Bay Area veteran hopes to create opportunities for fellow vets in wine industry

LIVERMORE, Calif. (KGO) -- In the highly competitive wine industry, a group of veterans are trying to make a difference, not just for wine drinkers, but for each other.

There's a party happening in Livermore for the 239th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. And a group of Marine vets are drinking a toast, especially combat veteran Josh Laine who served in Iraq. When he left the service, he headed home to open a winery. Laine said he didn't know anything about making wine.

"I didn't know you had to have a license to start a business. You know the Marine Corps didn't teach us that," he said.

But he learned the ropes and in 2007 he started growing grapes and opened Valor Winery, based on the same motto he learned in the Marines, honor, courage and bravery. Still, he needed help and turned to his fellow veterans, some who needed a hand themselves.

Vietnam veteran Bill Halverson shared Laine's vision and now works on the bottling line.

"When you know that you have a facility and someone like Josh who's got a heart for it, it's outstanding," Halverson said.

Halverson is now one of 60 empowered vets working for Valor and its new beer label -- Uncle Sam's Misguided Brewery. Both labels are only sold online, but not for long.

Laine's dream is to open a brewhouse in downtown Livermore with wines by the glass and beer on tap.

"I would really like to see more veterans become entrepreneurs and help lead and set a positive example for our community," Laine said.

Laine's hometown dream is to create more jobs and opportunities for veterans who may one day pay it forward.