Volume 5
Issue 9
May 2025
View our recent Purple Heart Artery - The Department of Arizona's - MOPH - Newsletter.
Department Commander, Cody Phipps
I am honored to serve as your new Commander for the Department of Arizona. First, I'd like to say congratulations to National Adjutant Keith Gray. Thank you for 3 years of leadership, and so many more of service and sacrifice for our nation and its Veterans. Best of luck in your new role, I will do my best to keep driving the mission forward at the Department level. Thank you for representing Arizona Veterans with pride.
I served 8 years as a 13B Field Artilleryman in the US Army. After training I served in Korea at Camp Casey for 2 years driving and gunning on Paladin self-propelled howitzers. I took a permanent change of station to Germany where we trained up and deployed to Afghanistan. Our unit was tasked as part of an Infantry Brigade Combat Team, so they took our big guns away and gave us rifles and trucks. I was wounded in an IED blast on a foot patrol through the local village. I re-enlisted there to go airborne and serve as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft Bragg, NC. I separated from service in 2015 to pursue a business degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. My family moved to Marana, Arizona about 3 years ago and we love it here. Chapter 442 Tucson took me in as a stray and put me to work. I am also proud an honored to serve as the Chapter 442 Commander.
Together we are going to accomplish great things for Veterans and their families in Arizona. We are going to do what we all have always done - drive on with the mission. We are going to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded Veterans. We are going to support the necessary legislative initiatives. We are going to MOST IMPORTANTLY, provide service to all Veterans and their families.
We are going to make sure our fallen are honored throughout the year. As we approach Memorial Day, we remember those we lost on the battlefield and off, those we lost after we came home, and those we have lost in the years since. We reflect on their courage and sacrifice. We make sure they are never forgotten. This is what the Purple Heart Medal represents to me.
We are going to focus on preventing Veteran suicide. This is very personal to me and to many of you patriots. We want the Department of Arizona to be in that environment of goodwill and camaraderie that you need on the dark days. We will continue to explore programs, training, and partnerships with other organizations who are also trying to combat this tragic problem facing our warriors. Preventing “Veteran Suicide” is my motivation for serving.
We are going to prevent and assist with Veteran Homelessness. By supporting organizations around Arizona, we are going to get our brothers and sisters out of the desert and into the treatment and resources they need to heal. We're going to feed them, cloth them, get their children’s school supplies, and provide addiction resources and employment counseling. We're going to do whatever it takes because that's what we do. All the way.
We as a department exist to amplify what the chapters are doing and assist in your mission. Please get involved, speak up, voice your ideas and let us know what you need. There are some department positions vacant, if you're interested in serving, please speak up.
Finally, I want to say thank you. To Jon Lunkwickz, the late State Commander of TX who got me involved with MOPH. To John Moore for nominating me, keeping the chapter organized and serving tirelessly at both the
chapter and department levels. To Larry Leighton, for squaring me away and giving me the confidence to push myself into new challenges. To all past Commanders and Officers, volunteers, associate members, and the Combat Wounded Heroes who continue to serve every day, Thank you!
Yours in Patriotism,
Cody Phipps
Department of Arizona Commander
Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA Inc.
UNIFORMED SERVICES IN ACTION 2026 CALENDAR: Uniformed Services In Action 2026 Calendar
The Department’s Uniformed Services In Action 2026 Calendar is on sale now (early bird discount until June 1st)! For only $50, you get a great looking calendar AND 55 opportunities to win one and maybe more Scheels $300 Gift Cards. Click Here to Order.
Help make this year’s fundraiser a success by 1) buying at least one calendar for yourself and one for gift, 2) spread the imvitation to your family and friends, and 3) share the Sponsor Request Letter with the businesses you frequent (and even those you don’t). Don’t be afraid to ask – you never know they might say YES.
Previous Version of the Purple Heart Artery
Department of Arizona's Newsletter
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We’re always looking for, and interested in new content for the newsletters. We love sharing what our members are doing! Whether it’s getting together, helping their communities, and fulfilling the objects of The Order. Submit your contribution's to your chapter commander.
Not sure what to contribute? Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Commander’s Corner
- Chapter activity
- Well-being of the chapter and members
- Paying tribute to a recently departed member
- Photos of members
- Recipes
- Upcoming events
- Fundraisers
- Anything that you may consider to be for the good of The Order
