I became a Marine in 2002. Like many others, I enlisted in the Marine Corps after the World Trade Center fell on Sept.11, 2001. After boot camp and infantry training, I joined the Third Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in October of 2002, and was assigned TAD with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. My first deployment was to Camp Commando Kuwait in January of 2003, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon successfully completing this deployment, I returned to the states in August 2003. After a brief stay in CONUS, assigned to recruiting and training duty, I deployed for the second time in October 2004 to the Soonie Triangle in Iraq with Charlie Co. 3rd LAR. My unit was responsible for the capture of many important enemy prisoners of war. After returning from my second tour in Iraq in April, 2005, I was honorably discharged in 2006 from
the Marine Corps.
After the Marine Corps, I earned an Associates degree in General Education in my home state of Michigan. But while transitioning into college and society, things became difficult and a downward spiral began. After dealing with PTSD, alcoholism, a DUI, and other disabilities, I began my road to recovery. In 2009, I married my wife Melinda and had our first child, a son we named Gage. During my recovery, I discovered the Midwest Marines Foundation FOCUS program, and attended the FOCUS session in June of 2012. MMF is an organization with a mission to help Marines transition from combat to civilian life. As a result of the FOCUS program, sobriety followed and the transition into the person I wanted to be had begun.
I started motivational speaking to student veterans in August, 2012 with another FOCUS alumnus, James Sperry. Shortly thereafter, because of my sobriety, and goals being reached, I returned to the MMF FOCUS program, but this time as a mentor helping other Marines deal with issues similar to my own.
Subsequently, I and three other FOCUS Marines developed The Fight Continues, a 501C non-profit organization to help raise awareness in America about the sacrifices of our veterans. And just as importantly, The Fight Continues will raise the bar of awareness to show the true effects of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We are also endeavoring to get help and assistance with transitioning back into the workforce for our veterans.
I’ve rejoined society. I’m a part the American Legion and VFW 4646 in Lyons, Michigan. James Sperry and I, through The Fight Continues, have undertaken
a monumental task. On Veterans Day, November 11, 2012 we will organize the reading of all the names of our fallen warriors in the recorded history of the United States throughout the country, from coast-to-coast.
I would like to invite all my FOCUS Marine brethren to join in and be a part of the Fight Continues in all that we’re doing this Veterans Day, and our future endeavors. For more information on our immediate project to Honor the Fallen,
and other information on The Fight Continues, check out our web site at…
SemperFi Marines
