The Valor Story

Valor: The Heroic Story of Specialist John George Borbonus

Honoring the courageous American spirit, Valor Classical Academy is named in recognition of Army Specialist John Borbonus, who gave his life in Baghdad, Iraq, while serving his country in 2007. Specialist Borbonus was posthumously awarded the Silver Star—the nation’s third-highest military decoration for heroism in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded for a singular act of valor. Valor Classical Academy’s emblem is modeled after this medal. The overall aesthetic is simple yet powerful, reflecting the virtues and excellence that the academy strives to instill in its students.

John Borbonus was a native of Idaho and a 2005 graduate of Boise High School. Valor Classical Academy will be built on land once owned by John’s father, Hans Borbonus, where John spent time in his youth playing on his family’s sod farm. We are deeply honored and proud to carry on his legacy as we aim to instill in the next generation of Americans the virtues that John so heroically embodied. 

John gave his life just one month shy of his 20th birthday on April 12, 2007, while serving with Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom. On that fateful day, an insurgent suicide truck bomber launched an attack aimed at breaching Specialist Borbonus’s patrol base. The truck was laden with 500 to 600 pounds of homemade explosives, which posed a massive threat to the lives of those inside the patrol base. Demonstrating unparalleled courage and selflessness, Specialist Borbonus manned his machine gun and unleashed a relentless stream of fire, successfully neutralizing the driver and diverting the vehicle away from the base entrance. His heroic efforts prevented what could have been a catastrophic explosion, although the truck detonated upon breaching the perimeter, resulting in the loss of his own life. Specialist Borbonus’s self-sacrificial actions not only saved countless lives but also exemplified the highest ideals of service and courage.

It is with great honor that we share the story of the extraordinary bravery of Specialist John Borbonus. Valor Classical Academy will be built on a field that once grew grass. Now, that same field will help grow American citizens inspired by the stories of remarkable individuals like John.