the Dayton Dragons will host United States Army veteran Rhonda Cornum during the Veteran Salute Program presented by CareSource Military & Veterans™ on Sunday, May 19 at 1:05PM when the Dragons take on the Great Lakes Loons at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. Sunday will be the first Veteran Salute of the 2024 season.

The Dragons Veteran Salute Program presented by CareSource Military & Veterans™ provides veterans in the Dayton region with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate their service to our country. Each honoree’s story is shared in front of the crowd at Day Air Ballpark, followed by a standing ovation in appreciation of the veteran's hard work and dedication both in military and civilian accomplishments.

Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum’s Story

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum earned her doctorate in biochemistry and nutrition from Cornell University where she was a surgeon, board certified in urology. After her training, she attended the Uniformed Services University, the national military medical school, where she met her husband who was serving in the United States Air Force.

In 1991, then-Major Cornum was a flight surgeon working on a search and rescue mission when the Black Hawk Helicopter she was on was shot down by the enemy. Cornum suffered numerous injuries, including two broken arms, a broken finger, and gunshot wound to the back. Cornum, along with only two other survivors in the incident, were captured and became prisoners of war. They were released after one week through prisoner exchange.

Cornum’s mindset that got her through imprisonment was “fix what you can, and then work hard to make what you can’t fix as good as you can.”

Cornum has always been resilient. She attributes the skill to her parents, who taught her resiliency at an early age. Cornum’s grandfather, a marine in World War II, instilled in her the importance of pride and honor. He told Cornum “there are worse things than dying, there is living with dishonor.”

When the War on Terrorism began, Cornum recognized the need for mental health promotion. The military focuses on physical fitness. Cornum advocated to focus on mental fitness just the same. She helped start the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness initiative as the director for the Army focusing on the recognition that “it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you think about what happens to you that leads to the consequences, it leads to your emotions or your behavior.”

Cornum retired from the Army in 2012 as Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum. Throughout her career, she received many military honors, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Purple Heart.

Cornum now serves as Chief Medical Officer of 49 North and TechWerks. She has helped train thousands of people, including members of the U.S. Air Force, Customs and Border Protection, state of South Australia, and more. In her free time, Cornum enjoys showing dogs in field trials, farming, canning and preserving food, and spending time with her daughter, Regan.

To nominate a veteran in your life for the Veteran Salute Program presented by CareSource Military & Veterans™, visit daytondragons.com/veteransalute.