Hiking Toward Healing, One Ruck at a Time

Warrior Melvin Gatewood honors the fallen and manages his mental injuries in a unique physical way.  

“Along the road of recovery, I was walking down the highway, and it got isolating,” said warrior Melvin Gatewood. “I wasn’t around any cars anymore, people weren’t blowing their horns, and those are times you find out why you are rucking when there is no encouragement, just you and your thoughts.”  

Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, one foot in front of the other, repeat for mile after mile. Rucking started as a training exercise for Melvin when he served in the Army.  These days, rucking — hiking or marching with a weighted vest or backpack — has become far more than a march to benefit his physical health. And on the highway to a healthier life, he’s not alone. Warriors Doing Hard Things, presented by Mojo, highlights amazing warrior stories of courage and resilience. 

Marching is More than a Mission

Desert sand swirled around a convoy of Humvees, each one following the tracks of the one in front of it. It’s April 19, 2005, and Melvin is in the third Humvee, deployed with his National Guard unit to Iraq with a mission of collecting an important person from a base.   

Suddenly, a blast goes off under Melvin’s Humvee, and the next memory he has is of him hanging upside in his vehicle with the sound of gunshots in the distance and fire inching closer to his face. Adrenaline takes over, and Melvin completes the mission, but not before suffering burns to his arm and back. More than 20 years after the explosion, Melvin finds personal strength by keeping the memory alive of soldiers he served with many years after they died. 

“For a long time, I was dealing with survivor’s remorse and dealing with grief,” said Melvin. “I go back to the hometowns of the fallen veterans that I served with to remember them on a memorial walk. I carry their picture to show people that this individual paid the ultimate sacrifice, and they should not be forgotten… and they will not be forgotten on my watch.” 

Melvin is often joined by other veterans on his rucks. According to the most recent Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Warrior Survey*, 67% of warriors said that talking to another veteran helps them cope with stress or mental health concerns. 

Walking Toward Mental Healing 

Melvin has been doing hard things his entire life. After registering with WWP, he re-enrolled in college to complete his degree in criminal justice and homeland security. And while his physical wounds have healed, he consistently works toward addressing his mental health concerns. 

“Having a conversation surrounding mental health, those conversations were not always welcome in certain spaces,” said Melvin. 

Melvin found the mental health support he needed through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and WWP programs like Project Odyssey®, a 12-week mental health program that uses adventure-based learning for warriors — and WWP Talk®, a non-clinical weekly program that connects warriors with emotional support and goal-setting guidance. 

Twenty years after his Humvee accident in Iraq, Melvin decided he needed to continue his professional mental health care and reached out to Warrior Care Network  at Rush University Medical Center Road Home Program in Chicago.  He wasn’t alone in asking for help. In fiscal year 2025, WWP provided almost 76,000 hours of treatment through Warrior Care Network to more than 4,400 warriors and family support members. 

Warrior Care Network is an accelerated brain health program that condenses over 50 hours of treatment in two weeks using a cohort model.  All WWP programs are provided at no cost to the warriors, their families, and caregivers. 

“The program was intensive and gave me the opportunity to address some things I have been avoiding for years,” said Melvin. “They gave me a different viewpoint at Warrior Care Network.  When I had moments that were uncomfortable the team would say that it’s ok to experience those emotions and we’d push through to find a solution. It was very beneficial for my journey of healing.” 

For years, Melvin has guided veterans and fellow warriors to the resources they need to live a healthier life. It was a hard thing for him to realize that it was time for him to take a knee. 

“I’m not saying we’re surrendering, but we’re pausing to take care of ourselves because we cannot do for others if we’re in a bad place. So, it’s important to address those issues when they arrive and work toward being the better you,” Melvin said. 

Taking the Lead to Guide Others 

 Melvin is now a Peer Support Group leader with WWP and a certified peer specialist with VA. He also runs the veteran nonprofit Operation Continue Service, an organization dedicated to remembering fallen military personnel and supporting veterans by hosting social gatherings. Many times, he takes fellow veterans and warriors rucking to stay physically fit, but also to build support through camaraderie. 

“I’m open and relatable, a listening ear who doesn’t always have the solution, but will refer them to the Resource Center or other programs at Wounded Warrior Project,” said Melvin. “I may be the leader of the group, but I’m just another one of the veterans around the table. As I pour into them, they’re pouring back into me, iron sharpens iron.” 

Many times, Melvin’s ruck marches symbolize mental healing. He takes bricks with labels like “depression” and “stress” out of his rucksack and leaves them along his march to symbolize leaving his problems behind on the road to healing.  

Finding Strength at Home 

While his professional life is focused on helping fellow veterans, Melvin’s greatest source of healing is at home with his wife, Shalonda, who is also a warrior. 

“She’s my better half, the person who I confide in, but we also relate to things when it comes to the military,” said Melvin.  “She’s accompanied me on some ruck marches, and I’ve helped her advocate for herself when it comes to health care and finding resources within Wounded Warrior Project.”  

Melvin and his wife strive to be positive examples for their daughter and were two of more than 18,000 warriors, family support members, and caregivers who were connected to mental health support through WWP in fiscal year 2025.  Constantly striving to not just survive, but thrive as partners and parents, they always put one foot in front of the other, continuing on their paths to recovery. 

“Over the years people have asked me if I’ve had enough, if I’m ready to stop, but I tell them that I’m going to continue doing it until I see a sign to stop,” Melvin said “It’s easy to do things when you’re being acknowledged for them, but can you do it when it’s not the glamorous thing?” 

*Warrior Survey, Wave 3 (conducted May 25 – Aug. 1, 2023) 

Learn more about Warriors Doing Hard Things.

Contact: Rich Donnelly, Public Relations, rdonnelly@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.831.7315 

About Wounded Warrior Project 

Wounded Warrior Project is our nation’s leading veteran services organization, focused on the total well-being of post-9/11 wounded, ill, or injured veterans. Our programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts help warriors thrive, provide essential lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicides. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.