Congressman Eric Sorensen has invited local veteran Leo “Doc” Kaalberg as his guest for the President’s State of the Union Address to Congress on Thursday, March 7. Kaalberg served as a combat medic in the 1^st Infantry Division, completing four tours and earning the Purple Heart twice. 

“As a trusted voice for the people of Central and Northwestern Illinois, it is my responsibility to make sure that my neighbor’s stories are heard here in Washington,” said Sorensen. “I am excited to have Leo join me as my guest to this year’s State of the Union Address, where he gets the chance to represent our veterans in Central and Northwestern Illinois and across the country. It is so important that we understand Leo’s story of courage and sacrifice, and I am honored to highlight his service to a grateful nation.”  

Leo ‘Doc’ Kaalberg

“Right now, what the world needs most, is story tellers and leaders,” said local veteran Leo “Doc” Kaalberg. “Leaders to show us the way forward with strength, and story tellers to remind us of where we came from and where we’ve been.”  

Raised in the heart of the Illinois Quad Cities, Leo is a 25-year married Midwest father of four with a deep-rooted pride in his third-generation military legacy. As a combat medic in the 1^st Infantry Division, Leo has weathered four tours and earned the Purple Heart twice, a testament to the unwavering commitment and sacrifice of what military service means to him. Transitioning from the battlefield, Leo has found solace in supporting his local community, channeling his experiences into advocacy. Through writing restaurant and small business reviews, as well as engaging on social media, Leo aims to foster connections and understanding while shedding light on the realities of PTSD and bridging the gap between our veteran and civilian communities. 

The State of the Union Address will highlight the historic achievements the Administration has delivered and share an optimistic vision of our nation’s future to lower costs, grow the middle class, make all our communities safer, and defend our fundamental freedoms. 

Please leave this field empty

Free Breaking News
Alerts & Daily Digest
In Your Inbox!

Check your inbox to confirm your subscription.

Sean Leary Director of Digital Media

Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.