A Veteran’s Life Transformed by the Love of Christ
JB’s mother gave birth to him at age 15 and he never met his father. He was adopted by his grandparents, but life with them was volatile. His stepfather would beat him viciously with a belt. At a young age, JB learned to shut his mouth and say nothing.
Going to War
Motivated by the 9/11 attacks—and to escape his home life—JB enlisted in in the Marine Corps at age 17, starting bootcamp shortly after high school graduation. He was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in 2004, where he was ripped with shrapnel during a mortar attack that killed four of his buddies and wounded four others.
Later, JB’s best friend was killed right in front of him. The next day another close friend took multiple shots going over a wall. JB tried to rescue him, but his wounds were fatal. JB held his buddy in his arms, listening as his friend used his very last breath to call out for his mom. Now every time one of JB’s children calls out for their mom, he has flashbacks.
By his second deployment to Haditha, Iraq in 2005, the carnage of war was taking a terrible psychological toll on JB and his unit. Fighting to stay alive by day and escaping from the realities of war with cocaine at night was mind-numbing.
When JB received word that his birth mother was dying of cancer, he hurried home. And for the first time in his life, JB told his mother that he loved her. A few hours later, she passed away.
No longer able to cope, JB went AWOL…
When JB finally returned to his unit, he was thrown into the brig and court marshalled. His trauma was so deep he could hardly function.
“It’s as if my soul died in Iraq. My mind was stuck on the blood of war,” says JB.
JB had nowhere to turn for help as his life descended into an abyss. Drinking heavily and abusing drugs to numb the pain, his life spun out of control.
“I was done and didn’t want to live anymore,” he says.
JB believed his wife and kids would be better off without him. For years he dragged his wife Melissa and their children through a living hell—PTSD and volatile behavior.
But when JB and Melissa started attending church and gave their lives to Christ, things began to change.
After attending Warrior Getaway and Wild Ops, Melissa saw the change in JB’s countenance instantly.
Through Warrior Getaway and Wild Ops retreats, especially designed to facilitate healing in disabled Veterans, JB discovered a new sense of comfort alongside other combat Veterans. For too many years JB had felt alone, consumed by haunting memories and nightmares. But at Warrior Getaway, surrounded by Veterans who understood him and faced the same demons he faced, JB found a new sense of belonging.
And for the first time in years, he slept soundly, feeling safe surrounded by fellow warriors and the unfailing love of Jesus.
Jesus used Warrior Getaway and Wild Ops to revolutionize JB’s life, bringing healing to his entire family. Today JB has new purpose in his life, reaching out to help Veterans struggling with the same issues he has experienced. Jesus, the Rescuer of our souls, lifted JB and his family from the dominion of darkness and into the light of his love.
And now God uses JB to bring others into the rescuing arms of Christ.
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