Can you tell me about your early life and what led you to join the Marine Corps?
I was born and raised in a small town in southeastern Ohio. Many would see it as the middle of nowhere, considering I lived 30 minutes from my high school, but my family sees it as rural solitude. I remember home being a place of sanctuary, a place where I grew up peacefully without really understanding the costs of that peace and freedom – a place forever etched in my heart as golden.
This rural upbringing instilled in me a deep sense of patriotism, as did a long lineage of military service that included both of my grandfathers serving in the Army during WWII. They were part of my decision to volunteer for service in the United States Marines, but there were other reasons, too: the rationale that someone in my immediate family should serve in the military; the actions of 9/11. Even after college acceptance letters started to arrive, my heart and gut were still drawn to the desire to be larger than self, to serve a cause and stand among the few: the Marines.
Can you tell about your military experience (Deployments, M.O.S., etc.?)
When I joined the Marines, I was required to have a contract 0311 (infantry rifleman) MOS before I signed; most have an open 03-- contract. I wanted a fast track to a combat deployment, which was something I felt compelled to do given that my family had served in nearly every American war. Looking back, I’ll admit I had an immature understanding of the hell of war. I served in Iraq in 2007-08, then again in 2009 before my transition and reintegration back into the civilian sector in March 2012.
What was the best part about leading Marines?
The best part, whether on the battlefield or in training, was the exhilarating feeling of knowing you can maneuver swiftly with or without verbal communication. I attribute this to the small unit leadership in the Marines, where as a young man in my 20s I got to mold young Marines and Navy Corpsman to be their selfless best. You break their spirit so they know what it’s like on the bottom, then lift their spirit as you teach them to control and manipulate their emotions, building sheer confidence in themselves and their fellow brothers. This teaches one the importance of having a life greater than one’s self. I was afforded the opportunity to mold Marines into chiseled works of art both physically and mentally – a gift I will cherish for eternity. I’ll be forever grateful to the United States Marines for this chapter in my life.
What was, or continues to be, the most difficult part of your recovery?
The most difficult part was something I notice I didn’t struggle with alone: the transition back into the civilian sector and my community.
Photo Credit: http://www.hqmc.marines.mil/
At first, I couldn’t pinpoint the funk I was in; I was bottling up my emotions, because that’s what service members are good at. We learn to turn this switch on that simultaneously turns a number of other switches off. The struggle is learning to turn those switches back on and keeping them in a normal cycle so you can begin to process your emotions in a constructive manner.
I can remember this constant replay of “never show weakness” in my mind, as if I were still on active duty deployed in a combat zone. It’s not that I was showing weakness, I just failed to recognize and process what I was feeling. My days felt broken with an unexplainable emptiness. Sometime later, I realized that the emptiness was the loss of the brotherhood, the unit cohesion.
When you eat, sleep and breathe all things military, it becomes a part of your being. You build a family and connection that can only be felt when you’re among your brothers. I came to realize this after being involved more with the Semper Fi Fund’s sports program, Team Semper Fi. I reconnected with fellow veterans after some distance from anything military.
At various events with the Semper Fi Fund, I realized we were all sharing similar feelings. Each of us overcame this process in time, and I can say from firsthand experience that recovery through sport remains a successful way to reintegrate back into our communities –a way for us to find common ground for conversation and growth in our new chapters.
Team Semper Fi remains an avenue for growth in my life and in the lives of many other service members I meet. Being physically active isn’t for everyone, though, so I encourage any veteran transitioning to challenge themselves to find an organization that can help. I remain biased toward the Semper Fi Fund, given all their areas of assistance from bedside to apprenticeship programs, but don’t limit yourself if your passion lies elsewhere. The goal should be putting yourself back in a place where you may be a little uncomfortable, but you’re also set up to succeed – and to share your knowledge with the civilian population.
Photo Credit: commons.wikimedia.org
What inspired you to start training to be a triathlete?
It came from my recreational therapist while I was recovering from shoulder surgery. Since my arm was in a sling for weeks, I had no choice but to walk in water for physical activity (because I was still on active duty, I needed to remain as physically fit as possible).
As my range of motion progressed during physical therapy, so did my activities in the water. Walking turned to jogging, then joggling progressed to running on the water treadmill and other water-resistance drills. I was eventually cleared to attempt the breast stroke. My recreational therapist taught me to properly swim again, which led to a two-mile open ocean swim (after a test run in the pool and clearance by the doctors).
Success with the breast stroke technique led me to the next phase: freestyle. I struggled a lot with freestyle, given my range of motion issues, but I continued to train. One day, my recreational therapist asked me if I wanted to participate in an upcoming local triathlon. Knowing I just started riding a bike and running again, she and the doctors felt I was ready. I made that commitment, finishing the triathlon third in my division (novice). At that moment, I was hooked!
Additionally, and most importantly, during that race I felt like I was racing, living for and honoring my team leader, who was KIA in Iraq. Competing and finishing that race felt like James’ way of telling me he didn’t want me to dwell on his death, but to live for him, so that’s what I have set out to do: racing and living life as remembrance for James and those brothers and sisters we have lost.
For those who don’t know, what is the Semper Fi Fund and what is your job there?
The Semper Fi Fund is a veteran nonprofit that provides urgently needed resources and lifetime support for combat wounded, critically ill and catastrophically injured members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. I hold the position of Senior Manager of Communications at the Semper Fi Fund, which like many nonprofits can mean filling many roles as needed, but most importantly from day to day I ensure and provide proper communication of the Semper Fi Fund ‘s brand both internally and externally, while also ensuring we are the best stewards of donors’ dollars.
What has been your proudest moment working at the Semper Fi Fund?
My proudest moment takes place every day: It’s having the distinct honor of being a part of, seeing, hearing, and/or reading the impact we as an organization are having on service members and their families, many of whom are friends or brothers I served alongside. I remain humbled by the generosity of Americans to ensure we take care of the men and women of our military and their families.
What is Mission Memorial Day?
Mission Memorial Day is an advocacy group founded in 2015 when myself and three veterans wanted to publicly address the need for Americans to understand the true meaning of Memorial Day. A day we should positively reflect on the men and women who have selflessly protected our freedoms and liberties through their sacrifices.
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