Since founding Purple Heart Homes in 2008, John has led the organization to complete more than 650 housing projects in 38 states, providing safe and accessible homes for Veterans nationwide. Drawing on his own military service and combat injuries, he is dedicated to addressing the unique challenges Veterans face, especially those often overlooked.
John co-authored "Wounded Homecoming" with his battle buddy, Dale Beatty, sharing their story of resilience and hope. Through speaking engagements across the country, he inspires communities to support Veterans and emphasizes the importance of connection and service.
This page highlights John’s ongoing work, his personal journey, his book, and the message he shares with audiences everywhere.
John Gallina’s journey is rooted in lived experience and deep understanding. As a Veteran who faced significant injuries during his service, he knows firsthand the challenges many Veterans face, especially those with invisible wounds or from earlier generations.
Leading Purple Heart Homes, John is driven by a mission to do more than provide housing. He strives to build connections, restore dignity, and empower Veterans to reclaim their independence and purpose. For John, listening closely to Veterans’ experiences is the first step toward meaningful change.
“There’s this pride that oftentimes blocks a Veteran from asking for help, but suddenly when you know someone that you’re talking to is a Veteran, it allows you to kind of remove some of those blocks of pride and say, ‘ok, here’s what I’m experiencing,’ and when the person on the receiving end can say, ‘oh yeah, I know all about that,’ and then all of a sudden, you can get to the real issue and solve the problem.”
For John, Purple Heart Homes is more than an organization; it is a community built on respect, understanding, and shared purpose.
John knows that asking for help is often one of the hardest things Veterans face. With his own military background, he brings a unique understanding that helps break down walls of pride and isolation.
The name Purple Heart Homes is more than a label. It represents a promise of trust and connection. John believes it resonates deeply because Veterans recognize the shared commitment behind it.
“It’s a name that presents a trust for Veterans. I think it’s a name that many Veterans can connect to and say, ‘they must be Veterans.’”
Through this name and the work behind it, John fosters genuine bonds within the Veteran community, which make asking for and receiving help easier.
John’s military service ended in 2005, but his commitment to service never stopped. Every day, he leads an organization that brings Veterans together to lift one another up. He also works to create opportunities for Veterans to lead, work, and serve in their communities.
“Veterans are loving and compassionate people that may have a rough protective exterior but when approached in a loving manner can share viable life experiences that can help anybody and can be applicable to any situation,” John said. “And you know, how you treat people matters.”
What sets John apart is not just his vision but his deep belief in the value of every Veteran and the belief that communities are stronger when those Veterans are engaged and empowered. “When our Veterans know that their neighbors appreciate them and they can start sharing those life experiences, our community wins.”
John continues to share his story and message across the country as a speaker, author, and advocate. He challenges others to see Veterans not as a population in need but as a powerful force for good. Through speaking engagements, media appearances, and his book, John encourages individuals, businesses, and entire communities to get involved in meaningful ways.
“Purple Heart Homes is a community-based organization that is simply trying to share God’s love with people and help them live out their lives in a peaceful and pleasant manner,” John said. “There is a place for everyone to get involved and support as a community because we can’t do it alone. There’s too much need.”
We invite you to explore John’s work, his story, and his message, and to find your place in this growing mission. Connect with John Gallina on LinkedIn HERE.
John Gallina speaks to communities, companies, schools, and organizations across the country about service, resilience, leadership, and what it truly means to support our Veterans.
His story challenges audiences to think differently, act boldly, and find ways to serve others in their own lives.
Interested in booking John for an upcoming event? Contact us.
John Gallina and Dale Beatty are co-authors of Wounded Homecoming, a powerful account of their journey through injury healing and hope. The book explores the challenges Veterans face after service and shares the story behind the founding of Purple Heart Homes.
Through Wounded Homecoming, John and Dale aim to inspire understanding and action. Their story is a testament to resilience and a call for communities to rally around those who served.
Purple Heart Homes, Inc. does not and shall not discriminate, when making determinations of whether applicants are eligible for services, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.
Purple Heart Homes endeavors to provide services to and for disabled and honorably discharged Veterans, and will make applicant eligibility decisions on this basis alone.
501[C]3 Non-Profit
Founded by Veterans for Veterans
EIN 26-3516121
