Yomari Cruz
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World Again"
"It's Possible
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Wounded Warrior
Yolanda Poullard
Yomari Cruz
In 2010, Yomari Cruz deployed to Afghanistan, proud of her decision to join the Army. “It’s such a good feeling to know that you’re protecting the freedom of the loved ones you’re leaving back home,” says Yomari. But not ten minutes after arriving, the base was attacked, and those good feelings were replaced with intense fear. While Yomari loved her job, the constant attacks, the loss of soldiers, and other traumatic experiences took her to a dark place. Things only got worse after a soldier was caught videotaping her in the shower. As a result, the trust she’d had eroded, and betrayal, fear, and paranoia overwhelmed her. When Yomari medically retired in 2012, post-traumatic stress made her transition difficult. She had severe anger issues, feared public areas, and couldn’t handle conversations with people. Most of her relationships with friends and family disintegrated. “You just lose everyone. No one wants to be around you,” says Yomari. “They don’t understand why you’re different, why you’re so defensive and angry.”
Then a fellow veteran took her to the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) event that changed everything. For the first time in more than three years, she felt comfortable. When she finally let her guard down, she realized there were people who understood what she had gone through — and cared. Since then, she has participated in many WWP events, including Soldier Ride® and Project Odyssey®, which Yomari credits as one of the best experiences she has ever had. “You have a support system, and you become like a close family,” says Yomari. “There are people hugging and patting you on the back. And all of the walls go down. Then, all of a sudden, it became more about how I could make others feel comfortable and support them.”
That revelation has helped Yomari find a new purpose — helping other warriors. She volunteers with WWP as a warrior leader, organizing local events and helping her fellow veterans connect. “Seeing the veterans’ faces at the events and knowing how grateful they are is definitely rewarding,” says Yomari.
Yomari Cruz
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Warriors are the strongest voices for what we do because they know what's possible when we work together. Select a warrior photo to read how they have healed and grown with WWP.
Warrior Stories
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Michael Matthews
Wounded Warrior
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Beth King
Wounded Warrior
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Bill Geiger
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
to be a better husband and a good father"
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Mark Lalli
Wounded Warrior
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Sam Hargrove
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
to live a life as close to normal as possible"
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Antoinette Wallace
Wounded Warrior
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Taniki Richards
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
for me to live a healed life"
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Sergio Alfaro
Wounded Warrior
Danielle Green
Sergio Alfaro
Chris Gordon
Mark Lalli
Sal Gonzalez
Angie Lupe
Sergio Alfaro grew up as one of nine kids in a single-income family. Despite his difficult upbringing, he dreamed of becoming a doctor, and when Sergio learned that the U.S. Army would pay for his college degree, he joined right out of high school. A few years later, Sergio was assigned to a medical unit in Iraq. One day while on guard duty, Sergio’s commander was killed in a mortar attack. Sergio was devastated — not only that someone he cared for was killed, but also that he was out on assignment and couldn’t help provide aid. “I gained a lot of guilt because I felt like I let Captain Tipton down,” says Sergio.
When he returned, Sergio earned acceptance into Harvard Medical School. The pride was overwhelming, but so was his survivor’s guilt. “I thought I didn’t deserve to be there,” says Sergio. When his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) started to boil over, he gave up on his dream of becoming a doctor. “That’s what hurt me the most,” says Sergio. “That was how I was going to honor the sacrifices that many of my brothers made in war, like Captain Tipton. I wanted to make them proud.” Leaving medical school made Sergio feel like a failure; He even plotted suicide.
Thankfully, in 2016 he found Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and the Warrior Care Network®. For Sergio, this was the catalyst he needed to turn his life around, “That was one of the first times where I was vulnerable, especially with how I gave up on the dream of being a doctor,” says Sergio. “I just opened up and found strength in being vulnerable.” Sergio also believes the structure of the Warrior Care Network program was vital to his experience. “They recognize this affects the family,” says Sergio. “They brought in my wife during the program, and she learned so much about PTSD.”
Now Sergio has a new purpose — helping warriors by sharing his experience and leading them through their struggles. “In medical school, they say you don’t learn something until you can teach it to others,” says Sergio. “So helping my fellow warriors is another step in treatment. By teaching others how Wounded Warrior Project has helped me learn to live with PTSD, I’m building upon my recovery.”
Sergio Alfaro
Chris Gordon joined the U.S. Army in 1997. His first duty station was Hohenfels, Germany — and that’s where he was on September 11, 2001. By the time the war began, Chris was assigned to a Stryker armored vehicle unit as an infantry supply sergeant. In 2005, Chris’ unit was on patrol in Tal-Afar, Iraq, finishing up what seemed like a routine search. As his vehicle rolled up to get in line around a mosque, it set off an explosion. The blast launched Chris and another soldier out of the Stryker’s back hatch. “Thank God we had the hatches open,” says Chris. “If they had been closed, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Chris woke up at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, DC. It was then he realized he had lost his right leg and had a permanent titanium rod in his left leg. “Rehab was intense,” says Chris. “At first, you’re in a wheelchair, and eventually, you start gaining back your strength. You have to learn how to get up, use a prosthetic, and walk again.” While at Walter Reed, Chris was introduced to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and was given a backpack full of comfort items. “It showed some appreciation during the toughest time of my life,” says Chris. “People out there still cared what happened, even though they didn’t know me.”
He continued his newfound relationship with WWP through an adaptive sports weekend in San Diego and a ski trip to Colorado. “I got to go to places I had never gone before,” says Chris. “And I learned I was still capable of participating in a lot of different activities.” As a direct result of Chris’ involvement with WWP, he now golfs, rides horses, and spends time with his fellow warriors. “WWP has been a big part of my life since I was injured,” says Chris. “They have provided me with countless unforgettable experiences so I can keep moving in a positive direction, both mentally and physically.”
Chris Gordon
Angie Lupe grew up in a family with a long history of military service. Her uncles and both grandfathers proudly served, and when she became overwhelmed with college, the Army seemed like a natural fit. But just two years after she enlisted, the events of 9/11 changed her reserve unit’s status, and she was deployed to Iraq. As a gunner and medic, which were rare assignments for women then, Angie saw a lot of direct combat.
While still in Iraq she began having blackouts, which got so bad that she had no memory of the missions she had just completed. At one point, a mortar exploded 10 feet from her. “The next thing I remember, I was just lying in a tent, and I was there for a couple of days. I was never the same after that,” Angie says. Between the mortar blast, toxic exposure, and the constant danger involved with being a combat gunner, Angie left Iraq with injuries — both visible and invisible — that will affect her for the rest of her life.
When her post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and neurological problems reached their peak, Angie began to lose hope. At one point, it got so bad that she attempted suicide. Ultimately, she found the help and support she needed when she got involved with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). As a participant in the WWP Independence Program, Angie and her family get assistance designed specifically for the most critically injured warriors. She also credits WWP Adaptive Sports with helping her take a big step forward on her road to recovery. “I’m back doing everything I love to do,” Angie says. “It’s a little different. I have to adapt to do it. But I’m doing it, and it’s possible.”
Angie Lupe
Military service in Mark Lalli’s family goes back to the American Revolution. Both of Mark’s grandfathers served in WWII — and growing up, Mark wanted to be just like them. “It was my dream to follow in their footsteps,” says Mark, and one week after his 17th birthday, he joined the Army. As a Black Hawk helicopter crew chief, it was his job to make sure the aircraft was safe and ready to fly. But on November 8, 2007, he was on someone else’s aircraft when an “unrecoverable malfunction” sent the aircraft into a tailspin before crashing. Eleven warriors were on board, but only five survived.
As a result, Mark suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and over two-dozen broken bones. He still lives with short-term memory loss and some paralysis. “Rehab was painful,” says Mark. “And there were times I wanted to quit. But I believed I owed it to the six warriors who died in the crash to keep trying.” During Mark’s rehab in Tampa, he met an outreach coordinator from Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). “He was an amputee,” says Mark. “He inspired me to believe that anything is still possible. I feel like every time I’m at a Wounded Warrior Project event, I realize, ‘Hey, I can still do this.’” says Mark. “I can get down on the ground to play with my daughters now, too. It helps me see things in a way I hadn’t thought of before.”
When Mark isn’t playing with his twin toddlers, he’s at a horse farm he first visited years ago for a WWP barbecue. That farm has become his new purpose, and through it he’s found solace, met his wife, and helped hundreds of veterans and disabled people in his community. Whenever he meets a new warrior, his message is simple: “Find out what works for you and go with it, and simply stay away from what doesn’t work. Every day is an Alive Day. Keep your mind on those we have lost, and let their memory be your motivation.”
Mark Lalli
Growing up in East Los Angeles, music kept Sal Gonzalez out of trouble. So did his decision to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “That tragedy inspired me to join the military,” says Sal. “The fact that I come from a family of immigrants also made me want to join. I wanted to give back for all this country has given us.” In 2004, while in Ramadi, Iraq, his truck was hit by an improvised explosive device. The blast left Sal with a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and caused him to lose his left leg below the knee. “Losing a leg is tough,” says Sal. “But the invisible wounds — PTSD and the brain injury — were even tougher.”
While in the hospital, Sal received a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) backpack full of comfort items and a promise that if he needed anything, WWP would be there. That gesture meant a lot, and once Sal got out of the hospital, he decided to get more involved. One of his first WWP events was a mental health workshop called Project Odyssey® — and it changed his life. Despite his injury, he was able to rock climb; and it proved he could still do anything he set his mind to. “Wounded Warrior Project helped change my whole mentality,” says Sal. “Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I wanted to thrive. I wanted to live a happy, important, impactful life in memory of the warriors who didn’t make it home.”
With WWP by his side, Sal set out to help as many warriors as possible by sharing his experience and encouraging them to seek help. He also continued playing music — not only to continue his recovery but also to inspire other injured veterans. Sal remains grounded in his passion for helping other warriors, even as his music career hits new highs. His talent has earned him national attention, and in 2020, he released his first extended play, “Heroes”. While many musicians strive to become famous, Sal is happy with his life. “I’m able to support my awesome wife and son by doing something I love,” says Sal. “For most musicians, that’s living the dream.”
Sal Gonzalez
Dr. Bryan Wagner never intended to join the military. But that changed on September 11, 2001.
“I remember sitting in English class when 9/11 happened,” says Bryan. “I was really mad; I just wanted to go there and find the people who were responsible for that tragedy.” He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2006, shortly after graduating high school, and deployed to Iraq a year later with the military police. Bryan was the turret gunner in the lead Humvee on December 18, 2007, when his vehicle was hit by an explosively formed penetrator— a bomb designed to cut through armor. “I looked down, and my right foot was turned 180 degrees backward,” says Bryan. “The Humvee was on fire, all I had was a bottle of water, and I was dumping that on me to try to keep the flames down because I was stuck in the truck.” As a result, Bryan endured 27 surgeries and the amputation of his right leg below the knee.
At the start of what would be two years in rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he was visited by a representative from Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). He was given a backpack and a promise — that no matter what he needed moving forward, WWP would be there to help. The first thing WWP did was bring in warriors who had endured amputations and others who chose to keep their limbs to speak with Bryan. Those conversations with his peers helped Bryan feel comfortable about his decision to amputate.
Then, after he got out of the hospital, WWP was still by his side – “They set me up for success,” says Bryan. He is now a husband and father and is working on an advanced degree in physical therapy.
He’s also passionate about being there for other warriors to provide the same type of support he has benefitted from over the years. “There are guys out there right now facing amputation,” says Bryan. “I want them to know it’s possible to do even more after amputation than you did before.”
Dr. Bryan Wagner
In 1999, Michael Matthews joined the U.S. Army infantry. “There were a lot of fun times, especially being overseas,” says Michael. But the events of 9/11 changed military life for Michael. Three deployments landed him in an active war zone in Iraq, where enemy contact was a daily occurrence. “Whether it was them shooting, just trying to scare us, or a full-fledged ambush — every time we left the compound, we had some kind of contact.” Then one day, Michael filled in for a gunner on a mission in Mosul. The last things he remembers are the vehicle turning a corner, someone up ahead radioing that they were under fire, and a loud bang.
Michael woke up in a hospital in Germany. His jaw was broken and had been wired shut. Severe burns on his back required multiple skin grafts. And he underwent months of painful physical therapy to relearn how to walk and use the right side of his body. In addition, Michael came home with a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. He wouldn’t leave home or talk to anyone other than his family. The happy, calm, and cool Michael had become moody, angry, and aggressive. It was a fellow veteran he ran into who finally got him to attend a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) event.
Since then, he has become very active with WWP. Events like Soldier Ride® and Project Odyssey® gave him the kind of camaraderie he missed after leaving the Army and inspired him to push himself. “Seeing individuals who had lost limbs or who had been told they’d never be able to do this again — to see them have that breakthrough and say, ‘You know what? I can continue to do some of the things that I enjoy and love.’ I really enjoyed that,” says Michael. The biggest help to him, however, is sharing his story and mentoring other warriors. “A lot of warriors feel like they’re the only ones going through something. When we share our stories, they realize that there are others going through the same thing. They’re not alone.”
Michael Matthews
In 2011, while deployed to Afghanistan, Beth’s helicopter took a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenade. Beth fell out of the hatch and dangled in the air from her backstrap until the pilots could make a hard landing. Because she had no visible wounds, she was sent back out on another flight just four days later. “I felt devastated, and I asked for help,” says Beth. “But the military is mission-driven, so if you looked like you could work, you worked.” Hanging from her backstrap had caused trauma to her spine, and the explosion and shock wave left her with a traumatic brain injury. “I had 24/7 pain in my head,” says Beth. “I was foggy and couldn’t understand things. After a few months, I started having a hard time walking. After 18 months, I finally started getting treatment.”
Beth also began to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. She fell into depression and struggled to leave her house. But after nearly four years of not being physically active, she decided in 2016 that it was up to her to make the most of her new situation, so she took up cycling to build her strength. Two years later, she participated in her first Wounded Warrior Project® Soldier Ride®, which changed her world. “It was the first time I had done anything independently since my injury,” says Beth. “I realized I don’t have to lose an activity just because I don’t do it the same as everyone else; I am bettering myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Wounded Warrior Project gave me a community of people who understand the struggle is real.”
Beth’s next mission - to educate people about the importance of seeking treatment as soon as an injury occurs. “I believe that waiting amplified the effects of my injury,” says Beth. “Now I truly believe there is nothing I set my mind to that I will not be able to figure out how to do.”
Beth King
Antoinette Wallace grew up in Staten Island, NY, in the shadow of the Manhattan skyline. So, when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, as she and her classmates watched from their high school windows, it had a profound impact on her future.
“Witnessing 9/11 first-hand and in real-time was very impactful,” says Antoinette. “I hadn’t considered joining the military before that day.” After joining the Army National Guard as a paralegal, Antoinette deployed to Iraq in 2004. She would have never guessed her real danger lay within her base. But one night, a fellow soldier walked her home from the on-base gym and sexually assaulted her. She didn’t feel comfortable telling her leaders about the assault, so she held it inside for many years – until post-traumatic stress disorder consumed her life. “I went to my parent’s room, crying,” says Antoinette. “I told them I needed help and that I couldn’t bear to deal with my trauma alone anymore. I was afraid I was going to hurt myself.” Her parents got her into a Department of Veterans Affairs treatment program, which led her to Wounded Warrior Project®.
“I’m not sure where I’d be without Wounded Warrior Project,” says Antoinette. “I’ve met other survivors who are my best friends now. Something awful happened to us. But we managed to turn it into something positive. I would drop everything to be there for them in their time of need and know that they would do the same. We support and uplift each other one day at a time.” Antoinette is now a successful pharmacist in New Jersey and spends her free time empowering other warriors by sharing her story, so they realize it’s okay to share theirs. “It’s okay to speak about trauma and how it has impacted your life,” says Antoinette. “This is your opportunity to start healing. Talking about it is very important; that’s what worked for me!”
Antoinette Wallace
Taniki Richard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001. She enjoyed all her duty stations — even, to some extent, Iraq. “Everything made sense in Iraq,” says Taniki. “You had a routine, you had your friends, and you knew what you had to do every day.” One night, while on a helicopter mission, her team came under fire. They completed the mission and returned safely, but her life was changed. She stopped sleeping and on the rare occasion that she could fall asleep, she was woken by terrifying nightmares.
When her deployment ended, the stress of combat had brought out memories of an unreported military sexual assault Taniki had endured years earlier, and Taniki began considering suicide. One day, she purposefully crashed her car into a pole. “I didn’t want to die,” admits Taniki. “That’s why I was so sad. I wanted help, but no one seemed to want to help me. I made a decision after I crashed to get help — and I think that’s the first time I was ever a true leader.”
Despite getting some help, Taniki still felt alone and isolated — until she attended a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) event that changed her life. When she arrived, a WWP staff member looked at her in a way that showed love and acceptance. “I cried because I knew that love,” says Taniki. “You didn’t have to say much; you just knew.” An experience at a WWP mental health workshop called Project Odyssey® cemented her recovery. “No one judged me,” says Taniki. “They validated me. It was empowering, and it was a real turning point for me.”
Since then, Taniki has started her own business and lives a life full of love with her husband and two sons. She always finds time for her passion — inspiring people to live better lives. “I want to make sure my fellow veterans have everything they need to play out the next part of their lives and not just live, but live well,” says Taniki.
Taniki Richard
Tim Aponte loved serving in the U.S. Army. “You had total strangers banding together, willing to watch each other’s backs,” says Tim. “It was something I would never trade for anything else.” Then, just 53 days before he was scheduled to return home, a rocket-propelled grenade exploded near him, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), internal shrapnel injuries, and a broken back. Tim struggled as much with the loss of camaraderie as he did with the painful recovery from his injuries. Instead of feeling at home, he felt alone and fell into a downward spiral. He ended up homeless, living in a shelter, and considering taking his own life.
That’s when Tim decided to make a change. He immersed himself in college and sought help through the VA. After four years, a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) event finally gave him a glimpse of what was possible. “Even though I didn’t know anybody,” says Tim, “I found it to be cool because I ended up in a duck boat full of other veterans. I thrive most when I’m part of a community. I knew I wanted that.” At another event, he learned about WWP’s Warrior Care Network® and soon began receiving treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder and TBI. “It was life-changing.” says Tim. For him, one of the most uncomfortable parts of the program — having to do things that took him out of his comfort zone — ended up being one of the most rewarding.
Now, his mission is to find ways to use what he’s learned to help other veterans recover. Today, Tim is a Peer Support Group leader, where he shares his story and encourages others to do the same. “It’s given me purpose, direction, and motivation,” says Tim. “I didn’t have somebody to guide me or give me good advice — somebody to say, ‘Hey, I got you.’ I want to be that person for others, so they know they’re not alone.”
Tim Aponte
Angie Peacock joined the U.S. Army in 1998 because she wanted a meaningful job that empowered her to help others. When she deployed to Iraq in 2003, her role was to set up and maintain the communication lines for her unit. “There was danger constantly,” says Angie. “I didn’t know day-to-day if I was going to make it back.” While in Iraq, she came down with a mysterious illness that caused her to be medevac’d to a hospital in Germany, the day after her platoon’s convoy was attacked. “I felt guilty that I wasn’t there,” says Angie. “I felt like I wasn’t a real soldier because I didn’t get medevac’d out for a real reason.” By 2006, she was on 16 medications to combat her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That year, she attempted suicide more times than she can remember.
For the next ten years of her life, she felt numb. She went through rehab four times to try to get off her prescribed medications, but she also found Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). “I got invited to a WWP alumni summit in San Antonio,” says Angie. “I remember a WWP staff member came over and talked to me. I said, ‘I don’t belong here. I only have PTSD.’ And he said, ‘Don’t you ever say that again. PTSD is just as real as losing a leg. Some think losing a leg is easier than PTSD because that part is gone but their head is okay.’”
As she was invited to more events with WWP, she found she was able to help other warriors — fulfilling the need for purpose she’d lost since leaving the Army many years before. She also started going to college and founded a student veterans organization at her school. Now, armed with her master’s degree in social work, she hopes to help as many veterans as possible. “Recovery is not always just about you,” says Angie. “It’s about helping other people who are suffering and can’t quite articulate the way they’re feeling. If you can do that, you don’t know whose life you’re going to touch.”
Angie Peacock
Aaron Cornelius saw a lot of combat while leading U.S. Army soldiers through three deployments in Iraq. But it wasn’t until the last deployment that, as Aaron says, “all hell broke loose.” It was March of 2008, when his unit suffered multiple casualties at the scene of an improvised explosive device attack. When Aaron arrived, he tried to open the hatch to save the soldiers inside the burning Humvee — but it became immediately clear they were gone. Little did he know, the heartbreaking death and destruction of that moment was one of the last things he’d ever see.
Just days later, the vehicle he was riding in was blown up, and the shrapnel tore a tennis ball-sized hole in his skull, leaving him completely blind.
The first tears came when he realized he would never be able to see his daughter’s face again. “I started to notice the darkness a lot,” says Aaron. “I couldn’t do anything at that point. I felt helpless. I felt like the military just kicked me to the curb and that I was not good anymore — worthless.”
Aaron’s first contact with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) occurred while he was still in the hospital. “At the hospital, you get all these visitors,” says Aaron. “Then this one WWP guy came in, and he kept coming back, checking on me almost every day. He brought me a backpack and walked me through the madness of transition.”
“That WWP guy stuck with me,” recalls Aaron. “Even after I left the hospital, he would call and see how I was doing. WWP was constant and made me feel like I was being taken care of. All of the things we had to do or figure out, we’d say, ‘Who’s going to help us with that?’ WWP stepped right in and took the reins. That was a beautiful thing.”
Aaron says a major turning point in his recovery came when he met other injured soldiers at a WWP event. “I was able to be myself outside of the house,” says Aaron. “I realized I could be a normal guy, a normal person, and there were people like me I could talk to.”
Aaron Cornelius
When Deven Schei's brother, Erik, was first deployed to Iraq, Deven made him a solemn vow: "If something happens to you while you're over there, I promise to finish what you started." Tragically, something did happen. Deven's brother was shot in the head, rendering him a person with quadriplegia. Deven kept his promise and joined the U.S. Army. He says becoming a member of the 101st Airborne Air Assault Division was one of his proudest moments.
Just as fate dealt its hand to his brother, Deven's deployment ended in injury too. "I was in a complex ambush," says Deven. "I lost a portion of my calf, a portion of my thigh, and had shrapnel all over the left side of my body. I was left with post-traumatic stress and a traumatic brain injury." Even with multiple surgeries, Deven's physical pain, frustration, and anguish were not what affected him the most. "My greatest challenge was not being with my brothers. Leaving them in Afghanistan was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Not being able to go on missions with them always haunted me. I kept up with them all the time, emailing to make sure all missions went well and everyone made it back in one piece."
It's that kind of dedication and connection that drives Deven to help his fellow wounded service members today as both a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) spokesperson and a member of the National Speaker's Association. "I want other service members to know that there is life outside the military. My brother and I are both examples of that. My military service molded me into who I am today, but that's not all I am. We need to continue to move forward and not let our injuries define us."
Deven Schei
When Bill Geiger returned to civilian life after two deployments with the United States Army, he was a changed man. His service in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Camp Bucca, Iraq, guarding high-value detainees, deteriorated the formerly vibrant man his wife, Sara, once knew. ‘‘I knew something was wrong the first time I hugged him after coming back,’’ says Sara. ‘‘His joy for life was gone, replaced by a depressed, anxious, short-tempered recluse.’’ Then one day, Bill saw an email Sara had left open on their computer; it was to their pastor and said, in part: ‘‘If I had known Bill was going to be like this, I never would have married him.’’ Bill finally surrendered. ‘‘I wasn’t going to lose my wife,’’ says Bill. ‘‘I knew I needed help to learn how to fix this thing.’’
Bill sought help at the Vet Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs before finding Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). His first breakthrough came during a multi-day mental health workshop called Project Odyssey®. ‘‘Engaging with other wounded service members who understood how I felt without saying a word was comforting and enlightening,’’ says Bill. ‘‘I realized if other warriors could learn to live with and control their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), then so can I.’’ Bill also made significant progress thanks to Warrior Care Network®. “I learned more tools to cope with PTSD in two weeks at Warrior Care Network than I had in 10 years of therapy,” says Bill. “Also, by including family members, they feel like they are part of the solution, not just watching from the sidelines.”
Through his involvement with WWP, Bill has also found a new purpose — helping other warriors. He shares his story to help others realize it’s a sign of strength to ask for help. “Every time I’m around warriors, I think, ‘wow, they’re still at it,’” says Bill. “They’re still alive. They’re still giving back to the community. They’re still raising a beautiful family. On the really bad days, it gives you a glimmer of hope to know that somebody else survived just as bad of a day.”
Bill Geiger
Beth King
Antoinette Wallace
Taniki Richard
Tim Aponte
Angie Peacock
Aaron Cornelius
Deven Schei
Bill Geiger
Dr. Bryan Wagner
Michael Matthews
Growing up in Chicago, Danielle Green’s grandmother always encouraged her to “get out and be somebody.” Danielle took two trains and a bus to attend school, and she excelled in academics and athletics — earning her a spot in the women’s basketball program at Notre Dame. Danielle was a four-year starter, but after graduating, she felt she could do more to serve others, so she joined the U.S. Army. In 2004, while on a rooftop in Baghdad, Iraq, she was injured by a rocket-propelled grenade and lost her left arm. Danielle was left-handed, so she had to re-learn how to do almost everything.
Shortly after she was injured, Danielle was visited by Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and given a backpack full of comfort items. “As I laid in bed, I felt alone, bewildered, and scared about the unknown,” remembers Danielle. “That backpack meant the world to me. From that day on, I knew I was not alone and that Wounded Warrior Project would provide comfort in my life.”
With WWP by her side, Danielle embarked on her next calling — helping fellow veterans. She went back to school and got her Master’s degree in Community Counseling, ultimately using her skills to work for the Veterans Administration (VA) to help warriors transition back into civilian life after service. Danielle has overcome many challenges in her life, including losing her husband to a sudden heart attack in 2011. But as with every other challenge she’s faced, her indomitable spirit and passion for serving others have carried her through.
Now, that path has brought her to Wounded Warrior Project, where she will have the opportunity to share her story with audiences nationwide. “I’m excited to have the chance to connect with even more warriors by sharing my experience,” says Danielle. “There are still so many warriors out there suffering, and I believe the best way to reach them is to share stories like mine so they realize the Wounded Warrior Project community is the perfect place for them to find love and acceptance.”
Danielle Green
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2004
Military Police
Army
Well, I was wrong; staff members strapped a band around my waist and prosthetic arm, and off I went. I did not stay upright long and drank quite a bit of Lake Michigan water, but the experience was priceless."
"Being an arm amputee, I habitually put a cap on my physical abilities. But WWP showed me that almost anything is adaptable (riding a bike, yoga, water skiing).
I was invited to the Chicago Air and Water Show one year, and several events were offered to warriors, including water skiing; I said, “There is no way in the world that these guys will get me upright to waterski...
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Unlike a generation ago, WWP has reminded our Nation that we can never forget the men and women who have volunteered to serve and sacrificed so much for this country."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"There was an authentic brotherhood and sisterhood."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
After graduating college, Danielle felt she could do more to serve others, so she joined the U.S. Army. In 2004, while on a rooftop in Baghdad, Iraq, she was injured by a rocket-propelled grenade and lost her left arm. Danielle was left-handed, so she had to re-learn how to do almost everything.
Danielle Green
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2004
Infantry Machine Gunner
U.S. Marine Corps
"How many do you want? My Soldier Ride story? Where I realized I wasn’t the only one dealing with PTSD, and the main reason I started getting mental health treatment? Or earlier, when I went on Project Odyssey and learned how to rock climb and white water raft after my injury? Cause that has led me down a path of martial arts that continues today."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"All of the work WWP has done in congress to expand veterans benefits and the bringing of awareness to the public."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"The friends I made and the personal strength I gained from my service."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Sal decided to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In 2004, while in Ramadi, Iraq, his truck was hit by an improvised explosive device. The blast left Sal with a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and caused him to lose his left leg below the knee.
Sal Gonzalez
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"It's possible to be present with what is going on around you and to live again"
"It's possible
to fully live life with purpose again"
"It's possible
to live a life
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Dr. Bryan Wagner
Michael Matthews
Beth King
Antoinette Wallace
Taniki Richard
Tim Aponte
Angie Peacock
Aaron Cornelius
Deven Schei
Bill Geiger
Danielle Green
Angie Lupe
Mark Lalli
Sal Gonzalez
Chris Gordon
Sergio Alfaro
Yolanda Poullard
Yomari Cruz
Warriors are the strongest voices for what we do because they know what's possible when we work together. Select a warrior photo to read how they have healed and grown with WWP.
Warrior Stories
Those conversations with his peers helped Bryan feel comfortable about his decision to amputate.
Then, after he got out of the hospital, WWP was still by his side – “They set me up for success,” says Bryan.
He is now a husband and father and is working on an advanced degree in physical therapy.
He’s also passionate about being there for other warriors to provide the same type of support he has benefitted from over the years.
“There are guys out there right now facing amputation,” says Bryan. “I want them to know it’s possible to do even more after amputation than you did before.”
“The Humvee was on fire, all I had was a bottle of water, and I was dumping that on me to try to keep the flames down because I was stuck in the truck.”
As a result, Bryan endured 27 surgeries and the amputation of his right leg below the knee.
At the start of what would be two years in rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he was visited by a representative from Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).
He was given a backpack and a promise — that no matter what he needed moving forward, WWP would be there to help.
The first thing WWP did was bring in warriors who had endured amputations and others who chose to keep their limbs to speak with Bryan.
Dr. Bryan Wagner never intended to join the military. But that changed on September 11, 2001.
“I remember sitting in English class when 9/11 happened,” says Bryan. “I was really mad; I just wanted to go there and find the people who were responsible for that tragedy.”
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2006, shortly after graduating high school, and deployed to Iraq a year later with the military police.
Bryan was the turret gunner in the lead Humvee on December 18, 2007, when his vehicle was hit by an explosively formed penetrator— a bomb designed to cut through armor.
“I looked down, and my right foot was turned 180 degrees backward,” says Bryan.
Dr. Bryan Wagner
Since then, he has become very active with WWP. Events like Soldier Ride® and Project Odyssey® gave him the kind of camaraderie he missed after leaving the Army and inspired him to push himself.
“Seeing individuals who had lost limbs or who had been told they’d never be able to do this again — to see them have that breakthrough and say, ‘You know what? I can continue to do some of the things that I enjoy and love.’ I really enjoyed that,” says Michael.
The biggest help to him, however, is sharing his story and mentoring other warriors.
“A lot of warriors feel like they’re the only ones going through something. When we share our stories, they realize that there are others going through the same thing. They’re not alone.”
Michael woke up in a hospital in Germany.
His jaw was broken and had been wired shut. Severe burns on his back required multiple skin grafts. And he underwent months of painful physical therapy to relearn how to walk and use the right side of his body.
In addition, Michael came home with a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
He wouldn’t leave home or talk to anyone other than his family. The happy, calm, and cool Michael had become moody, angry, and aggressive.
It was a fellow veteran he ran into who finally got him to attend a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) event.
In 1999, Michael Matthews joined the U.S. Army infantry.
“There were a lot of fun times, especially being overseas,” says Michael.
But the events of 9/11 changed military life for Michael. Three deployments landed him in an active war zone in Iraq, where enemy contact was a daily occurrence.
“Whether it was them shooting, just trying to scare us, or a full-fledged ambush — every time we left the compound, we had some kind of contact.”
Then one day, Michael filled in for a gunner on a mission in Mosul.
The last things he remembers are the vehicle turning a corner, someone up ahead radioing that they were under fire, and a loud bang.
Michael Matthews
“It was the first time I had done anything independently since my injury,” says Beth.
“I realized I don’t have to lose an activity just because I don’t do it the same as everyone else; I am bettering myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Wounded Warrior Project gave me a community of people who understand the struggle is real.”
Beth’s next mission - to educate people about the importance of seeking treatment as soon as an injury occurs.
“I believe that waiting amplified the effects of my injury,” says Beth.
“Now I truly believe there is nothing I set my mind to that I will not be able to figure out how to do.”
“I had 24/7 pain in my head,” says Beth. “I was foggy and couldn’t understand things. After a few months, I started having a hard time walking. After 18 months, I finally started getting treatment.”
Beth also began to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. She fell into depression and struggled to leave her house.
But after nearly four years of not being physically active, she decided in 2016 that it was up to her to make the most of her new situation, so she took up cycling to build her strength.
Two years later, she participated in her first Wounded Warrior Project® Soldier Ride®, which changed her world.
In 2011, while deployed to Afghanistan, Beth’s helicopter took a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenade.
Beth fell out of the hatch and dangled in the air from her backstrap until the pilots could make a hard landing.
Because she had no visible wounds, she was sent back out on another flight just four days later. “I felt devastated, and I asked for help,” says Beth.
“But the military is mission-driven, so if you looked like you could work, you worked.”
Hanging from her backstrap had caused trauma to her spine, and the explosion and shock wave left her with a traumatic brain injury.
Beth King
“I’ve met other survivors who are my best friends now. Something awful happened to us. But we managed to turn it into something positive. I would drop everything to be there for them in their time of need and know that they would do the same. We support and uplift each other one day at a time.”
Antoinette is now a successful pharmacist in New Jersey and spends her free time empowering other warriors by sharing her story, so they realize it’s okay to share theirs.
“It’s okay to speak about trauma and how it has impacted your life,” says Antoinette.
“This is your opportunity to start healing. Talking about it is very important; that’s what worked for me!”
She didn’t feel comfortable telling her leaders about the assault, so she held it inside for many years – until post-traumatic stress disorder consumed her life.
“I went to my parent’s room, crying,” says Antoinette. “I told them I needed help and that I couldn’t bear to deal with my trauma alone anymore. I was afraid I was going to hurt myself.”
Her parents got her into a Department of Veterans Affairs treatment program, which led her to Wounded Warrior Project®.
“I’m not sure where I’d be without Wounded Warrior Project,” says Antoinette.
Antoinette Wallace grew up in Staten Island, NY, in the shadow of the Manhattan skyline.
So, when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, as she and her classmates watched from their high school windows, it had a profound impact on her future.
“Witnessing 9/11 first-hand and in real-time was very impactful,” says Antoinette. “I hadn’t considered joining the military before that day.”
After joining the Army National Guard as a paralegal, Antoinette deployed to Iraq in 2004.
She would have never guessed her real danger lay within her base. But one night, a fellow soldier walked her home from the on-base gym and sexually assaulted her.
Antoinette Wallace
An experience at a WWP mental health workshop called Project Odyssey® cemented her recovery.
“No one judged me,” says Taniki. “They validated me. It was empowering, and it was a real turning point for me.”
Since then, Taniki has started her own business and lives a life full of love with her husband and two sons.
She always finds time for her passion — inspiring people to live better lives.
“I want to make sure my fellow veterans have everything they need to play out the next part of their lives and not just live, but live well,” says Taniki.
One day, she purposefully crashed her car into a pole.
“I didn’t want to die,” admits Taniki. “That’s why I was so sad. I wanted help, but no one seemed to want to help me. I made a decision after I crashed to get help — and I think that’s the first time I was ever a true leader.”
Despite getting some help, Taniki still felt alone and isolated — until she attended a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) event that changed her life.
When she arrived, a WWP staff member looked at her in a way that showed love and acceptance.
“I cried because I knew that love,” says Taniki. “You didn’t have to say much; you just knew.”
Taniki Richard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001. She enjoyed all her duty stations — even, to some extent, Iraq.
“Everything made sense in Iraq,” says Taniki. “You had a routine, you had your friends, and you knew what you had to do every day.”
One night, while on a helicopter mission, her team came under fire. They completed the mission and returned safely, but her life was changed.
She stopped sleeping and on the rare occasion that she could fall asleep, she was woken by terrifying nightmares.
When her deployment ended, the stress of combat had brought out memories of an unreported military sexual assault Taniki had endured years earlier, and Taniki began considering suicide.
Taniki Richard
For him, one of the most uncomfortable parts of the program — having to do things that took him out of his comfort zone — ended up being one of the most rewarding.
Now, his mission is to find ways to use what he’s learned to help other veterans recover.
Today, Tim is a Peer Support Group leader, where he shares his story and encourages others to do the same. “It’s given me purpose, direction, and motivation,” says Tim.
“I didn’t have somebody to guide me or give me good advice — somebody to say, ‘Hey, I got you.’ I want to be that person for others, so they know they’re not alone.”
That’s when Tim decided to make a change. He immersed himself in college and sought help through the VA.
After four years, a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) event finally gave him a glimpse of what was possible.
“Even though I didn’t know anybody,” says Tim, “I found it to be cool because I ended up in a duck boat full of other veterans. I thrive most when I’m part of a community. I knew I wanted that.”
At another event, he learned about WWP’s Warrior Care Network® and soon began receiving treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder and TBI.
“It was life-changing.” says Tim.
Tim Aponte loved serving in the U.S. Army. “You had total strangers banding together, willing to watch each other’s backs,” says Tim.
“It was something I would never trade for anything else.”
Then, just 53 days before he was scheduled to return home, a rocket-propelled grenade exploded near him, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), internal shrapnel injuries, and a broken back.
Tim struggled as much with the loss of camaraderie as he did with the painful recovery from his injuries.
Instead of feeling at home, he felt alone and fell into a downward spiral.
He ended up homeless, living in a shelter, and considering taking his own life.
Tim Aponte
As she was invited to more events with WWP, she found she was able to help other warriors — fulfilling the need for purpose she’d lost since leaving the Army many years before.
She also started going to college and founded a student veterans organization at her school.
Now, armed with her master’s degree in social work, she hopes to help as many veterans as possible.
“Recovery is not always just about you,” says Angie. “It’s about helping other people who are suffering and can’t quite articulate the way they’re feeling. If you can do that, you don’t know whose life you’re going to touch.”
By 2006, she was on 16 medications to combat her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
That year, she attempted suicide more times than she can remember.
For the next ten years of her life, she felt numb.
She went through rehab four times to try to get off her prescribed medications, but she also found Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).
“I got invited to a WWP alumni summit in San Antonio,” says Angie. “I remember a WWP staff member came over and talked to me. I said, ‘I don’t belong here. I only have PTSD.’ And he said, ‘Don’t you ever say that again. PTSD is just as real as losing a leg. Some think losing a leg is easier than PTSD because that part is gone but their head is okay.’”
Angie Peacock joined the U.S. Army in 1998 because she wanted a meaningful job that empowered her to help others.
When she deployed to Iraq in 2003, her role was to set up and maintain the communication lines for her unit.
“There was danger constantly,” says Angie. “I didn’t know day-to-day if I was going to make it back.”
While in Iraq, she came down with a mysterious illness that caused her to be medevac’d to a hospital in Germany, the day after her platoon’s convoy was attacked.
“I felt guilty that I wasn’t there,” says Angie. “I felt like I wasn’t a real soldier because I didn’t get medevac’d out for a real reason.”
Angie Peacock
“That WWP guy stuck with me,” recalls Aaron.
“Even after I left the hospital, he would call and see how I was doing. WWP was constant and made me feel like I was being taken care of. All of the things we had to do or figure out, we’d say, ‘Who’s going to help us with that?’ WWP stepped right in and took the reins. That was a beautiful thing.”
Aaron says a major turning point in his recovery came when he met other injured soldiers at a WWP event.
“I was able to be myself outside of the house,” says Aaron. “I realized I could be a normal guy, a normal person, and there were people like me I could talk to.”
The first tears came when he realized he would never be able to see his daughter’s face again.
“I started to notice the darkness a lot,” says Aaron. “I couldn’t do anything at that point. I felt helpless. I felt like the military just kicked me to the curb and that I was not good anymore — worthless.”
Aaron’s first contact with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) occurred while he was still in the hospital.
“At the hospital, you get all these visitors,” says Aaron. “Then this one WWP guy came in, and he kept coming back, checking on me almost every day. He brought me a backpack and walked me through the madness of transition.”
Aaron Cornelius saw a lot of combat while leading U.S. Army soldiers through three deployments in Iraq.
But it wasn’t until the last deployment that, as Aaron says, “all hell broke loose.”
It was March of 2008, when his unit suffered multiple casualties at the scene of an improvised explosive device attack.
When Aaron arrived, he tried to open the hatch to save the soldiers inside the burning Humvee — but it became immediately clear they were gone. Little did he know, the heartbreaking death and destruction of that moment was one of the last things he’d ever see.
Just days later, the vehicle he was riding in was blown up, and the shrapnel tore a tennis ball-sized hole in his skull, leaving him completely blind.
Aaron Cornelius
"I want other service members to know that there is life outside the military. My brother and I are both examples of that. My military service molded me into who I am today, but that's not all I am. We need to continue to move forward and not let our injuries define us."
Even with multiple surgeries, Deven's physical pain, frustration, and anguish were not what affected him the most.
"My greatest challenge was not being with my brothers. Leaving them in Afghanistan was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Not being able to go on missions with them always haunted me. I kept up with them all the time, emailing to make sure all missions went well and everyone made it back in one piece."
It's that kind of dedication and connection that drives Deven to help his fellow wounded service members today as both a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) spokesperson and a member of the National Speaker's Association.
When Deven Schei's brother, Erik, was first deployed to Iraq, Deven made him a solemn vow: "If something happens to you while you're over there, I promise to finish what you started."
Tragically, something did happen. Deven's brother was shot in the head, rendering him a person with quadriplegia.
Deven kept his promise and joined the U.S. Army. He says becoming a member of the 101st Airborne Air Assault Division was one of his proudest moments.
Just as fate dealt its hand to his brother, Deven's deployment ended in injury too. "I was in a complex ambush," says Deven. "I lost a portion of my calf, a portion of my thigh, and had shrapnel all over the left side of my body. I was left with post-traumatic stress and a traumatic brain injury."
Deven Schei
“Also, by including family members, they feel like they are part of the solution, not just watching from the sidelines.”
Through his involvement with WWP, Bill has also found a new purpose — helping other warriors.
He shares his story to help others realize it’s a sign of strength to ask for help.
“Every time I’m around warriors, I think, ‘wow, they’re still at it,’” says Bill. “They’re still alive. They’re still giving back to the community. They’re still raising a beautiful family. On the really bad days, it gives you a glimmer of hope to know that somebody else survived just as bad of a day.”
Bill sought help at the Vet Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs before finding Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).
His first breakthrough came during a multi-day mental health workshop called Project Odyssey®.
‘‘Engaging with other wounded service members who understood how I felt without saying a word was comforting and enlightening,’’ says Bill.
‘‘I realized if other warriors could learn to live with and control their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), then so can I.’’
Bill also made significant progress thanks to Warrior Care Network®. “I learned more tools to cope with PTSD in two weeks at Warrior Care Network than I had in 10 years of therapy,” says Bill.
When Bill Geiger returned to civilian life after two deployments with the United States Army, he was a changed man.
His service in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Camp Bucca, Iraq, guarding high-value detainees, deteriorated the formerly vibrant man his wife, Sara, once knew.
‘‘I knew something was wrong the first time I hugged him after coming back,’’ says Sara. ‘‘His joy for life was gone, replaced by a depressed, anxious, short-tempered recluse.’’
Then one day, Bill saw an email Sara had left open on their computer; it was to their pastor and said, in part: ‘‘If I had known Bill was going to be like this, I never would have married him.’’ Bill finally surrendered. ‘‘I wasn’t going to lose my wife,’’ says Bill. ‘‘I knew I needed help to learn how to fix this thing.’’
Bill Geiger
But as with every other challenge she’s faced, her indomitable spirit and passion for serving others have carried her through.
Now, that path has brought her to Wounded Warrior Project, where she will have the opportunity to share her story with audiences nationwide.
“I’m excited to have the chance to connect with even more warriors by sharing my experience,” says Danielle.
“There are still so many warriors out there suffering, and I believe the best way to reach them is to share stories like mine so they realize the Wounded Warrior Project community is the perfect place for them to find love and acceptance.”
“As I laid in bed, I felt alone, bewildered, and scared about the unknown,” remembers Danielle.
“That backpack meant the world to me. From that day on, I knew I was not alone and that Wounded Warrior Project would provide comfort in my life.”
With WWP by her side, Danielle embarked on her next calling — helping fellow veterans.
She went back to school and got her Master’s degree in Community Counseling, ultimately using her skills to work for the Veterans Administration (VA) to help warriors transition back into civilian life after service.
Danielle has overcome many challenges in her life, including losing her husband to a sudden heart attack in 2011.
Growing up in Chicago, Danielle Green’s grandmother always encouraged her to “get out and be somebody.”
Danielle took two trains and a bus to attend school, and she excelled in academics and athletics — earning her a spot in the women’s basketball program at Notre Dame.
Danielle was a four-year starter, but after graduating, she felt she could do more to serve others, so she joined the U.S. Army.
In 2004, while on a rooftop in Baghdad, Iraq, she was injured by a rocket-propelled grenade and lost her left arm. Danielle was left-handed, so she had to re-learn how to do almost everything.
Shortly after she was injured, Danielle was visited by Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and given a backpack full of comfort items.
Danielle Green
As a participant in the WWP Independence Program, Angie and her family get assistance designed specifically for the most critically injured warriors.
She also credits WWP Adaptive Sports with helping her take a big step forward on her road to recovery.
“I’m back doing everything I love to do,” Angie says. “It’s a little different. I have to adapt to do it. But I’m doing it, and it’s possible.”
“The next thing I remember, I was just lying in a tent, and I was there for a couple of days. I was never the same after that,” Angie says.
Between the mortar blast, toxic exposure, and the constant danger involved with being a combat gunner, Angie left Iraq with injuries — both visible and invisible — that will affect her for the rest of her life.
When her post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and neurological problems reached their peak, Angie began to lose hope.
At one point, it got so bad that she attempted suicide.
Ultimately, she found the help and support she needed when she got involved with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).
Angie Lupe grew up in a family with a long history of military service.
Her uncles and both grandfathers proudly served, and when she became overwhelmed with college, the Army seemed like a natural fit.
But just two years after she enlisted, the events of 9/11 changed her reserve unit’s status, and she was deployed to Iraq.
As a gunner and medic, which were rare assignments for women then, Angie saw a lot of direct combat.
While still in Iraq she began having blackouts, which got so bad that she had no memory of the missions she had just completed.
At one point, a mortar exploded 10 feet from her.
Angie Lupe
When Mark isn’t playing with his twin toddlers, he’s at a horse farm he first visited years ago for a WWP barbecue.
That farm has become his new purpose, and through it he’s found solace, met his wife, and helped hundreds of veterans and disabled people in his community.
Whenever he meets a new warrior, his message is simple: “Find out what works for you and go with it, and simply stay away from what doesn’t work. Every day is an Alive Day. Keep your mind on those we have lost, and let their memory be your motivation.”
He still lives with short-term memory loss and some paralysis.
“Rehab was painful,” says Mark. “And there were times I wanted to quit. But I believed I owed it to the six warriors who died in the crash to keep trying.”
During Mark’s rehab in Tampa, he met an outreach coordinator from Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).
“He was an amputee,” says Mark. “He inspired me to believe that anything is still possible. I feel like every time I’m at a Wounded Warrior Project event, I realize, ‘Hey, I can still do this.’” says Mark.
“I can get down on the ground to play with my daughters now, too. It helps me see things in a way I hadn’t thought of before.”
Military service in Mark Lalli’s family goes back to the American Revolution. Both of Mark’s grandfathers served in WWII — and growing up, Mark wanted to be just like them.
“It was my dream to follow in their footsteps,” says Mark, and one week after his 17th birthday, he joined the Army.
As a Black Hawk helicopter crew chief, it was his job to make sure the aircraft was safe and ready to fly.
But on November 8, 2007, he was on someone else’s aircraft when an “unrecoverable malfunction” sent the aircraft into a tailspin before crashing. Eleven warriors were on board, but only five survived.
As a result, Mark suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and over two-dozen broken bones.
Mark Lalli
With WWP by his side, Sal set out to help as many warriors as possible by sharing his experience and encouraging them to seek help.
He also continued playing music — not only to continue his recovery but also to inspire other injured veterans.
Sal remains grounded in his passion for helping other warriors, even as his music career hits new highs.
His talent has earned him national attention, and in 2020, he released his first extended play, “Heroes”.
While many musicians strive to become famous, Sal is happy with his life. “I’m able to support my awesome wife and son by doing something I love,” says Sal. “For most musicians, that’s living the dream.”
While in the hospital, Sal received a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) backpack full of comfort items and a promise that if he needed anything, WWP would be there.
That gesture meant a lot, and once Sal got out of the hospital, he decided to get more involved.
One of his first WWP events was a mental health workshop called Project Odyssey® — and it changed his life.
Despite his injury, he was able to rock climb; and it proved he could still do anything he set his mind to.
“Wounded Warrior Project helped change my whole mentality,” says Sal. “Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I wanted to thrive. I wanted to live a happy, important, impactful life in memory of the warriors who didn’t make it home.”
Growing up in East Los Angeles, music kept Sal Gonzalez out of trouble. So did his decision to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“That tragedy inspired me to join the military,” says Sal. “The fact that I come from a family of immigrants also made me want to join. I wanted to give back for all this country has given us.”
In 2004, while in Ramadi, Iraq, his truck was hit by an improvised explosive device.
The blast left Sal with a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and caused him to lose his left leg below the knee.
“Losing a leg is tough,” says Sal. “But the invisible wounds — PTSD and the brain injury — were even tougher.”
Sal Gonzalez
He continued his newfound relationship with WWP through an adaptive sports weekend in San Diego and a ski trip to Colorado.
“I got to go to places I had never gone before,” says Chris. “And I learned I was still capable of participating in a lot of different activities.”
As a direct result of Chris’ involvement with WWP, he now golfs, rides horses, and spends time with his fellow warriors.
“WWP has been a big part of my life since I was injured,” says Chris.
“They have provided me with countless unforgettable experiences so I can keep moving in a positive direction, both mentally and physically.”
Chris woke up at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, DC.
It was then he realized he had lost his right leg and had a permanent titanium rod in his left leg.
“Rehab was intense,” says Chris. “At first, you’re in a wheelchair, and eventually, you start gaining back your strength. You have to learn how to get up, use a prosthetic, and walk again.”
While at Walter Reed, Chris was introduced to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and was given a backpack full of comfort items.
“It showed some appreciation during the toughest time of my life,” says Chris. “People out there still cared what happened, even though they didn’t know me.”
Chris Gordon joined the U.S. Army in 1997. His first duty station was Hohenfels, Germany — and that’s where he was on September 11, 2001.
By the time the war began, Chris was assigned to a Stryker armored vehicle unit as an infantry supply sergeant.
In 2005, Chris’ unit was on patrol in Tal-Afar, Iraq, finishing up what seemed like a routine search. As his vehicle rolled up to get in line around a mosque, it set off an explosion.
The blast launched Chris and another soldier out of the Stryker’s back hatch.
“Thank God we had the hatches open,” says Chris. “If they had been closed, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Chris Gordon
“I just opened up and found strength in being vulnerable.”
Sergio also believes the structure of the Warrior Care Network program was vital to his experience. “They recognize this affects the family,” says Sergio. “They brought in my wife during the program, and she learned so much about PTSD.”
Now Sergio has a new purpose — helping warriors by sharing his experience and leading them through their struggles.
“In medical school, they say you don’t learn something until you can teach it to others,” says Sergio. “So helping my fellow warriors is another step in treatment. By teaching others how Wounded Warrior Project has helped me learn to live with PTSD, I’m building upon my recovery.”
When his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) started to boil over, he gave up on his dream of becoming a doctor.
“That’s what hurt me the most,” says Sergio. “That was how I was going to honor the sacrifices that many of my brothers made in war, like Captain Tipton. I wanted to make them proud.”
Leaving medical school made Sergio feel like a failure; He even plotted suicide.
Thankfully, in 2016 he found Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and the Warrior Care Network®. For Sergio, this was the catalyst he needed to turn his life around, “That was one of the first times where I was vulnerable, especially with how I gave up on the dream of being a doctor,” says Sergio.
Sergio Alfaro grew up as one of nine kids in a single-income family. Despite his difficult upbringing, he dreamed of becoming a doctor, and when Sergio learned that the U.S. Army would pay for his college degree, he joined right out of high school.
A few years later, Sergio was assigned to a medical unit in Iraq. One day while on guard duty, Sergio’s commander was killed in a mortar attack. Sergio was devastated — not only that someone he cared for was killed, but also that he was out on assignment and couldn’t help provide aid. “I gained a lot of guilt because I felt like I let Captain Tipton down,” says Sergio.
When he returned, Sergio earned acceptance into Harvard Medical School. The pride was overwhelming, but so was his survivor’s guilt. “I thought I didn’t deserve to be there,” says Sergio.
Sergio Alfaro
“There are people hugging and patting you on the back. And all of the walls go down. Then, all of a sudden, it became more about how I could make others feel comfortable and support them.”
That revelation has helped Yomari find a new purpose — helping other warriors. She volunteers with WWP as a warrior leader, organizing local events and helping her fellow veterans connect.
“Seeing the veterans’ faces at the events and knowing how grateful they are is definitely rewarding,” says Yomari.
Most of her relationships with friends and family disintegrated. “You just lose everyone. No one wants to be around you,” says Yomari. “They don’t understand why you’re different, why you’re so defensive and angry.”
Then a fellow veteran took her to the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) event that changed everything.
For the first time in more than three years, she felt comfortable. When she finally let her guard down, she realized there were people who understood what she had gone through — and cared. Since then, she has participated in many WWP events, including Soldier Ride® and Project Odyssey®, which Yomari credits as one of the best experiences she has ever had. “You have a support system, and you become like a close family,” says Yomari.
In 2010, Yomari Cruz deployed to Afghanistan, proud of her decision to join the Army. “It’s such a good feeling to know that you’re protecting the freedom of the loved ones you’re leaving back home,” says Yomari. But not ten minutes after arriving, the base was attacked, and those good feelings were replaced with intense fear.
While Yomari loved her job, the constant attacks, the loss of soldiers, and other traumatic experiences took her to a dark place. Things only got worse after a soldier was caught videotaping her in the shower. As a result, the trust she’d had eroded, and betrayal, fear, and paranoia overwhelmed her.
When Yomari medically retired in 2012, post-traumatic stress made her transition difficult. She had severe anger issues, feared public areas, and couldn’t handle conversations with people.
Yomari Cruz
Read his story
Michael Matthews
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
to have my personal freedom again"
Taniki Richards
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible to heal"
Read her story
Read her story
Beth King
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
to have my personal freedom again"
Bill Geiger
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
to fully live life with purpose again"
Read his story
Mark Lalli
Wounded Warrior
Read his story
Sam Hargrove
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
to live a life
worth living again"
Read her story
Yomari Cruz
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
to live a life
worth living again"
Read her story
Read her story
Antoinette Wallace
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
to live without the stigma associated with PTSD"
Sergio Alfaro
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible to believe that anything is possible when you believe in yourself"
Read his story
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2004
Military Police
U.S. Army
After graduating college, Danielle felt she could do more to serve others, so she joined the U.S. Army. In 2004, while on a rooftop in Baghdad, Iraq, she was injured by a rocket-propelled grenade and lost her left arm. Danielle was left-handed, so she had to re-learn how to do almost everything.
"Being an arm amputee, I habitually put a cap on my physical abilities. But WWP showed me that almost anything is adaptable (riding a bike, yoga, water skiing). I was invited to the Chicago Air and Water Show one year, and several events were offered to warriors, including water skiing; I said, “There is no way in the world that these guys will get me upright to waterski.” Well, I was wrong; staff members strapped a band around my waist and prosthetic arm, and off I went. I did not stay upright long and drank quite a bit of Lake Michigan water, but the experience was priceless."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Unlike a generation ago, WWP has reminded our Nation that we can never forget the men and women who have volunteered to serve and sacrificed so much for this country."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
Danielle Green
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2016
Logistics
U.S. Army
In 2010, Yomari Cruz deployed to Afghanistan, proud of her decision to join the Army. But not ten minutes after arriving, the base was attacked, and those good feelings were replaced with intense fear. The constant attacks, the loss of soldiers, and other traumatic experiences took her to a dark place.
"The consistent reevaluation of programs offered in order to be able to assist warriors who are coping with disabilities in their transition from serving in the military to the civilian lifestyle."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"The experience of deploying overseas to Jalalabad, Afghanistan."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Yomari Cruz
"Life after the military was extremely difficult for me. It took a neighbor to be able to share the impact WWP had had on his life to encourage me to register. I took the leap of faith in participating in my very first WWP program, and I can confidently say that, for once, in my post-military service, I felt connected, understood, seen, heard, and supported...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
It’s very difficult to begin to put into words what it felt like that night at the dinner, but what I can say is the impact that one night had, has turned into 8+ years of stories that I share with friends, family, and strangers of the impact that WWP has had on my family and myself."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2004
Infantry Machine Gunner
U.S. Marine Corps
Sal decided to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In 2004, while in Ramadi, Iraq, his truck was hit by an improvised explosive device. The blast left Sal with a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and caused him to lose his left leg below the knee.
"How many do you want? My Soldier Ride story? Where I realized I wasn’t the only one dealing with PTSD, and the main reason I started getting mental health treatment? Or earlier, when I went on Project Odyssey and learned how to rock climb and white water raft after my injury? Cause that has led me down a path of martial arts that continues today."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"All of the work WWP has done in congress to expand veterans benefits and the bringing of awareness to the public."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"The friends I made and the personal strength I gained from my service."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Sal Gonzalez
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2016
Logistics
U.S. Army
This is where the all-male Project Odyssey helped me learn about vulnerability and how to access it with others. The Couples Project Odyssey assisted my spouse and me in communicating again. Lastly, Soldier Ride helped me to find some pride in my service and find proof that I was resilient.
There is so much that WWP has provided my family and me, and I’ll be forever grateful for all of it."
When I was finally ready to try out the tools taught to me in therapy and see if I could hold a career, Warriors to Work was there to assist me with finding what new direction in life I could go.
If it wasn’t for the social activities I could participate in, such as those found in The Post, I don’t know if I could have escaped the isolation that was suffocating me...
"Life after the military was extremely difficult for me. It took a neighbor to be able to share the impact WWP had had on his life to encourage me to register. I took the leap of faith in participating in my very first WWP program, and I can confidently say that, for once, in my post-military service, I felt connected, understood, seen, heard, and supported. It’s very difficult to begin to put into words what it felt like that night at the dinner, but what I can say is the impact that one night had, has turned into 8+ years of stories that I share with friends, family, and strangers of the impact that WWP has had on my family and myself."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"The consistent reevaluation of programs offered in order to be able to assist warriors who are coping with disabilities in their transition from serving in the military to the civilian lifestyle."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"The experience of deploying overseas to Jalalabad, Afghanistan."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
In 2010, Yomari Cruz deployed to Afghanistan, proud of her decision to join the Army. But not ten minutes after arriving, the base was attacked, and those good feelings were replaced with intense fear. The constant attacks, the loss of soldiers, and other traumatic experiences took her to a dark place.
Yomari Cruz
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2016
Combat Medic
U.S. Army, Air National Guard
This is where the all-male Project Odyssey helped me learn about vulnerability and how to access it with others. The Couples Project Odyssey assisted my spouse and me in communicating again. Lastly, Soldier Ride helped me to find some pride in my service and find proof that I was resilient.
There is so much that WWP has provided my family and me, and I’ll be forever grateful for all of it."
When I was finally ready to try out the tools taught to me in therapy and see if I could hold a career, Warriors to Work was there to assist me with finding what new direction in life I could go.
If it wasn’t for the social activities I could participate in, such as those found in The Post, I don’t know if I could have escaped the isolation that was suffocating me...
"WWP has helped me to live better with my PTSD and the traumatic memories of war. They have done this through the variety of programs they provide.
When I needed mental health care and to learn how to be present again, I participated in their Warrior Care Network. WCN also aided my family in understanding what PTSD is and how they can best support me...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Provide warriors, their families, and others in their support network a way to interact with their communities again. I found a lot of healing by being around others, and I couldn’t do that on my own."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"I loved learning about medicine and being able to use that knowledge to care for others. I also appreciated being able to learn how to push myself beyond my limitations to achieves goals."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Sergio Alfaro grew up as one of nine kids in a single-income family. Despite his difficult upbringing, he dreamed of becoming a doctor, and when Sergio learned that the U.S. Army would pay for his college degree, he joined right out of high school. A few years later, Sergio was assigned to a medical unit in Iraq.
Sergio Alfaro
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2013
Blackhawk Helicopter Crew Chief and Flight Instructor
U.S. Army
"WWP has helped me build my self-confidence by getting me out of my comfort zone through speaking to crowds and television networks, and it has brought me to live a healthier life through cycling (Soldier Ride) and by focusing on fitness to be able to help others."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"WWP has helped post-9/11 vets and their families navigate the VA systems, but has also helped us to form a tribe of other vets in similar situations and help push each other to make our community stronger and more capable for those around us."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Serving alongside some of this nation’s best warriors, seeing places in this world I had only read about in history books, playing with a really big toy (Blackhawk helicopter)."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Military service in Mark Lalli’s family goes back to the American Revolution. Both of Mark’s grandfathers served in WWII — and growing up, Mark wanted to be just like them. “It was my dream to follow in their footsteps,” says Mark, and one week after his 17th birthday, he joined the Army.
Mark Lalli
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2013
Military Police
U.S. Army, Army Reserve
That has stuck with me, and I have been able to share that with other warriors I have met that had the same thoughts as me about not being worthy. No matter the struggles and the severity of the injury, I know that we are all “worth it,” and WWP is here for us."
"I met a warrior named Joel at my first WWP event. I told him about my reluctance to participate in a WWP event and how I did not deserve to be there with a guy like him.
Joel was severely burned over 90% of his body, he is blind, missing a leg, most of his fingers are webbed together, and has endured 120 surgeries. He actually “got on” to me for even having such a thought...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Bring veterans together for the friendship, camaraderie, fun, and laughter that seems to fade after leaving the military."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Serving the greatest country in the world and the friends I made and experiences I had."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
When Bill Geiger returned to civilian life after two deployments with the United States Army, he was a changed man. His service in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Camp Bucca, Iraq, guarding high-value detainees, deteriorated the formerly vibrant man his wife, Sara, once knew.
Bill Geiger
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2005
Combat Engineer
U.S. Army
"WWP has given me the tools to move forward. So many times when I wanted to give up and end it all, I was able to pull myself out of it because of the amazing warriors I have met along the way. So many have had challenges, and each one was different. Each warrior I have been able to meet along the way had given me a tool out of their toolbox, hoping that I would pass it on to my brothers. Many warriors were there talking me off the ledge in my darkest moments. While each program in WWP is different, the core is always the same, warriors take care of warriors, learning from each other and growing with each other."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Handing out backpacks to injured service members. The idea was simple, fill the backpack with essentials for feeling like a human being instead of a number in a hospital bed, and hand said backpack to the warrior. That very simple thing gave me a sense of purpose. It gave me some hope that I wasn't alone. I didn't need money or someone telling me they felt sorry for me. I needed to know I wasn't forgotten and alone in this fight."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Being able to stand next to my brothers in combat."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
When Deven Schei's brother, Erik, was first deployed to Iraq, Deven made him a solemn vow: "If something happens to you while you're over there, I promise to finish what you started." Tragically, something did happen. Deven kept his promise and joined the U.S. Army.
Deven Schei
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2009
Combat Medic, Postal Clerk, Gunner
U.S. Army
"Music was a huge part of ME before Iraq. With injuries and illnesses, I lost it for many years. WWP and the Independence Program showed me that I can still do it with modifications. I now play the uke and mini guitar and have written dozens of songs. I even had one released nationally! My words are helping me and my comrades heal and educate civilians."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Given a reason to live!"
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Camaraderie and doing something for country and family."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Angie Lupe grew up in a family with a long history of military service, and when she became overwhelmed with college, the Army seemed like a natural fit. But just two years after she enlisted, the events of 9/11 changed her reserve unit’s status, and she was deployed to Iraq.
Angie Lupe
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2009
Multichannel-transmissions systems operator/
U.S. Army
It’s been a few years since I participated in any major programs, but even the Zoom classes keep me engaged and focused on reaching my potential- emotionally, spiritually, financially, ALL OF IT!
I deserve an amazing life, and I live that life in honor of those we lost."
I went from a scared, agoraphobic veteran on 18 medications to an entrepreneur on 0 medications who travels the country in my RV with my service dog and hiking buddy, Raider.
I have been empowered through multiple WWP programs, which have made me grow, heal, and reach my goals...
"I needed healing, badly, and WWP came into my life when I felt invisible and like I did not fit in anywhere because I was a female combat veteran with PTSD in the early part of the war.
The concept of “challenge by choice” I learned at Project Odyssey has transformed my life. I have since pushed my comfort zone daily!...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"I have watched them grow from the time I got a backpack when I was at Landstuhl to an organization with hundreds of thousands of warriors, caregivers, and supporters. They have given our generation non-pathologizing, non-clinical ways to heal from our experiences. They advocate for us on capitol hill and help us attain the benefits we earned through blood and sacrifice."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"I loved the missions we were given, the camaraderie of being so close."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Angie Peacock joined the U.S. Army in 1998 because she wanted a meaningful job that empowered her to help others. While in Iraq, she came down with a mysterious illness that caused her to be medevac’d to a hospital in Germany, the day after her platoon’s convoy was attacked.
Angie Peacock
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2012
Aircraft Electronic Countermeasures Systems Technician
U.S. Marine Corps
Over the years, I found more ways to address my Post Traumatic Stress and connected with other veterans through WWP’s life-changing programs like Project Odyssey, Soldier Ride, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, and the variety of local events carried out in my area. Now I am giving back to WWP; I am empowered as a warrior leader by helping other warriors experience healing through WWP programs. I couldn’t be more proud of how far I have come."
"WWP helped me climb out of a very dark place in my life where I was lost after I was medically discharged from the military.
I didn’t know how I would ever get rid of the nightmares from combat and Military Sexual Trauma. I was weary from the shame of feeling like I had failed by being medically discharged...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"WWP ensured post-9/11 veterans and their families were not forgotten in discussions about mental health, military policy, and the needs of the homeless community."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"I loved working on the gear, getting orders to new places, facilitating training, and earning the privilege to wear my uniform."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Taniki Richard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001. She enjoyed all her duty stations — even, to some extent, Iraq. One night, while on a helicopter mission, her team came under fire. They completed the mission and returned safely, but her life was changed.
Taniki Richard
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2015
JAG Corp – Military Justice NCO
NY Army National Guard
"WWP has helped me overcome some of the greatest challenges I have ever faced in my life. When I felt as if I had nothing meaningful to offer the world anymore, they helped me remember that I still had so much more to give. They have positively affected every element of my life. They have assisted with improving my emotional well-being, helped me grow professionally, and changed the trajectory of my life in a way I would have never imagined.
Thank you, WWP, for bringing me back to life again!"
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Speaking on behalf of my family and me, WWP has given my parents the daughter they knew before I joined the military. They stuck by me at one of the hardest times of my life but felt helpless because they didn’t know how to help me. WWP helped us achieve effective communication with one another. They were at my parent’s side and taught them how to provide the best care for me. Seeing me laugh, smile and enjoy life again has not only helped bring us back together as a family but also provided them the means to heal as well."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"What I loved the most about serving in the military was getting to meet some of the most selfless, motivated, amazingly patriotic people the world has to offer. Although day-to-day trials and tribulations while deployed felt daunting, I was confident I would complete any mission that came our way because we could trust our lives in the hands of one another. Many of my brothers and sisters in arms became family. They taught me that courage, integrity, and staying true to one’s duty are essential elements of every success story."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Antoinette Wallace grew up in Staten Island, NY, in the shadow of the Manhattan skyline. So, when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, as she and her classmates watched from their high school windows, it had a profound impact on her future.
Antoinette Wallace
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2013
Chinook Maintainer and Crew Chief
U.S. Army
"After my injury, my world became very dark WWP helped me to see all the possibilities to look past my disability and find new ways of doing tasks.
They made me realize my life was not over. I still had multiple skills and talents to draw from.
They helped me see that my life was just beginning and that all things are possible with the right support group and motivation."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"When I was medically retired from the military, going back into the civilian sector, nothing made sense. All of a sudden, my support network was diminished. WWP helped me find my new purpose and opened many doors that led to a new support network."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"What I liked best about serving in the United States military is that it was not just a job. It gave me a purpose, and the people that worked with became family. We were in a fight together. I love you. It was never being alone."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
In 2011, while deployed to Afghanistan, Beth’s helicopter took a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenade. Beth fell out of the hatch and dangled in the air from her backstrap until the pilots could make a hard landing. Because she had no visible wounds, she was sent back out just four days later.
Beth King
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2007
Military Police, Gunner
U.S. Army
"WWP has helped me overcome physical, mental, and emotional challenges through support, commitment, and dedication to their mission. They helped me return to school, provided physical fitness activity opportunities, and facilitated lasting friendships with other Warriors I have met at events."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"I would say promoting legislation for Veterans and their families to help caregivers. I think it was called the family caregiver act."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Being around other people from all walks of life and learning about how different, yet the same we are. It was great to make friends with not only people from other states, but even other countries. I also like to wear camo and it’s looked down upon if you wear it too much on the civilian side."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Dr. Bryan Wagner never intended to join the military. But that changed on September 11, 2001. Bryan was the turret gunner in the lead Humvee on December 18, 2007, when his vehicle was hit by an explosively formed penetrator— a bomb designed to cut through armor.
Dr. Bryan Wagner
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2011
Airborne Infantryman
U.S. Army
"WWP has helped me overcome my challenges by giving me the tools to help me overcome my obstacles and by placing the right people in my life to offer assistance when I need it."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"I know the most significant thing WWP has done for post-9/11 veterans is help us find our purpose in life after the military. When I joined WWP, I was lost and on the verge of ending my life. With their help and support, I now serve the community and help lift my brothers and sisters out of their ruts."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"What I liked the best about my time in service is traveling and being stationed in different parts of the world."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
In 1999, Michael Matthews joined the U.S. Army infantry. “There were a lot of fun times, especially being overseas,” says Michael. But the events of 9/11 changed military life for Michael. Three deployments landed him in an active war zone in Iraq, where enemy contact was a daily occurrence.
Michael Matthews
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2005
Combat Engineer
U.S. Army
When Deven Schei's brother, Erik, was first deployed to Iraq, Deven made him a solemn vow: "If something happens to you while you're over there, I promise to finish what you started." Tragically, something did happen. Deven kept his promise and joined the U.S. Army.
"WWP has given me the tools to move forward.
So many times when I wanted to give up and end it all, I was able to pull myself out of it because of the amazing warriors I have met along the way.
So many have had challenges, and each one was different...
Each warrior I have been able to meet along the way had given me a tool out of their toolbox, hoping that I would pass it on to my brothers. Many warriors were there talking me off the ledge in my darkest moments. While each program in WWP is different, the core is always the same, warriors take care of warriors, learning from each other and growing with each other."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Being able to stand next to my brothers in combat."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Deven Schei
Read full story
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2016
Combat Medic
U.S. Army,
Air National Guard
Sergio Alfaro grew up as one of nine kids in a single-income family. Despite his difficult upbringing, he dreamed of becoming a doctor, and when Sergio learned that the U.S. Army would pay for his college degree, he joined right out of high school. A few years later, Sergio was assigned to a medical unit in Iraq.
This is where the all-male Project Odyssey helped me learn about vulnerability and how to access it with others. The Couples Project Odyssey assisted my spouse and me in communicating again. Lastly, Soldier Ride helped me to find some pride in my service and find proof that I was resilient. There is so much that WWP has provided my family and me, and I’ll be forever grateful for all of it."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
When I was finally ready to try out the tools taught to me in therapy and see if I could hold a career, Warriors to Work was there to assist me with finding what new direction in life I could go. If it wasn’t for the social activities I could participate in, such as those found in The Post, I don’t know if I could have escaped the isolation that was suffocating me...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"WWP has helped me to live better with my PTSD and the traumatic memories of war. They have done this through the variety of programs they provide. When I needed mental health care and to learn how to be present again, I participated in their Warrior Care Network. WCN also aided my family in understanding what PTSD is and how they can best support me...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Provide warriors, their families, and others in their support network a way to interact with their communities again. I found a lot of healing by being around others, and I couldn’t do that on my own."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"I loved learning about medicine and being able to use that knowledge to care for others. I also appreciated being able to learn how to push myself beyond my limitations to achieves goals."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Sergio Alfaro
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2013
Blackhawk Helicopter Crew Chief and Flight Instructor
U.S. Army
Military service in Mark Lalli’s family goes back to the American Revolution. Both of Mark’s grandfathers served in WWII — and growing up, Mark wanted to be just like them. “It was my dream to follow in their footsteps,” says Mark, and one week after his 17th birthday, he joined the Army.
"WWP has helped me build my self-confidence by getting me out of my comfort zone through speaking to crowds and television networks, and it has brought me to live a healthier life through cycling (Soldier Ride) and by focusing on fitness to be able to help others."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"WWP has helped post-9/11 vets and their families navigate the VA systems, but has also helped us to form a tribe of other vets in similar situations and help push each other to make our community stronger and more capable for those around us."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Serving alongside some of this nation’s best warriors, seeing places in this world I had only read about in history books, playing with a really big toy (Blackhawk helicopter)."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Mark Lalli
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2009
Combat Medic, Postal Clerk, Gunner
U.S. Army
Angie Lupe grew up in a family with a long history of military service, and when she became overwhelmed with college, the Army seemed like a natural fit. But just two years after she enlisted, the events of 9/11 changed her reserve unit’s status, and she was deployed to Iraq.
"Music was a huge part of ME before Iraq. With injuries and illnesses, I lost it for many years. WWP and the Independence Program showed me that I can still do it with modifications. I now play the uke and mini guitar and have written dozens of songs. I even had one released nationally!
My words are helping me and my comrades heal and educate civilians."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Given a reason to live!"
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Camaraderie and doing something for country and family."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Angie Lupe
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2013
Military Police
U.S. Army,
Army Reserve
When Bill Geiger returned to civilian life after two deployments with the United States Army, he was a changed man. His service in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Camp Bucca, Iraq, guarding high-value detainees, deteriorated the formerly vibrant man his wife, Sara, once knew.
He actually “got on” to me for even having such a thought. That has stuck with me, and I have been able to share that with other warriors I have met that had the same thoughts as me about not being worthy. No matter the struggles and the severity of the injury, I know that we are all “worth it,” and WWP is here for us."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"I met a warrior named Joel at my first WWP event. I told him about my reluctance to participate in a WWP event and how I did not deserve to be there with a guy like him. Joel was severely burned over 90% of his body, he is blind, missing a leg, most of his fingers are webbed together, and has endured 120 surgeries...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Bring veterans together for the friendship, camaraderie, fun, and laughter that seems to fade after leaving the military."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Serving the greatest country in the world and the friends I made and experiences I had."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Bill Geiger
That very simple thing gave me a sense of purpose. It gave me some hope that I wasn't alone.
I didn't need money or someone telling me they felt sorry for me. I needed to know I wasn't forgotten and alone in this fight."
"Handing out backpacks to injured service members.
The idea was simple, fill the backpack with essentials for feeling like a human being instead of a number in a hospital bed, and hand said backpack to the warrior...
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2009
Multichannel-transmissions systems operator/maintainer (radios and antennas)
U.S. Army
Angie Peacock joined the U.S. Army in 1998 because she wanted a meaningful job that empowered her to help others. While in Iraq, she came down with a mysterious illness that caused her to be medevac’d to a hospital in Germany, the day after her platoon’s convoy was attacked.
I went from a scared, agoraphobic veteran on 18 medications to an entrepreneur on 0 medications who travels the country in my RV with my service dog and hiking buddy, Raider.
I have been empowered through multiple WWP programs, which have made me grow, heal, and reach my goals...
"I needed healing, badly, and WWP came into my life when I felt invisible and like I did not fit in anywhere because I was a female combat veteran with PTSD in the early part of the war. The concept of “challenge by choice” I learned at Project Odyssey has transformed my life. I have since pushed my comfort zone daily!..
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"I have watched them grow from the time I got a backpack when I was at Landstuhl to an organization with hundreds of thousands of warriors, caregivers, and supporters. They have given our generation non-pathologizing, non-clinical ways to heal from our experiences. They advocate for us on capitol hill and help us attain the benefits we earned through blood and sacrifice."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"I loved the missions we were given, the camaraderie of being so close."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Angie Peacock
It’s been a few years since I participated in any major programs, but even the Zoom classes keep me engaged and focused on reaching my potential- emotionally, spiritually, financially, ALL OF IT!
I deserve an amazing life, and I live that life in honor of those we lost."
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2012
Aircraft Electronic Countermeasures Systems Technician
U.S. Marine Corps
Taniki Richard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001. She enjoyed all her duty stations — even, to some extent, Iraq. One night, while on a helicopter mission, her team came under fire. They completed the mission and returned safely, but her life was changed.
"WWP ensured post-9/11 veterans and their families were not forgotten in discussions about mental health, military policy, and the needs of the homeless community."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"I loved working on the gear, getting orders to new places, facilitating training, and earning the privilege to wear my uniform."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Taniki Richard
Now I am giving back to WWP; I am empowered as a warrior leader by helping other warriors experience healing through WWP programs.
I couldn’t be more proud of how far I have come."
Over the years, I found more ways to address my Post Traumatic Stress and connected with other veterans through WWP’s life-changing programs like Project Odyssey, Soldier Ride, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, and the variety of local events carried out in my area...
"WWP helped me climb out of a very dark place in my life where I was lost after I was medically discharged from the military. I didn’t know how I would ever get rid of the nightmares from combat and Military Sexual Trauma.
I was weary from the shame of feeling like I had failed by being medically discharged...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2015
JAG Corp – Military Justice NCO
NY Army, National Guard
Antoinette Wallace grew up in Staten Island, NY, in the shadow of the Manhattan skyline. So, when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, as she and her classmates watched from their high school windows, it had a profound impact on her future.
Antoinette Wallace
Many of my brothers and sisters in arms became family.
They taught me that courage, integrity, and staying true to one’s duty are essential elements of every success story."
"What I loved the most about serving in the military was getting to meet some of the most selfless, motivated, amazingly patriotic people the world has to offer. Although day-to-day trials and tribulations while deployed felt daunting, I was confident I would complete any mission that came our way because we could trust our lives in the hands of one another...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
WWP helped us achieve effective communication with one another. They were at my parent’s side and taught them how to provide the best care for me.
Seeing me laugh, smile and enjoy life again has not only helped bring us back together as a family but also provided them the means to heal as well."
"Speaking on behalf of my family and me, WWP has given my parents the daughter they knew before I joined the military.
They stuck by me at one of the hardest times of my life but felt helpless because they didn’t know how to help me...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"WWP has helped me overcome some of the greatest challenges I have ever faced in my life. When I felt as if I had nothing meaningful to offer the world anymore, they helped me remember that I still had so much more to give. They have positively affected every element of my life. They have assisted with improving my emotional well-being, helped me grow professionally, and changed the trajectory of my life in a way I would have never imagined. Thank you, WWP, for bringing me back to life again!"
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2013
Chinook Maintainer and Crew Chief
U.S. Army
In 2011, while deployed to Afghanistan, Beth’s helicopter took a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenade. Beth fell out of the hatch and dangled in the air from her backstrap until the pilots could make a hard landing. Because she had no visible wounds, she was sent back out just four days later.
"After my injury, my world became very dark WWP helped me to see all the possibilities to look past my disability and find new ways of doing tasks.
They made me realize my life was not over. I still had multiple skills and talents to draw from. They helped me see that my life was just beginning and that all things are possible with the right support group and motivation."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"When I was medically retired from the military, going back into the civilian sector, nothing made sense. All of a sudden, my support network was diminished. WWP helped me find my new purpose and opened many doors that led to a new support network."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"What I liked best about serving in the United States military is that it was not just a job. It gave me a purpose, and the people that worked with became family. We were in a fight together. I love you. It was never being alone."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Beth King
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2011
Airborne Infantryman
U.S. Army
In 1999, Michael Matthews joined the U.S. Army infantry. “There were a lot of fun times, especially being overseas,” says Michael. But the events of 9/11 changed military life for Michael. Three deployments landed him in an active war zone in Iraq, where enemy contact was a daily occurrence.
"WWP has helped me overcome my challenges by giving me the tools to help me overcome my obstacles and by placing the right people in my life to offer assistance when I need it."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"I know the most significant thing WWP has done for post-9/11 veterans is help us find our purpose in life after the military.
When I joined WWP, I was lost and on the verge of ending my life. With their help and support, I now serve the community and help lift my brothers and sisters out of their ruts."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"What I liked the best about my time in service is traveling and being stationed in different parts of the world."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Michael Matthews
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2007
Military Police, Gunner
U.S. Army
Dr. Bryan Wagner never intended to join the military. But that changed on September 11, 2001. Bryan was the turret gunner in the lead Humvee on December 18, 2007, when his vehicle was hit by an explosively formed penetrator— a bomb designed to cut through armor.
"WWP has helped me overcome physical, mental, and emotional challenges through support, commitment, and dedication to their mission.
They helped me return to school, provided physical fitness activity opportunities, and facilitated lasting friendships with other Warriors I have met at events."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Being around other people from all walks of life and learning about how different, yet the same we are.
It was great to make friends with not only people from other states, but even other countries. I also like to wear camo and it’s looked down upon if you wear it too much on the civilian side."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"I would say promoting legislation for Veterans and their families to help caregivers. I think it was called the family caregiver act."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Dr. Bryan Wagner
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
"Through WWP’s Warrior Care Network I was able to receive treatment and really have it make a positive impact in my life."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"WWP has transformed the veteran community through all of the programs and events that really help veterans and their families through various life challenges and empower them to engage in their communities."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"The camaraderie among those I had the privilege to serve alongside with stateside and in OEF & OIF II."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Tim Aponte loved serving in the U.S. Army. Then, just 53 days before he was scheduled to return home, a rocket-propelled grenade exploded near him, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), internal shrapnel injuries, and a broken back.
Tim Aponte
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Joined WWP in 2009
Infantry
U.S. Army
"There was an authentic brotherhood and sisterhood."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2009
Infantry
U.S. Army
Tim Aponte loved serving in the U.S. Army. Then, just 53 days before he was scheduled to return home, a rocket-propelled grenade exploded near him, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), internal shrapnel injuries, and a broken back.
"WWP has transformed the veteran community through all of the programs and events that really help veterans and their families through various life challenges and empower them to engage in their communities."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"The camaraderie among those I had the privilege to serve alongside with stateside and in OEF & OIF II."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Tim Aponte
"Through WWP’s Warrior Care Network I was able to receive treatment and really have it make a positive impact in my life."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2005
Armor Crew/Supply Sergeant
U.S. Army
"WWP helped me by reaching out to me when I finished my recovery and relocated to a new state and town. By encouraging me to get out of the house and participating in my first Soldier Ride event, it motivated me by showing me there were great things I could take part in. Now I am thriving in my new environment with the knowledge that I have great resources available to me through Wounded Warrior Project."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"The most significant thing that WWP has done for post 9/11 veterans is bringing awareness to the public by sharing our stories and needs to ensure that we are not forgotten."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Working with a team and accomplishing the mission."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Chris Gordon joined the U.S. Army in 1997. His first duty station was Hohenfels, Germany — and that’s where he was on September 11, 2001. By the time the war began, Chris was assigned to a Stryker armored vehicle unit as an infantry supply sergeant.
Chris Gordon
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2005
Armor Crew/ Supply Sergeant
U.S. Army
Chris Gordon joined the U.S. Army in 1997. His first duty station was Hohenfels, Germany — and that’s where he was on September 11, 2001. By the time the war began, Chris was assigned to a Stryker armored vehicle unit as an infantry supply sergeant.
"WWP helped me by reaching out to me when I finished my recovery and relocated to a new state and town. By encouraging me to get out of the house and participating in my first Soldier Ride event, it motivated me by showing me there were great things I could take part in. Now I am thriving in my new environment with the knowledge that I have great resources available to me through Wounded Warrior Project."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"The most significant thing that WWP has done for post 9/11 veterans is bringing awareness to the public by sharing our stories and needs to ensure that we are not forgotten."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"Working with a team and accomplishing the mission. "
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Chris Gordon
Read his story
Tim Aponte
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible to enjoy life again"
Read his story
Chris Gordon
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
to be a father and raise a family again"
Tim Aponte
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible to be normal again"
Read his story
Read his story
Chris Gordon
Wounded Warrior
"It's possible
to know that
no one needs to suffer alone"
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2010
Hospital Corpsman attached to the Marine Corps
U.S. Navy
"In 2015 WWP/ Harley Davidson partnership changed six veterans' lives by gifting them a Harley Davidson Motorcycle of their choice. I'm humbled to say that I am one of the six. That event changed my direction in life. It helped me understand my purpose. Since then, I have ridden thousands of miles using the ultra-limited low motorcycle as my vessel to reach out to Veterans who need to be reached out to. I have ridden around the country, admiring and immersing in the history and the beauty of the United States of America."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Empowering one veteran/family one at a time with all the programs they offer. Programs like Peer to Peer support, Project Odyssey, mental and physical wellness, the Independence Program, and many more."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"I was given an opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself, I’m humbled to say that the military gave me a sense of worth, not only medically, but as a part of a team. We were held accountable for our actions and pushed for the best out of us."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Ray Andalio was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States when he was 14 years old because of a revolution in his homeland. He loved and respected the country that sheltered his family and helped them find freedom, and in 1992 he decided to give back by joining the U.S. Navy.
Ray Andalio
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Ray Andalio was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States when he was 14 years old because of a revolution in his homeland. He loved and respected the country that sheltered his family and helped them find freedom, and in 1992 he decided to give back by joining the U.S. Navy.
In 2003, Ray was sent to Iraq to serve as a corpsman for a unit of Marines, and his training was put to the ultimate test. “My whole battalion was getting blasted left and right,” says Ray. “Everybody in my unit has something wrong. If they say there’s nothing wrong with them, they’re in denial.”
Ray was injured in April 2004, when the shock waves from multiple explosions caused a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that — to this day — requires him to wear dark glasses to prevent severe headaches. He also lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of his experiences. When Ray came home, he struggled more with his survivor’s guilt and PTSD than the physical injury to his brain.
“I’d rather have a TBI than post-traumatic stress,” says Ray, “Because my whole time in Iraq was bad ju-ju. Just being reminded of that is challenging.” Though he sought help, many hard years followed. He even tried to take his own life.
Thankfully, in 2010, Ray met a veteran who introduced him to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), and his life started to improve. WWP helped him get involved in sports like running and cycling, and the inspiring veterans he met helped him realize he could overcome PTSD, just like they had. Most importantly, he found his new purpose — helping other veterans.
“Thanks to Wounded Warrior Project, I’m still ‘Doc,’ even though I’m no longer a corpsman,” says Ray. “I’m just saving my fellow warriors differently now.” He also continues to serve as a Peer Support Group leader for WWP. “I’m able to reach out to people and make a difference in their lives,” says Ray. “I can honestly tell you; I can pinpoint every single warrior I’ve encountered who is now blessed and has a better life because of Wounded Warrior Project.”
Ray Andalio
Ray Andalio
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How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Joined WWP in 2010
Hospital Corpsman attached to the Marine Corps
U.S. Navy
Ray Andalio was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States when he was 14 years old because of a revolution in his homeland. He loved and respected the country that sheltered his family and helped them find freedom, and in 1992 he decided to give back by joining the U.S. Navy.
Since then, I have ridden thousands of miles using the ultra-limited low motorcycle as my vessel to reach out to Veterans who need to be reached out to. I have ridden around the country, admiring and immersing in the history and the beauty of the United States of America."
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"In 2015 WWP/ Harley Davidson partnership changed six veterans' lives by gifting them a Harley Davidson Motorcycle of their choice. I'm humbled to say that I am one of the six. That event changed my direction in life. It helped me understand my purpose...
How has WWP helped you overcome challenges?
"Empowering one veteran/family one at a time with all the programs they offer. Programs like Peer to Peer support, Project Odyssey, mental and physical wellness, the Independence Program, and many more."
What is the most significant thing WWP has done for warriors and families over the last 20 years?
"I was given an opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself, I’m humbled to say that the military gave me a sense of worth, not only medically, but as a part of a team. We were held accountable for our actions and pushed for the best out of us."
What did you like best about serving in the military?
Ray Andalio
“Thanks to Wounded Warrior Project, I’m still ‘Doc,’ even though I’m no longer a corpsman,” says Ray. “I’m just saving my fellow warriors differently now.”
He also continues to serve as a Peer Support Group leader for WWP. “I’m able to reach out to people and make a difference in their lives,” says Ray. “I can honestly tell you; I can pinpoint every single warrior I’ve encountered who is now blessed and has a better life because of Wounded Warrior Project.”
He also lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of his experiences. When Ray came home, he struggled more with his survivor’s guilt and PTSD than the physical injury to his brain.
“I’d rather have a TBI than post-traumatic stress,” says Ray, “Because my whole time in Iraq was bad ju-ju. Just being reminded of that is challenging.” Though he sought help, many hard years followed. He even tried to take his own life.
Thankfully, in 2010, Ray met a veteran who introduced him to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), and his life started to improve. WWP helped him get involved in sports like running and cycling, and the inspiring veterans he met helped him realize he could overcome PTSD, just like they had. Most importantly, he found his new purpose — helping other veterans.
Ray Andalio was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States when he was 14 years old because of a revolution in his homeland. He loved and respected the country that sheltered his family and helped them find freedom, and in 1992 he decided to give back by joining the U.S. Navy.
In 2003, Ray was sent to Iraq to serve as a corpsman for a unit of Marines, and his training was put to the ultimate test. “My whole battalion was getting blasted left and right,” says Ray. “Everybody in my unit has something wrong. If they say there’s nothing wrong with them, they’re in denial.”
Ray was injured in April 2004, when the shock waves from multiple explosions caused a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that — to this day — requires him to wear dark glasses to prevent severe headaches.
Ray Andalio
Ray Andalio
"It's possible
to be a better husband and a good father"