Warrior Stories

MARYSVILLE, Wash. (Dec. 14th, 2018) – Growing up, Leslie Calderon and her three older brothers dreamt about joining the military, but she was the only one who enlisted. Her journey took her from...

For veteran Joey Pierstorff, setting and besting new goals is part of life. He set his sights on joining the Army after he watched the attacks on Sept. 11. Less than a year later, he was an...

When Army veteran Frank Sonntag first experienced an explosion while serving in Iraq, he did not know the extent of his injuries. He was serving in his second stint in the Army. This deployment,...

Army aviator Claude Boushey knows a thing or two about being there for his fellow service member. He did it after surviving a helicopter crash in Iraq by returning to combat operations just 18...

Returning from service and transitioning to civilian life can be difficult for veterans, especially those dealing with wounds of war. It can also create challenges on the home front as spouses and...

Army veteran Bobby Woods was sure he was going to die in Afghanistan in August of 2010. A sniper round from 450 yards out pierced his forehead. The bullet was the first shot in a firefight, and it...

Severa Parrish could have a life of ‘what ifs.’ What if her military career had continued? What if she had been the Marine to die in a helicopter crash in Iraq? Instead, Severa found hope,...

Bill Geiger credits Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) with helping save his family. How the military police officer was handling post-traumatic stress and other issues from multiple deployments...

Eric DeLion has reached new heights since connecting with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), quite literally. The U.S. Marine Corps veteran joined other wounded warriors to scale Mount Whitney in...

“My life changed in ways I would never imagine,” Dan Smee said during a recent conversation. The Army veteran recounted his experiences as a combat medic in Iraq. “On a daily basis, if you...

Talking to John Goubeaux is a lesson in positivity, but it shouldn’t be. John nearly died seven years ago. He will forever have the scars from that day – the ones you can see, and the ones you...

In the military, “got your six” is a phrase to reference having someone’s back. It is referenced in movies and television shows, but for Antoinette Wallace, it took connecting with Wounded...

Michael Carrasquillo found himself transitioning to civilian life much earlier than expected. The Army veteran suffered five gunshot wounds during an ambush in Afghanistan in 2005, still early in...

Mark Lalli’s life spun out of control in November 2007. The Army veteran’s helicopter malfunctioned in Northern Italy before crashing. He woke weeks later, 4,200 miles away in a hospital bed...

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Soldier Ride® recently returned to Washington, giving two brothers the chance to ride through Annapolis together.

An accident during an Army deployment to Egypt caused Thomas Holcomb’s traumatic brain injury – and the invisible wound led to multiple strokes and seizures that impact his life even today....

The Quest to Rediscover Hope | “Coping with my husband’s post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury has been stressful on our marriage at times,” said Lisa Willis, wife and caregiver...

Independence...On Their Terms | As America celebrates Independence Day, wounded warriors Steve Bohn, Taniki Richard, and Sal Gonzalez sat down with the ladies of The Talk to share their compelling...

Just days after returning from a grueling eight-day run and march, Jarrad Turner was back in the gym.

Wounded Warrior Project® National Service Director and wounded warrior John Roberts sits down with legendary Def Leppard...

People-watching is a way to pass the time and enjoy your surroundings, whether it be at a shopping center, park, or busy city sidewalk. For Marine Corps veteran Joe Merritt, it triggered too many reactions.

Veteran and warrior Carl Quaney has never shied away from jobs that require toughness.

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) recently held its 11th annual Courage Awards & Benefit Dinner®, presented by USAA® (United Services Automobile Association). The gala was a time to honor WWP's...

Something In Common | In the NPR series "Been There: Lessons From A Shared Experience," Army veteran and Wounded Warrior Project® teammate Jarrad Turner speaks to fellow veteran Cameron Cook...

Recently, the East Carolina University Pirates honored our nation's veterans on Military Appreciation Weekend. Wounded warrior Taniki Richard was invited to throw out the first pitch for a game...

Many quotes and clichés exist about the symbolic importance of a step: taking a step forward, a step in the right direction, stepping back to appreciate the bigger picture – the list goes on....

Through WWP Talk, teammate and Army veteran Kevin Sosa helps warriors and families envision and lead lives where they are their best selves. "This program is the front line – the infantry – of...

Carried off the battlefield with injuries, many warriors’ service ends when their minds and bodies are rendered unfit – no longer a dependable asset for other service members who complete the...

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) reached a milestone by registering our 100,000th post-9/11 injured veteran. While the number is a significant landmark, it more importantly symbolizes the need for services for this generation of wounded veterans is great – and growing.

John Jacobson comes from a family of sailors. Both of his older brothers joined the Navy, so when he...

Marquita Pate first learned of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) while waiting to leave the military because of...

Jeremy Franklin’s recovery with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) started long before he retired from...

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Soldier Ride® recently rolled through Tampa, where a group of veterans enjoyed riding 36 miles alongside their fellow warriors.

Warrior Lee Baleme defines success as continued service to other veterans: “I truly feel after having been lost for all that time after getting out of the military, I am...

Organization Counts Up to Serving 100,000 Warriors Warrior Dan Schnock says warrior connection was what drove him to serve with Wounded Warrior Project®: “I was immediately connected to all the...

Wounded Warrior Project Counts Up to Serving 100,000 Warriors Warrior Brian Neuman found a new purpose through Wounded Warrior Project®: “I recognized everyone at Wounded Warrior Project lived...

When Bradley Thomas joined the military, he knew he was in it for the long haul. So when an improvised explosive device (IED) put an end to his career, he said he was not quite ready for the...

Military technology is helping wounded veterans daily make their way back to a better quality of life. In exercise and in their day-to-day lives, warriors are making even more significant strides...

Being casualties of history does not make acts less heroic or service less selfless. Wounded Warrior Project® closes this Black History Month by saluting just a few of the numerous outstanding...

This Black History Month, Wounded Warrior Project salutes hidden figures in the United States military. This installment honors a collection of special women who have changed the face of...

This Black History Month, Wounded Warrior Project salutes hidden figures in the United States military. This installment honors the Army’s Lt. Col. Harriet West Waddy. “As an African-American...

This Black History Month, Wounded Warrior Project salutes hidden figures in the United States military. This installment honors the Montford Point Marines. "It's a long time coming. … Something...

This Black History Month, Wounded Warrior Project salutes hidden figures in the United States military. This installment honors the Army’s 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. “The unit...

This Black History Month, Wounded Warrior Project salutes hidden figures in the United States military. This installment honors the Navy’s first black female rear admiral, Lillian Fishburne....

This Black History Month, Wounded Warrior Project salutes hidden figures in the United States military. This installment honors Cathay Williams, the only known female Buffalo Soldier. “…That...

Military history is as full of firsts as any other part of United States history. Black service members have led the charge for progress through their forgotten valor, despite being largely...

"We Negroes had little, at the turn of the century, to help sustain our faith in ourselves except the pride that we took in the 9th and 10th Cavalry, the 24th and 25th Infantry." – Rayford...

“As small as it was it filled a void that someone was there and cared. Without question or hesitation, a hand was reaching out, there was nobody there to tell them thank you all that was left...

Once discharged from the Army, Jesse Babson’s personal battle with isolation and disillusion took him to his lowest point – and very nearly claimed his life. His downward spiral may well have...

Black history is American history. During Black History Month, Wounded Warrior Project commemorates the valor and tenacity of warriors who have transformed the face of our nation's military with...

Marine and wounded warrior Nancy Beetstra (Schiliro) fought through a challenging post-military transition with the help of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) mental health programs. In this segment...

Semper Fi | On this segment of NPR's Conversations With Allan Wolper, proud Marine and wounded veteran Nancy Beetstra details her own compelling story of triumph and how Wounded Warrior Project®...

Feral hogs were no match for the sharpshooter skills of a group of veterans who connected at a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) hunt. Air Force veteran and wounded warrior Chris Wolff was among...

Few things are more empowering that reaching your ultimate goal. Josh Sommers’ ultimate goal? To walk again one day. He did just that when Wounded Warrior Project® recently teamed up with the...

WASHINGTON D.C. (Jan. 16, 2016) – Ten local warriors recently attended a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) mental health workshop at a mountain lodge and ski park in Pennsylvania. These gatherings...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 16, 2017) – Nichole “Nikki” Gettman served honorably in the Army, doing a tour in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003. However, when she left...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 12, 2017) – When Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) launched Warrior Care Network® last year, the goal was to provide treatment and coping skills for today’s generation...

There are a variety of ways for wounded warriors to cope with the invisible wounds of war. Wounded Warrior Project® connected a group of Soldier Ride Key West warriors to explore managing their...

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 6, 2017) – Chad Prichard’s journey to a new life was not easy every step of the way, but he never lost the will to fight. He credits Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) for giving him the tools needed to stay the course and empowering him to overcome any barriers he encountered.

Warrior Rebecca Benton: “My hope is that – through WWP – I can pass my experience on to other veterans as a way to bond with comrades outside of the typical military structure and build a...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Dec. 21, 2016) – Darren “Red” Rankin had the look of a kid waking up on Christmas morning when he saw what was stacked in a conference room at Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) headquarters in Jacksonville.

Warriors Making Connections: Attending events like this year's 2K Classic helps warriors reduce isolation and recapture military bonds. NEW YORK (Dec. 21, 2016) – Dan Webb and Mike Koziak had...

In her almost 200-day deployment to Logistics Support Area Anaconda in Balad, Iraq, U.S. Airman Jessica Daubenmire’s base was attacked 149 times – three were rocket attacks, and the rest were from mortars. “I remember one evening in July of 2007, I heard the sirens signaling an incoming attack while I was in my bunk,” Jessica said.

“There is no doubt in my mind that music is therapy,” says veteran and WWP music teacher Danny Pitcher. “They’ve left some of themselves over there. My job is to make them realize that...

For Marine Corps wounded warrior Jesse Bergeron, there is plenty to be thankful for this holiday season. Jesse was in his early 20s when he left for his second deployment. Like many veterans...

Wounded warrior Vinny Vanata and wife Jona train their four-month-old golden retriever puppy, Sierra, to be a "battle buddy" for Vinny.

More than 30 wounded warriors attended a two-day, 30-mile Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Soldier Ride® in the River City recently. Soldier Ride is more than just a bicycling event – for many...

Recently, Army veteran and wounded warrior Shane Ayres was profiled in Oklahoma Living Magazine. Shane went looking for the adventure of a lifetime in our nation's armed forces. He found it, but...

"Humor is just one way of coping with stress. It's a release."-- Taniki Richard, retired United States Marine and warrior Few tools are more powerful in a warrior's healing and recovery than for...

To John, completing a bicycle ride with 50 other wounded veterans is one of the greatest accomplishments for a man who has already reached many achievements. John Goubeaux retired from the...

CONVERSE, Texas-- Juan Arredondo is a perfect example of how important it is for warriors to support and lead each other in the transition to civilian life. Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) helped...

More than 30 wounded warriors attended a two-day, 30-mile Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Soldier Ride® in the River City recently. Soldier Ride is more than just a bicycling event – for many...

Wounded veteran Bill Jones talks about how he overcame the challenges of a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder to regain independence through the Wounded Warrior Project®...

Caption: Divemaster James Beack, back, supervises participants in the Veterans Immersion Program at the Georgia Aquarium on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, in Atlanta. (Photos courtesy of HYOSUB SHIN...

“I’ve been with Wounded Warrior Project since 2007 when I came back from Iraq, and it’s been an opportunity to get back involved in life." -- wounded warrior Eddie O’Neal Jungle Island...

The fire of inspiration never takes too long to catch hold and spread. This past Veterans Day on Hawaii's Big Island, James Hokoana (Peer Mentor, Soldier Ride participant, and still currently...

“Each and every one of us veterans, we raised our right hand and we swore an oath on that flag to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. We swore to defend and protect it...

WWP Alumni manager Tim Coop spoke to WSIL 3 News (Southern Illinois) about why activities like the Grassy Lake Duck Hunt are so important for helping wounded warriors connect, reduce isolation,...

Charles “Dozer” Reed, 43, of Keithville, Louisiana, is the recipient of a Sarah Wilson Flight Training Scholarship. He loves aviation history, and excelled at aerospace science in high school....

“I just want people to remember the guys that never came home. Those guys are the real heroes.” – Marine and wounded warrior Shane Kruchten For many wounded warriors, the road to recovery is...

When transitioning back to civilian life, veterans often face new battles. By supporting the Wounded Warrior Project, you can help empower injured services members as they transition back to...

In their own words, wounded veterans who participated in WWP's 2016 Jacksonville Soldier Ride shared their thanks with the generous donors whose giving allows WWP to honor and empower injured...

It is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), the two signature...

Anna shared her personal story of challenge and triumph with Wounded Warrior Project®. By Jodi Mohrmann - Managing Editor of special projects, News4Jax JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Their service doesn't...

Wounded warriors Dan Nevins and Nancy Beetstra share their impactful stories of post-battle success on The View for Veterans Day.

For U.S. Army veteran Demecia Rogers, the rough years began during her deployment to Iraq in 2003. They might very well have continued, had she not reached out to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP)...

The shame and guilt that accompany suicidal thoughts can be overwhelming. “I spent a decade denying it to family, friends, doctors, and brothers and sisters in arms,” said Army veteran Josh...

For many, it was the first time they stepped out of their homes to engage with their communities. Trepidation swelled as injured warriors began to shuffle through a conference room door in St....

“I remember a day when I just stood there and stared at the sunset in the middle of Baghdad, and I was like ‘this is where I’m going to die, and there’s really nothing I can do about it.’”

In addition to displaying extraordinary valor in our nation's armed forces, warriors have passions and talents that many of us don't know about. Marine Sal Gonzalez certainly does and he unveiled...