Where did you serve and what did you do?
My time in the service within the Marine Corps was as a heavy machine gunner and I deployed 3 times between 2003 and 2006. Within each deployment, I was a recipient of the Purple Heart since I was wounded each time I deployed to Iraq. I was very lucky as many of my brothers did not make it back from the same deployments with 3rd Battalion 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division.
How are you #StillServing?
Currently, I am #StillServing by activating my platoon of veteran volunteers to assist with various projects in Compton, Watts and South Central. Our platoon has helped support the distribution of nearly 1200 meals or food boxes a week over the last few months. The platoon has also begun growing vegetables at home to contribute to community sustainment gardens along with being able to provide this service as a means for others to serve their community from home. While remaining socially distanced our platoon has also executed community trash cleanups along with currently renovating our VFW post in Compton, California. Our Post 5394 has a unique history and our work within the post is to continue to carry the legacy.
Why do you do it?
The reason why I am #StillServing is the same reason my brothers and sisters in our veteran volunteer service platoon serve, it is because we still can. Serving our community has gone hand in hand with providing all of us a sense of purpose, a means of therapy and rebuilding the camaraderie we all still desire to have in our lives. More importantly, we serve in an effort to continue to improve our communities in need as today more than ever, unbiased veteran leadership is needed to help reinforce these types of efforts across the country.