I was born and raised in the area and graduated from Spring Lake High School in 2004. I recently married my wife, Adrienne, and together we’re raising our son Hunter (11) and stepdaughter Eleanor (10) in Grand Haven. Both of my parents, Brenda and Terry, served in the United States Air Force, and they live in the Muskegon area. My sister Amber, her husband Lance, and their son Jax also live nearby. My in-laws are very active in the Spring Lake community, so our family ties here are strong and deep.

I served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Infantry. I was with C Company, 2-27 Infantry (Wolfhounds), 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Later, I was with B Company, 1-16 Infantry (Iron Rangers), 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas.

I went to basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in October 2005. I was first stationed in Hawaii and deployed to Iraq in August 2006. In September of that year, I was wounded by an IED explosion and spent a year recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. That year included around 16 surgeries.

I rejoined my unit in October 2007 and deployed again to Iraq in 2008. After that, I was reassigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, and in 2010, deployed with the Special Operations Task Force to Afghanistan. Once back, I trained deploying troops at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, and medically retired from the Army in July 2014.

At first, it was all about serving my country. But that changes once you're in the thick of it, when you form unbreakable bonds with the people beside you. You face what seem like impossible situations, but you never let the person next to you down. That kind of trauma-bonding is powerful. It connects veterans long after the uniform comes off.

It also changes how you see life. You stop taking things for granted—especially the small things. I mean, going over three months without a shower because support convoys kept getting blown up... you start appreciating even the most basic comforts.

Let go of your ego. Learn how to be part of a team. Trust others, and earn their trust. That’s everything. I’m now a board member for Lighthouse For Veterans, a nonprofit focused on veteran suicide prevention. Transitioning back to civilian life can be tough. The brotherhood shouldn’t end when your service does—and that's what our organization is here for. We host events, retreats, and support to keep that connection going.

🔗 Lighthouse For Veterans
📞 Veterans Crisis Line / National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988