David joined the Marines in 2005.  His primary speciality in the Marines was in the Military Police and then later he served as a Foreign Forces Trainer.  David was Embedded Trainer with the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force), a NATO led security mission in Afghanistan.  David served in Iraq in 2008-2009 and Afghanistan from 2010-2011.  David earned multiple medals, decorations, badges and campaign ribbons, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2nd Award), Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan (2nd Award), among many others. 

 

When David left the Marines after more than 7 years of service, he struggled like many other veterans transitioning home.  He couldn’t sleep because of night terrors.  He hated being in public.  He got divorced.  He felt lost.  Then one day, on a lark, he went to a Vow 22 event.  Vow 22 is a nonprofit founded in Brazoria County to help fight veteran suicide.  At the Vow 22 event, he met DJ Beatty, and his Paws for Heroes dog, Axel.  David said DJ explained how much Axel helped him with his PTSD.  DJ encouraged David to get a dog from Paws for Heroes.  David thought about it a lot.  Finally, he decided to apply.  Paws for Heroes met wit David and immediately knew a dog could help David with his PTSD and night terrors.  Paws for Heroes found June, a Great Pyreenes.  She was 75 pounds of pure love for David.  David said the first night he had June, she helped calm him during a panic attack.  Since then, June has become David’s best friend and a pal to his 2 kids.  Congrats David and June!