What veterans inspired you in 2015?

2015-12-23T15:27:28-05:00

I am looking for veterans to interview that have continued to lead others after they have left the service. Whether this is in the private sector, with their entrepreneurial work, or just by helping others, our brothers and sister deserve to have the story of their successful transition story told. You can make recommendations here or if you would like to remain anonymous you can email me at [login to see]

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Dec 23 at 2015 4:50 PM

2015-12-23T16:50:58-05:00

Sgt Junyer Knight great initiative and venture worth the time.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Dec 23 at 2015 8:06 PM

2015-12-23T20:06:35-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs & TSgt Private RallyPoint Member are two here on RP who inspired me to join them and work with other veterans. Together, we were successful!

Response by PVT Robert Gresham made Dec 23 at 2015 11:37 PM

2015-12-23T23:37:13-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs is most definitely an inspiration for a lot of Veterans on Rally Point, Sgt Junyer Knight . His tireless work, and constant outreach to those with PTSD, TBI, and other disabilities makes him the first on my list !!

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made Dec 24 at 2015 6:06 AM

2015-12-24T06:06:56-05:00

I would recommend Brian Urruela at Vetsports.org. He had his leg blown off in Iraq, and has become an author, a physical fitness trainer and started Vetsports.org to help other wounded veterans cope with their issues

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Dec 24 at 2015 12:30 PM

2015-12-24T12:30:24-05:00

Sgt Junyer Knight There were some nay veterans on RP that inspired I can't name this all. Here are a few of them: LTC Stephen F. always providing great responses and a great inspiration! PFC Joseph Levi Great veteran and working very hard with SAVL to help veterans! SGT Sara Hodgkiss Great veterans and volunteer member of SAVL! SPC Diana Rodriguez newest member of SAVL and already making an impact! SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL A real professional Senior NCO that is always on point! SSG Carlos Madden Great veteran and working very hard to make a difference for all the veterans here on RallyPoint, SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" Another great veteran working hard behind the scenes - wonderful person and friend! TSgt Hunter Logan Great lady and veteran that I consider to be a wonderful friend! Sgt Kelli Mays Awesome Veteran and great friend here on RP. CPT Private RallyPoint Member Another great veteran that I respect on RP. Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS Great veteran, intelligent, always providing great thought provoking posts and responses (also worked hard to putt together an awesome White Paper on how to reorganize the VA that is being studied by U.S. House of Representatives
Congressman Chris Gibson, NY-19); PO1 John Miller Great RP Member that has helped me with getting the Patriot Guard Riders lined up for my father-in-law's funeral. LTC Yinon Weiss Great RP CEO who has provided a lot of great assistance, not only to me but all the RP Members in making this a great place for us to meet in 2015 and beyond! CMSgt Mark Schubert another great RP Member that has really stepped up to the plate to help other veterans on this site. GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny" Another great veteran who has helped get Veterans jobs on this site and is now a key member of SAVL! SSG Gabriel Lord, MHRD Another great veteran and recruiter that has stepped up to the plate on numerous occasions to help veterans find jobs!

And here is a list of those I can't tag, but they deserve mentioning just as much: SGT Robert Cable, SGT Veronica Fulham-Blais, COL Charles Williams, LTC Stephen Curlee, CW3 Tiaquinna Hayes, CW3 Nick Koeppen, SSgt Kenneth Vance, CW2(P) Kevin Storm, LTC John G. Shaw, TSgt Elissa Spicer, CPT William Beaver, SN Greg Wright, SFC Mark Marino, MAJ Robert Petrarca, SGM Steve Wettstein, PVT James Strait, COL Ted Mc, CSM Michael j. Uhlig, MAJ Ken Landgren, CPT Jack Durish, SGT Ben Keen, MAJ Alvin Bedgood, MSgt Curtis Ellis, Sgt Spencer Sikder, Capt Seid Waddell, TSgt John Temblador, PO1 William "Chip" Nagel, SFC Stephen King, LTC Jason Strickland, SSG Leo Bell, CW4 Roman Chyla, PO3 Aaron Hassay, SGT Todd Gannon, SP5 Christine Conley, CPT Elizabeth Foster, Salvatore Simonetta Jr, Jennifer Feline, Craig Hanley, and the list could go on!

Honorable Mention: SPC Margaret Higgins - awesome and kind lady!

And I want to mention a couple of Awesome Civilians that are special on RP: Ilene Morris great Civilian Supporter and CEO/Founder of Virtual World Solutions d/b/a Sponsor a Vet Life working day and night to help veterans. Doug Macdonald Great Civilian Supporter and working hard for veterans. Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM who has reached out and helped so many veterans this year it is unbelievable!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 24 at 2015 12:54 PM

2015-12-24T12:54:02-05:00

There are too many veterans for me to list Sgt Junyer Knight. I concur with COL Mikel J. Burroughs list and second or add SGT Private RallyPoint Member, SGT Forrest Stewart, SGT Randal Groover, SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, Sgt David G Duchesneau LTC John Shaw, CPT Jack Durish SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" LTC Bink Romanick CW5 Charlie Poulton CW5 Private RallyPoint Member PO3 Steven Sherrill SrA Christopher Wright SN Greg Wright who have all been a source of encouragement this year.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 24 at 2015 1:59 PM

2015-12-24T13:59:36-05:00

Two veterans not only inspired me in 2015, but also every year since I first met them...

I regret that I can't provide their names, but these two enlisted members assigned to my commands in Hawaii in the late 60's have lingered in my memory these many years. As a storyteller I've tried to keep them alive and share them with others so that they may be similarly inspired.

One was a Specialist E5 with 27 years active duty. Sounds suspect doesn't it? Well, it is unclear how he ever qualified for military service in that he was mentally challenged. During his last years of service he pitched messages into pigeon holes at the Strategic Communications Center at which I was the Operations Officer. However, that is the least of this tale. While stationed in Korea, he had used his off duty time to help maintain an orphanage there. After leaving, he dreamed only of returning after retiring to live out his days as their custodian. When he presented his request to be reassigned to Korea for his last tour of duty prior to retirement, I endorsed it but it was denied because Army Regulations required that he return to CONUS. He had spent too many years in off shore duty stations. He then requested two weeks leave which I granted and he disappeared only to return with E8 stripes and orders for Korea. He had used his acquaintance with several senior officers at the Pentagon to get his request granted. The E8 stripes were their parting gift to him. Thus he became a veteran we can all look up to, serving cast off children. BTW, the orphanage's finances were greatly aided when he donated his winnings from the Panamanian Lottery to them.

The other was a veteran many times over. He was a veteran of WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Again, that sounds suspect, doesn't it? I was inspired to investigate when I arrived at my new duty station in Hawaii to find a seemingly elderly E8 working for me. He wore only one ribbon: A Silver Star with an Oak Leaf Cluster. It turned out that he had lied about his age to enlist for WWI. He was then at an appropriate age to serve during WWII during which he was given a direct commission and commanded a combat infantry battalion. He came out of retirement for Korea and Vietnam. When I arrived in his life, he was completing 20 years of active duty, every year in war time service. Oh, and the Silver Star: Both awards were signed by General John J. Pershing...

How could I ever forget these men, soldiers, and veterans?

Response by Doug Macdonald made Dec 24 at 2015 9:28 PM

2015-12-24T21:28:09-05:00

Michael I. Kaplan & COL Mikel Burroughs. These 2 individuals are examples of the successful transitions from Military Leaders to successful entrepreneurs. They walk the walk while giving back to their fellow brothers.

As a civilian veteran advocate, I must mention the 3 individual SOCOM veterans who, 4 years ago decided to go on a journey of self-discovery and self-healing with me. Together we managed our way through all the obstacles. Four out of 5 of us are now successful entrepreneurs or business people. To our 5th sister, who made other choices, we wish gods speed.

Response by Sgt Junyer Knight made Dec 25 at 2015 12:44 AM

2015-12-25T00:44:12-05:00

My goodness. I can't give enough thanks you to all the responses!

Response by Deborah Gregson made Dec 25 at 2015 5:59 PM

2015-12-25T17:59:21-05:00

SFC Michael Buenrostro. He's worked hard and done a lovely job of transitioning from his service time to civilian life, married life, fatherhood. I know it's not easy, it's been a huge challenge, but he's applied himself to the challenge like he dedicated himself to his service, and I know in the long run it will pay off with amazing benefits beyond his imagination. I'm could be biased, but I admire his motivation, focus and dedication.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Dec 26 at 2015 9:10 AM

2015-12-26T09:10:07-05:00

If you could get an interview with him (and it would be difficult) I would say Fred Smith, the Chairman of FedEx. He is very involved in military related projects including serving as co-chairman of both the U.S. World War II Memorial Project and the campaign for the National Museum of the Marine Corps. He will be quick to tell you that the greatest accomplishment in his life was being a Marine. This is coming from a guy who has done a lot. He is an entrepreneur's entrepreneur starting with an idea in a college paper to one of the most successful companies in the world. I've had the opportunity to hear him speak at FedEx meetings (they are a large customer of mine).