Edward Vick Edward H . Vick is a former Naval officer , businessman and volunteer worker for veteran ' causes . He served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War and received two Bronze Star Medals with Combat “ V ” , the Combat Action Ribbon , the Presidential Unit Citation and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry . His business career was spent in the marketing communications business , including most recently , the chairmanship of Young & Rubicam Advertising and its parent , Young & Rubicam Inc . Vick has also been active in veterans ’ causes and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vietnam Veterans of America for his volunteer work . Biography . A native of Philadelphia , Vick attended Episcopal Academy in Merion , Pennsylvania . He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Northwestern University , Illinois , with Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees . He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at UNC . A Naval officer prior to commencing his business career , Vick served two tours of duty in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War . His first in 1967 was as a Division Officer aboard the ammunition ship USS Mauna Loa ( AE - 8 ) off the coast of Vietnam . In 1968 Vick volunteered to return to Vietnam with the Navy ’ s River Patrol Force . Serving with several different River Divisions at the height of the war in 1969 , he led over 100 combat missions throughout Vietnam ’ s Mekong Delta and along the Cambodia n border . He was awarded Bronze Star Medals with Combat “ V ” , the Combat Action Ribbon , the Presidential Unit Citation and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and other decorations . In 2003 , he published the historical novel " Slingshot " based on his experiences during the war . Thomas Corey , past president of Vietnam Veterans of America called the book , " " A graphic and compelling picture of Vietnam ’ s warriors . A picture that today , more than ever , people need to understand and appreciate . " " After service , Vick worked in the marketing communications business for 30 years , spending nearly half of that in Chairman , CEO or COO positions . He held one or more of these top roles at Ammirati & Puris , Landor , Young & Rubicam New York , Young & Rubicam Advertising and Young & Rubicam Inc . and was chairman of both Young & Rubicam Advertising and its parent , Young & Rubicam Inc . During Vick ’ s tenure , Young & Rubicam won numerous creative awards and was named " Agency of the Year " on several occasions . He retired in 2001 . Vick was active in veterans ’ causes . He first served on the Board of the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program , a mentoring effort undertaking in New York in the early 1980s . New York Mayor Ed Koch appointed him to the Board of the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission . Vietnam Veterans of America bestowed its Lifetime Achievement Award on him for his work in support of that organization ’ s goals . He was involved in furthering the causes of veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts through both Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America ( IAVA ) and the political action committee VoteVets . Beyond veterans ’ causes , he served on a number of other boards including The American Foundation for Aids Research , the United Negro College Fund , The Advertising Education Foundation , and The American Association of Advertising Agencies . He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations , the Union League , Merion Golf Club and The Ends of the Earth Society .