By MOAA Staff

Tonya Star, a tireless advocate on behalf of combat-injured veterans and the legislation bearing the name of her late husband, passed away Aug. 12 at her home in Euless, Texas. She was 51.

Star’s husband, Maj. Richard Star, USAR, was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic terminal lung cancer in 2018. She immediately put personal ambitions aside as she was “thrust into becoming a full-time caregiver, advocate, and lung cancer researcher,” she wrote in a 2020 MOAA.org article.

Maj. Richard Star succumbed to his illness in February 2021. Tonya Star remained an active participant in ongoing advocacy work for the Major Richard Star Act, which would end a compensation offset faced by tens of thousands of combat-injured retirees.

“You could not ask for a better ally in this fight,” said Lt. Col. Mark Belinsky, USA (Ret), MOAA’s director of Government Relations for Currently Serving and Retired Affairs. “Tonya’s presence motivated all of us to continue our work on the Hill, on the phone, anywhere we thought we could make a difference. Her work, both alongside her husband and after his passing, made our progress on this bill possible.”

Maj. Richard Star, USAR, holds his wife Tonya's hand as he speaks at a 2020 press conference in Washington, D.C., in support of the Major Richard Star Act. (Jennifer Milbrett for MOAA)

Tonya’s mother, Sherrie Day, a surviving spouse and MOAA member, said her daughter brought “charisma” to Capitol Hill and was “in her element” as a veteran advocate.

“She was happiest when she was involved with getting the Star Act passed and talking with people,” Day said. “She felt that she had promised Rich she would work hard to see the Star Act passed and that she was fulfilling a promise to him.”

Other lawmakers and advocates, many of whom worked for years alongside Tonya and Richard Star on behalf of the Star Act, shared similar memories:

“Tonya was a steadfast advocate for combat-wounded veterans. She never wavered in carrying forth her husband’s legacy. She was my friend, and I am deeply saddened to learn of her passing. I will not give up pressing for passage of the Major Richard Star Act to honor her and her husband,” said Sen. Mike Crapo, (R-Idaho).

“Sharla and I are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Tonya Star. Tonya was a steadfast spouse and advocate, and caretaker to her husband, Major Richard A. Star — a decorated war veteran. It was a great honor to work alongside Tonya and Richard to draft the Major Richard Star Act and fight to fix an injustice preventing combat-injured veterans and families like theirs from receiving their full military benefits. I’m keeping the entire Star family in my prayers, and will keep fighting for Tonya by working to pass the Major Richard Star Act into law,” said Sen. Jon Tester, (D-Mont.).

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Tonya Star. She was a beacon of inspiration, tirelessly championing the Major Richard Star Act. Her advocacy for those affected by toxic exposure has left a lasting legacy within the veteran community,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.).

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of my friend, Tonya Star. I was inspired by the way in which Tonya honored the legacy of her husband, Maj. Richard Star, always fighting tenaciously on behalf of all combat wounded Veterans. My thoughts and prayers are with their family during this difficult time,” said Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.). “My colleagues and I will not rest until we rectify the injustice of concurrent receipt for medically retired combat veterans by getting the Major Richard Star Act signed into law.” 

Maj. Richard Star and his wife Tonya. (Courtesy photo)

Tonya Star began her advocacy work while providing care to her ill husband.

“This [bill] means so much to me, to all the caregivers — the wives, the moms, the sisters, the aunts — that have loved ones come back from serving overseas and have an injury or illness,” Tonya Star said at a 2020 press conference alongside her husband. “They are thrown into a role that they didn’t apply for and they don’t get paid for. But they wouldn’t let anybody else do it.”

[VIDEO INTERVIEW: Maj. Richard Star, USAR, and Tonya Star (2020)]

Day said funeral arrangements are pending but her daughter’s wishes were to be buried alongside her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.