May 2024 - Volume 2, Issue 5

ART DIRECTOR

Stefanie Burlingame

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Sharon Perkins

Debra Williams

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ken Smits

Rich Corson

Chris Gay

KeishaMarie Douglas

Brett Roderick

Steve Roderick

Kristy Verdi

Stephen Del Castillo

Toni Hedstrom

Reproduction of, or use without written permission of the publisher, of editorial, pictorial, or design content in any manner is prohibited in the United States. Editorial, Advertising, and Business Offices (813) 489-4912. Periodicals postage

In this powerful edition of FireWatch Magazine, we enter the month of May and come together as a nation to honor and remember those lost in service to our country through stories of loss.

This issue features stories shared by the people most impacted by that loss; mothers, friends, and comrades.

Loss can come in a multitude of ways, and inside these pages, you will learn of its terrible cost; suicide and loss of innocence; and you will read firsthand stories from the battlefield.

There is a depth of emotion behind these stories, which I can only hope you feel as you read them. Please honor these great Americans with a prayer for the people they left behind.

Our pages share uplifting stories, too, from VFW Post 4412’s escort of a veteran’s ashes for an honorable burial at Florida National Cemetery in “You Will Not Go Alone,” to the story of how decades-long service members with parallel careers came together in a SCIF at MacDill Air Force Base to impact the world beyond their military service in “Where the Rivers Meet.”

Team FireWatch thanks you for being a dedicated reader. We are honored to be a platform for these veteran, military, and family voices.

Sincerely,

Toni Hedstrom, Managing Editor FireWatch

Not Go Alone

When a Veteran’s Ashes are Found in an Abandoned Home VFW Post 4412 Embraces the Responsibility

the Experience of a Green Beret with a Navy Seal? Magic!

On Monday, May 27, 2024, we come together to remember, honor, and mourn U.S. military personnel who have died while serving.

“O Lord, we give you thanks for the American way of life that we enjoy today. Let us not forget that the rights and privileges we enjoy have blood on them and that every good gift was bought and paid for in human sacrifice.

“Today, we honor all who have gone before us and made the supreme sacrifice. We are ever grateful for those who are now serving our country in every part of this world, as they are your instruments of peace and freedom.

“We pray for the families whose loved ones have given their last full measure of devotion – their very lives, for people who now have freedom in their homeland. AMEN.”

Taken from the Prayer of Chaplain Larry L. Vollink, National Chaplain American Legion, Memorial Day, May 25, 2009.

Heroes

Not all of them are heroes. But they are, as we are, human beings with faults who make mistakes, and in the case of this story, people who must live the rest of their lives with a dreadful understanding. We will get to that….

Let’s begin in September 2009. Our story takes us to the Ganjgal Valley in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan on September 8, 2009. A day that has been analyzed, criticized, prayed about, and cried over. Tears still fall over a pain that is as fresh today as it was then and will be for all tomorrows.

Before we dive too deep, I must admit that there is absolutely no way I, or many of you, can say, “I would have done this, or I would have done that.”

In a theater of war, we have no way of knowing what we would do if not ever in those situations. What we can do is take the time to listen when the ones who were there tell their story, and then hope and pray that some lesson was learned so that a tragedy like September 8, 2009, never, ever happens again.

I’ve read a portion of the unclassified, 500-page report that is a result of that day’s events. Names, except those of the American Service Members lost, are redacted from the report. But, inside the pages are the voices of those who were there, on the ground, who felt the taste of betrayal and who faced a devasting reality that their country, their comrades, had left them all to die.

These voices include two service members awarded our country’s highest honor, The Medal of Honor, for this battle, service, sacrifice, and willingness to die for brothers in arms.

By Toni Hedstrom

So, we begin in the predawn hours of September 9.

Imagine two scenes: one: TOC CHOSIN with an overnight (skeleton) crew who had reported to duty the night before; and two: Ganjgal Valley, a small village with some houses, a school, and a mosque.

That morning, an Embedded Training Team (ETT), alongside their allied Afghan forces, was sent into the Ganjgal Valley to investigate and report on the number of military-aged men in the village. A similar mission had been completed days before at a nearby village, Dam Dara, where American and Allied Forces came under fire from a small group of combatants, approximately 10 to 20.

It was likely that the Americans and Allied Forces would come under small arms fire during this mission, and they were prepared for that. What they were not prepared for was a clear, pre-planned, and well-manned ambush that included upwards of 60 combatants and participation in execution by the women and children of the village.

Upon arrival in the area the terrain did not allow for the ETT and Allied Forces to travel into the village in vehicles. Instead, they were forced to dismount and walk into the valley. What happens next is recorded in history as the Battle of Ganjgal. In the aftermath were investigations, inquiries, and news reports on CBS 60 minutes, and now, you can find reports and analyses of the battle on sites like Wikipedia1 and Army.Mil2 with photos and battle graphs detailing the carnage.

For us, we dive inside the unclassified documents of the 15-6 report. The full

report consists of more than 500 pages. We were able to review a collection of 71 pages of the report that includes sworn statements and accounts from those involved in the day’s events on the ground, in the air, and at the TOC.

Just prior to this mission in 2009, the ISAF (The International Security Assistance Force), led by NATO, had issued a tactical directive on the use of force underpinned by civilian protection3. This directive would hamper the U.S. Military in any effort to engage combatants if/when they entwined themselves into village homes and civilian populations.

The LTC in charge at TOC Chosin claims this directive was not the reason for denying fire support to the mission, but the 15-6 report shows that the directive held an underlying hold on the decision-making processes and lack thereof, which eventually cost American lives.

The LTC did not enter the TOC until approximately 0800, and engagement at Ganjgal began at 0530 with calls into TOC Chosin at 0537 for fire support.

Over the course of the battle, the Ground Element continuously called for fire support and air support but was denied.

The TOC

Memorandum For Record, Subject: Interview with Technical Sergeant [REDACTED] USAF, Regarding Operations in the Ganjgal Valley on 8 September 2009

A. On the morning of 8 September 2009, TSGT [REDACTED] entered the TF Chosin Tactical Operations Center (TOC) at 0555 and became aware of an element taking small arms fire in TF Chosin’s Area of Operations. The TF Chosin Battle Captain, CPT [REDACTED], asked TSGT [REDACTED] to find out what air assets were available at the time. TSGT [REDACTED] was not told that the TF Chosin Scout element over-watching Ganjgal Valley had radioed the TF Chosin TOC requesting Close Air Support (CAS). TSGT [REDACTED] offered to open up an Air Troops in Contact (TIC) but was directed not to by CPT [REDACTED]. CPT [REDACTED} told him, “Not to worry about it for now,” and that TF Chosin would support the TIC with indirect fire.

B. TSGT [REDACTED] noted that there were no field grade officers in the TOC before 0600 and that the CPT was authorized to request the JTAC to open Air TIC.

Memorandum For Record, Subject: Interview with SSG [REDACTED] USA, Regarding Operations in the Ganjgal Valley on 8 September 2009

C. SSG [REDACTED] remembered asking for corrections to the previously fired missions but did not receive them. The ground Scout element leader was the only individual he had communications with from outside the TOC. He remembered CPT [REDACTED], the Afghan Border Patrol Mentor, calling for fires and reporting he was pinned down. SSG [REDACTED] made the decision not to shoot because only a field grade officer could approve a fire mission at the time. There was no field grade officer present in the TOC.

D. SSG [REDACTED] characterized the tactical situation at 0600 as “serious” and “bad” and that he knew some elements were “pinned down.”

H. SSG [REDACTED] said that no one could give permission for any fire mission [REDACTED] in a position that close to the village and civilian structures.

Memorandum For Record, Subject: Interview with CPT [REDACTED] USA, Regarding Operations in the Ganjgal Valley on 8 September 2009

B. CPT [REDACTED] assumed his duties as the Day Battle CPT on 8 September 2009 from CPT [REDACTED] at 0800. CPT [REDACTED] stated he did not have a clear picture of enemy or friendly locations in Ganjgal, but he did know there were casualties who needed to be evacuated. CPT [REDACTED] knew there were communications between the ground element and TF Chosin and between TF Chosin and the Brigade. Close combat aviation (CCA) was already present in Ganjgal when he arrived for his shift. An aerial medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) had already been requested. CPT [REDACTED] told CPT [REDACTED] that there were issues with some requested fire missions because they were plotted too close to Ganjgal Village.

M. No one expected 30-60 enemy fighters that were being aided by women and children in the village.

The Ground Element

In a recorded statement from a member of the Ground Element, it is clear that communication between the Ground Element and the TOC was convoluted. Initial fire requests were questioned and analyzed as to ‘distance and direction,’ the statement reads: “[REDACTED] or a reason you don’t need distance and direction. So, it was irritating, but we like [REDACTED], that’s why we have [REDACTED]. Don’t ask me twenty-one questions. They finally fired, but then they realized that we were not getting effective fire.”

The Ground Element realized this was not going to work and needed air support.

“It was close to 40 minutes to an hour after the first contact. Time was something

that was compressed. To give you accurate time is very difficult.”

After waiting for air support for some time, “We were like, where is the air that’s coming in? He (the CPT) was like, oh, we are not getting any. This was disheartening because that was not what the plan was. … They just said it was unavailable, and we were not getting it. We were sitting there stunned and surprised because we were not getting effective fire support and were not getting air. … I don’t think they understand how much fire we are getting. They are probably sitting in the TOC thinking this is some—I don’t want to use the wrong words. I don’t know what they are thinking; they think maybe we are making it up; I don’t know.

“One thing that we noticed was the fires started to shift. The enemy starting to notice that we were not getting any support, so they shifted fires.

“It was such a high volume of fire. The people trying to suppress were getting attacked as well, with RPG, Mortars. I don’t know how many RPG landed that day.

“Out far ambush became a close ambush. They started to maneuver around us while we tried to withdraw. Every time we shift positions, the machine guns will fall. … It was not something that was amateur, that they were just shooting machine guns. It was effective fire, they know how to shift fire effectively. Also, supporting guns, because once one side stops firing, the other side starts firing. It was not something that was a bunch of amateurs; at least they knew what they were doing.

“We began to receive fire from the town….You see women and children running between houses, helping them carry ammo, things like that.

“I heard Gunny say, we are held up in this house. We need to take cover because these guys in this house might kill us.

Scan to read the full story

Chris & Ted’s

GUNS G R

BY CHRIS “RANGER” GAY

Many countries around the world have a form of Memorial Day to remember the sacrifices their service members made to defend their nation and way of life.

In the United States, we hold Memorial Day on the last Monday in May. However, there are usually two sides to this event. On one side, people are not connected in any way to the military or veterans in general and look at Memorial Day Weekend as a celebration.

On the other side, we have veterans or families of those who served who understand the true meaning of the day, and it is usually not a day of happiness or celebration. I would like us all to think about how we each interpret this solemn day.

For most Americans, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, the end of winter, a much-needed break, or simply a day to fire up the grill.

Most of us in the veteran community get so upset with those people that we develop deep resentment

toward them. But let us take a moment to recognize that a vast number of Americans have no connection to our Armed Forces or those who serve.

Remember that only one percent of the nation raises their right hand to serve. That small group is genuinely connected to the meaning of Memorial Day. The rest of them don’t personally know somebody who served. Because of that, they just don’t know.

Our media goes out of the way to celebrate Memorial Day. Instead of getting upset, take a moment to educate them. If a person tells you “Happy Memorial Day,” or “Thank you for your service,” this is an excellent opportunity to remind them that it is not a day of happiness but a day of sorrow and remembrance for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in keeping this country free.

Youcan take your knowledge and pass it along instead of getting angry and taking it personally. Remember, 99 percent of our citizens did not serve, and 75 percent do not even know someone who did.

For the rest of us, it will be a day of mourning, remembering, and wishing we could have done more to maybe prevent their falling. Unfortunately, we all signed up to serve, and war is not pretty. It is unforgiving, and we will lose good people.

If we really think back to the good times before their passing, they all liked living in the moment and would not want us to sit around feeling bad for them. Instead, they would want us to live our lives in their honor.

So instead of sitting in solitude, reliving those moments, and getting down on ourselves, we should go out and celebrate their lives. The reason they volunteered is because they believed in something bigger than themselves. Go to the bar-b-que, have a drink, celebrate that for which they stood. Just make sure that you have everyone bow their heads in respect, pour a shot to the earth for them, say their names and say a prayer, or have a moment of silence. But celebrate the fact that their sacrifice was not for

nothing. In this crazy world, we still can celebrate the reason for Memorial Day.

As a Veteran myself with over 20 years of service and multiple combat tours, I have lost close and personal friends. And I, for one, make it a point to live every day in their honor. I take time to go to a memorial or cemetery and pay my respects to those who gave all, and then I have a drink with them.

I try to educate rather than hate those who do not have the same experience as myself. With that, thank you to those who served, and we owe everything to those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend this great nation!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Chris “Ranger” Gay is the owner of 2nd Amendment Armory in Brandon, Florida.

VNPS ROOFING

By KeishaMarie Douglas

Back in the Day

Reflecting on the last 20 years or so, I realized that there was never an issue with camaraderie within the military. The Air Force’s core values are service before self, excellence in all we do, and, most importantly, integrity.

I define integrity as the ability to do what’s right even when no one is watching. There has always been a level of trust between our battle buddies because we would take a bullet for them in times of war. Regardless of how much we taunted the other branches, we always knew it was with love. We always looked out for each other. We held each other accountable and were willing to listen in time of need.

However, in receipt of our DD214, it seems we have gone our separate ways, and all those things have disappeared. Navigating the challenge of reintegrating into society after departing from the military, particularly in a new location where one is unfamiliar, is a task in its own right.

Establishing connections proves intriguing; unless the individual has a military background or affiliation, they may not fully comprehend our obstacles. And reconnecting with old friends after leaving the service can be challenging, especially when they are still on active duty and serving in a different location.

There’s no one to hold us accountable and motivate us, so we have to learn to be accountable to ourselves. Our camaraderie and trust while on active duty may have diminished, although a few still live by the code to leave no brother or sister behind.

However, our schedules are full of new civilian life activities, family and work priorities, and other life ventures. Consequently, following numerous life experiences and other various shifts in life, it’s evident that we’ve grown somewhat guarded post-military service, and we as individuals must prioritize the well-being of ourselves and that of our families.

Still, occasionally it’s fun to reflect on that time, back in the day, when our camaraderie with our fellow servicemen and women was a strong, unbreakable bond.

#TEAM FIRE WATCH

JIU JITSU FOR VETERANS

Otis Horne, Owner

Honor Memorial Day: OUR CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW; FREEDOM ISN’T FREE

By Dr. Kristy Verdi, Founder and Executive Director, Learn and Serve Tampa, Inc.

Every time I am near Ms. T, I can’t help but feel her energy. Her drive is never-ending for her many volunteer missions to honor her son, who was killed in action in 2011. For her, every day is Memorial Day. So, the last Monday in May isn’t much different for her or other Gold Star families who have lost service members than any other day. They recognize Memorial Day, but they never celebrate it. But most Americans do, and Gold Star Mothers like Ms. T are thankful for that.

Memorial Day, originally called Remembrance Day, is a day to honor those who were killed as they carried out their commitment to defend us. All Americans should recognize this federal holiday for what it is. The sacrifices made by some so others can be free to have a picnic, go to the beach, or play a round of golf. But do our children know this?

It is a parent’s responsibility to make sure children understand its meaning and purpose. Yes, it is taught in schools, but is it practiced in homes? Many Florida school districts end the school year on the Friday before Memorial Day. As a teacher, I reminded my students that the Monday, after we left school, was a special day and asked them to remember and honor our lost service members somehow before starting their summer celebration. But, I never really knew if my encouragement bore any fruit.

It is up to each of us as parents to ensure our children know that Memorial Day was not set aside for cookouts, parades, and start-of-summer celebrations. Families should plan BBQs and enjoy time together. But, during that fun weekend, there should be a moment in which we honor those who sacrificed so much. Parents should start an intentional conversation about all of our freedoms, for which many American service members made the ultimate sacrifice. Memorial Day is not just about those who died. It’s about those left behind, our Gold Star Families, and the sacrifices they have made as well.

Before the summer festivities begin, find the time to talk to your children about the meaning and purpose of Memorial Day. Attend a ceremony. There are several in the Tampa Bay area.

If you are not near a service, gather the family around and talk about the meaning of Memorial Day. If you fly a US flag, be sure to fly it at half-mast until noon. Set an alarm for 3 PM local time and observe the National Moment of Remembrance. For younger children, print out coloring sheets of the American flag. Then, remind your children what the red, white, and blue decorations represent: red for valor and hardiness, white for purity and innocence, and blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Set a place for the Fallen Soldier and explain the symbolism of the white tablecloth, single red rose, salt, and inverted glass. If you are fortunate enough to have never lost any loved ones to war or conflict, research and find a local service member killed in action and honor that individual during your pre-meal blessings. Then, let your summer of freedom begin.

WITHOUT GLORY

We arrive at the Landing Zone without incident. DJ calls Econ 3 for pick up. Within fifteen minutes, the sound of the chopper blades can be heard.

As they come in for landing, we load the Padros with Billings, Smitty, Doc, DJ, Stoney, and Gator on the first chopper and the security team, made up of Willie, Frenchie, Worm, Loverboy, Tex, and me on the second helicopter.

BY: KEN SMITS

As we are loading up, I see commotion to my left as Tex pushes himself off the chopper floor.

Tex yells at Willie, “Dadgummit, Willie, slow down! ‘Spect there’s room for everybody!, dang it!”

I wasn’t aware, none of us were aware, yet, that Willie had been hit.

The wap wap wapping of the chopper rotors masks all other sounds. As the helicopter climbs above the treetops, Worm begins his harmless heckling of Willie, part of his daily routine. They continuously

THE LOSS OF WILLIE

act out their little “Worm Power” vs. “Black Power” dialogue for everyone to enjoy.

“Hey Willie,” cackles Worm, “What happened to your Black Power? You just a clumsy MoFo Bro. What you need is,” he bellows as he shakes his clinched fist in the air, “Worm-m-m-m-m-m Power!”

“In an Instant, aLL THat was WiLLie, aLL THat he had ever been, OR wOUld ever be, was gone.”

The muffled sounds of Worm’s laughing mingle amongst the wap wap wapping of the chopper’s engine and rotors. Worm expects to hear the familiar “Jim, something or other,” from Willie, but a response does not come.

Surprisingly, no one has noticed the blood, skin, or bone that has splattered all over Tex’s back, various parts of everyone else’s clothing, their skin, and the interior of the helicopter. Perhaps because they’re all in their own little worlds in the safety of the chopper flying high above the danger in the jungle. No one has heard or realized anything.

Worm kneels to give Willie a hand. “Hey Jim, you okay, man?”

Suddenly an anguished scream from Worm, “Oh damn, oh no, Oh God, no-o-o-o-o!”

Worm is the first to face the ghastly truth. His screams partially drown out the rotor noise, bringing the rest of us out of our private daydreams. Worm, kneeling next to Willie, discovers the once handsome nut-brown face of his friends is now horribly mutilated. One of those beautiful, burnt almond-colored eyes is blown away, while the other stares blankly at Worm and beyond.

I try to figure out what happened. How could Willie be taken like he was?

Evidently, as we were loading the chopper, a sniper, who my security element or I didn’t see, centered the cross hairs of his telescopic sight on Willie. In an instant, all that was Willie, all that he had ever been, or would ever be, was gone.

He was dead before his young, strong body hit the chopper floor, and all of it, the dreams of going home, the dreams of college, professional basketball, and being back with his family, are all gone.

The muggy air in the chopper is filled with a mixture of fear, anger, and shock. The aroma of blood, oil, and sweat fills my nostrils. In terror and disbelief, my body becomes paralyzed. I sit listening to Worm wail on and the internal weeping of my own soul.

I sit transfixed on Worm, watching him comfort his best friend while Willie’s blood sloshes around on the floor, splashing against my boots.

Back home in America, a mother and father wait and pray for the safe return of their child from war. Their serious, young son still has the local girls calling for him at night, even though they’ve been told he is away for a while. His mother and father bubble with pride when they talk to their friends about the accomplishments of their little boy.

A man to us, but to mother, he’s her little boy. Soon, they’ll feel the cost of freedom or the cost of a terrible mistake. For this moment, we own this terror.

June

Opening Ceremony 7:40 AM 7700 16th St. N. St. Pete HOCKEY

June

You Will Not

It was October of 2023, and a crew had been dispatched to a home by the title-owning bank to clear it out and get it ready for sale. The house’s owner had passed away, and the property had returned to the bank.

As the crew toiled through the home, they eventually entered the back of a closet, empty except for one small thing. Deep inside the closet sat a cardboard box. The address labels showed it had been mailed from Oregon to a Dade City, Florida address. Tasked with determining what was trash or treasure, the crew carefully opened the box.

Peering in, the crew observed the Navy seal upon a cherry

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wood urn inscribed with a name, date of birth, and date of death. Clearly, these were the ashes of an American hero, left alone in the back of this closet.

The crew carefully collected the box and brought it to Kathy Vaughn, Auxiliary President for VFW Post 4412 in Hudson, Florida, with an understanding that she would know what to do with the veteran’s remains.

Dale Cloutier, Commander of VFW Post 4412, recalls Kathy approaching him in his office, cradling an old cardboard box. She explained the situation to the Commander, who immediately went into action.

At that moment, the only information the pair had was that a home where someone had died was being cleared out, and these ashes had been found; other than that, the postage marks and urn engravings were the only clues.

With the name John J. Cornin and the dates of birth and death, Dale and members of his Auxiliary began researching to find any living relatives of the veteran through standard avenues like Ancestry.com.

The team was able to determine that Mr. Cornin had passed away in Oregon, had been cremated, and his ashes had been shipped to his son, who had lived in Dade City, Florida, where the son, now deceased, had placed the unopened box in the closet. They also confirmed there were no other living relatives for Mr. Cornin.

With no living relatives to hand Mr. Cronin’s ashes to, it was up to Commander Cloutier and members of VFW Post 4412 to ensure Mr. Cronin would not be left alone.

Dale began the process of coordinating a proper burial for Mr. Cronin. He started by filling out a form from the National Archives to acquire as much information as possible through military records.

The records showed that Mr. Cronin had served in the 70’s. With that information, Dale was able to contact the National Cemetery burial scheduling department located in St. Louis, Missouri, a centralized location that schedules all burials in National Cemeteries. Within 15 minutes of that call, the department was

Go Alone

BY TONI HEDSTROM

able to schedule a burial for Mr. Cornin at the National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.

VFW Post 4412, in the absence of any living relatives, had custody of Mr. Cornin’s ashes, and Commander Cloutier wasn’t willing to hand them over to someone. As custodian, VFW Post 4412 agreed to conduct the burial ceremony.

The schedule was set to perform burial services for Mr. Cornin on January 4, 2024, at 1100 hours. With little to no effort, Dale was able to engage The Riders of VFW Post 4412 along with other post members to accompany Mr. Cornin from the Hudson Post to Bushnell National Cemetery.

The “Escort Ride” began with everyone meeting at the post at 8:15 am with kickstands up at 8:30 am.

“Most of us went up on bikes. There were some cars in the escort also. Our VFW State Chaplain, Wayne Tuttle, met us up there, and we had the color guard from VFW Post 10209 meet us at Bushnell as well.

“We all came together and had the service for Mr. Cornin with full military honors. No veteran should ever be unattended, ever,” says Commander Cloutier.

Cloutier shares that the National Cemetery at Bushnell has unaccompanied services every other month.

“The number of veterans who die alone in nursing homes with no family is astounding. Unattended services are held, I believe, on the last Thursday of every other month, and people show up

from VFWs to be present at the unattended services because that is what the VFW believes: no veteran should be unattended.”

For Auxiliary President Kathy Vaughn, this bi-monthly event holds a permanent place on her calendar. Kathy tries to ensure that Post 4412 has somebody up there, at Bushnell, for all its unattended services.

In planning for the burial of Mr. Cornin, Cloutier requested an above-ground niche to place Cornin’s ashes. He adds, “I ordered the stone that will be placed on Mr. Cornin’s niche. It includes his name and branch of service, the Navy, and I added the words, ‘loving father and husband.’”

FURNITURE

By Toni Hedstrom

WHERE THE RIVERS MEET

We are in the presence of greatness at this charming little place just off the Gandy in St. Pete, Florida. Greatness in the breeze, the blue water, the jumping dolphins, and the two heroes who have met with us to share their stories.

The two men are humble and don’t boast about their greatness, but their military history states the obvious for them: Christian Knutson, a 26-year Green Beret who is set to retire this month, and Chris Kelly, a 31-plus year Navy Seal who just retired a few months ago.

We are meeting the two men to talk about their military experiences and the different paths that brought them together and led them to form a friendship and unique business together.

We begin with Chris Kelly, Navy Seal. Chris grew up in Louisiana near New Orleans as a self-proclaimed “Jackass” who had a lot of growing up to do. Skipping school without any real focus or aim.

At 17, Chris decided to join the Navy with hopes of being a jet pilot. This field track required Chris to join as enlisted just one week after graduation, allowing him to complete basic training before his eighteenth birthday.

Chris’ Navy career began on various aircraft carriers where he was able to see the world, as promised by the Navy. Before he knew it, four years had passed, and Chris was considering other options in lieu of being a jet pilot, like EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal).

As he took time to reconsider his career path, Chris had been speaking with colleagues and friends who encouraged him to think about becoming a Navy Seal.

Ultimately, Chris signed up, completed Seal Training, and found himself deployed to South America doing a lot of counterdrug operations.

A few years pass. Chris attends college at Old Dominion University in Virginia, where he receives an officer’s commission after graduation.

After graduation, Chris is assigned duty in Hawaii with one of the underwater special delivery teams for the next five years. The team operates the “little mini submarines,” doing what

Chris describes as, “old school Frog Man sneaking around in the water type jobs.”

We aren’t here to talk in-depth about Chris or Christian’s military careers, so Chris skims over the next decades like it was just another day, part of the “Ah, it was nothing” attitude we admire in men like these.

“The wars had kicked off by then,” Chris recalls, “so I was gone to Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq a few times, and then ended up going to grad school out of Monterey, California, Naval Postgraduate School where I earned my MBA.

“After that, I went back to the teams for a few more deployments to Asia and the Middle East before ending up here at SOCOM Headquarters, MacDill Air Force Base.”

At SOCOM Headquarters, Chris worked alongside Generals and Admirals to build the budgets that support Seal Team operations.

Toward the end of his amazing career, Chris concentrated on the maritime technology side of things, working to put new capabilities on assault craft used by the Seal Teams.

We realize that every part of Chris’ story could be its own story, and we can only imagine what knowledge and experience this young man has to share.

Chris shares a small piece of it with us.

“In the early nineties, on the fleet aircraft carriers, we spent time enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq. We were off the coasts of Kosovo and Sarajevo, trying to help in the quagmire that they had going on.

“When I got to the Seal Teams in the late nineties, South America was doing a lot of the anti-drug operations where we helped a lot of the partner forces in each of the countries to prepare for conflicts they were having with the far revolutionary militias down in Columbia.

“Then, 9/11 hit. In the nineties, as part of the military, you just didn’t really feel appreciated. It was a weird time, the grunge era. If you didn’t have long hair, and they saw you were in the military, you were kind of shunned to a certain degree. After 9/11 it changed on a dime.”

Now—as if we aren’t already blown away—we turn to Christan Knutson, Green Beret.

Christian grew up in the southwest corner of Colorado in a place called Purgatory, just outside of Durango. He recalls a lot of dirt bike riding as a kid. During his high school years, Christian earned an ROTC scholarship, which took him to the University of Colorado in Boulder.

After completing his higher education and earning his degree, Christian joined the Army Infantry.

“At the time, 1997,” he recalls, “the hottest thing going on was Korea. The North-South Korea dilemma was a big deal. Kim

A Mother’s Mission

Tanya’s son, Marine Anthony Patrick Muhlstadt, took his own life.

It happened one day in late November 2021 while he was stationed at Twentynine Palms in California.

In a mom’s attempt to find understanding and comprehension, she turns to Anthony’s peers.

“They all described Anthony as a Marine’s Marine; he was the tough guy. Anthony was the last person they would’ve ever thought would do something like that. He was going to be a lifer. He was a Marine, he lived and breathed the Marine Corps,” Tanya says.

I am sitting beside Tanya on a beautiful, breezy day at a restaurant alongside the coast of Tampa Bay. Tanya’s smile and laugh are infectious most days. Today, I am asking hard questions that resurface the pain that is always there just under the surface.

grade, writing, “When I grow up, I want to fight for my country and defend the America.”

The anguish is still there as she shares, bewilderingly, “You know what? It was a perfect storm.”

Anthony wanted to reup and go to Twentynine Palms from Camp Lejeune. The family tried desperately to talk him out of it, but that is where he wanted to be. Anthony knew that Twentynine Palms was where the Marine Corps was pulling troops for deployments to Afghanistan, and Anthony wanted to be a part of that; he wanted to go into

Tanya is my friend. I have come to know her through her volunteer work in many local organizations and through her efforts to honor Anthony.

I was proud to support her first-annual Anthony Muhlstadt Defender Ruck Walk in June of 2023, which raised more than $20,000 in the fight against military suicide.

Now, Tanya is well into the planning for the second-annual event that will be held in her hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida, in June of this year.

The events raise money for the Stop Soldier Suicide Organization, an organization she wishes she had known about before.

Tanya does not spend her life in darkness or dread. She commits most of her free time to the service of others. She has managed to find a level of peace, but not closure. There are still so many unanswered questions and guilt … so much guilt.

Our conversation takes Tanya back to her young son, who started talking about serving his country as early as second

A mom can pick apart the time leading up to a tragedy like this, trying to find the reasons why her son took his own life. Tanya refers to the perfect storm that included many things: a girl, COVID-19, isolation, peer pressure, and toxic leadership.

One of these things alone could probably have been dealt with, but the combination of various triggers proved too much for Anthony. Now Tanya knows that even if someone has people who love them, close family, and friends who support them, they can still feel alone.

“Anthony used to call me when he had bad days or nights. He’d call at three o’clock in the morning. It didn’t matter what time. I would spend time talking with him and allow him to vent. He would say, ‘You know what, Mom? I always feel better after I talk to you. Thanks, Mom.’ That was our thing.”

Tears well in Tanya’s eyes, “For him not to call that one time, it’s like, what the hell?”

Anthony had disclosed challenges to his mother. He had shared the heartbreak of a disloyal girlfriend, the isolation of being at Twentynine Palms without a vehicle, the fact that he had missed ranking up by mere points, and his challenges with some of his peers.

Anthony had arrived at Twentynine Palms with Advanced

Machine Gunner School under his belt. Leadership wanted to make him a vehicle commander immediately, and some of his equal-ranked peers did not like that, giving Anthony a hard time.

Tanya had suggested that Anthony speak to a Chaplain or find a counselor, but Anthony wasn’t having any of that. Instead, the family found a trusted therapist who lived in North Carolina and had weekly Zoom meetings with Anthony to work through challenges.

Forgiveness is hard. There are some individuals who were at Twentynine Palms with Anthony that Tanya hasn’t been able to forgive. There is still anger there.

She remembers calls from Anthony describing incidents with people he thought were his friends. It was uncomfortable for Anthony, and Tanya heard the anguish in her son’s voice as he explained things that had happened or that had been said.

The attacks weren’t only verbal. During a Facetime video call with Anthony, Tanya discovered Anthony had a black eye, but he wouldn’t go into detail about what had happened. Later, Tanya learned Anthony had been jumped by three Marines in retaliation for Anthony taking up for a Junior Marine who was being harassed.

Anthony’s time at Twentynine Palms was hard, and Tanya wonders where command was when these things happened. Anthony had great relationships with Junior Marines at Lejeune, but it was a different story with his peers at Twentynine Palms.

“That still breaks my heart,” says Tanya.

Tanya was aware that Anthony was not in a good place. She had asked her son to talk to a chaplain, telling him, “Thomas (the counselor in North Carolina) is many states away, so go to the chaplain, Anthony. You’ve got to talk to somebody there.”

That is where the guilt comes in for Tanya.

“Anthony goes to the base psychiatrist, who spends a mere 45 minutes with him and who puts him on Prozac immediately. I didn’t know he was on Prozac, but when he would call, he would complain about how tired he always was. When I finally learned he was on Prozac, I warned him not to drink alcohol while taking it. He said, ‘Yes, Mom, yes, yes, yes.’”

Just ten days before Anthony’s death, Tanya had visited her son at Twentynine Palms. She had gone to visit and to help Anthony pick out a car.

“He was finally getting a car to get off base and do his own thing. He was so happy. We had a beautiful time,” explains Tanya. “I even got him to go hiking with me, even though he complained that hiking is what he does for a living.”

It was almost time for Anthony’s six-week follow-up appointment with the base psychiatrist. Tanya reminded Anthony to tell the psychiatrist about being tired all the time.

Later, Tanya learns that Anthony had told the psychiatrist that he was feeling better at that visit, and as a result, his risk assessment was lowered. But, for some reason, his prescription strength was increased.

That was on Wednesday, and he died on Friday.

Anthony’s friends shared that they had spoken to him that day. It was right before Thanksgiving, and everyone was getting ready for leave.

Tanya was told that Anthony had reached out to his friend Dockery, explaining that he would be leaving town for the holiday, and asked if he could drop off his gun for safekeeping. It was a weapon he was not supposed to have in the brigs. However, Dockery was in Las Vegas and wouldn’t return until the next day.

“Dockery had asked Anthony if it could wait until he returned, and Anthony told him, yeah, no problem,” explains Tanya.

After that, Anthony went shopping at a few locations to pick up a trigger lock for his weapon along with batteries,

deodorant, and other items for his trip. Anthony planned to visit his girlfriend in North Carolina before returning to Florida and his family for the holiday.

That evening, however, he spoke with his girlfriend, and the two had argued and broke off the relationship. What happened next, in those moments before Anthony took his own life, we will never know.

Tanya’s anguish is evident, “Well, when somebody finally says, okay, I’ll talk to someone, and all they get is increased medication, they feel hopeless.”

The perfect storm: hopelessness, helplessness, loneliness, isolation, and sadness.

Tanya went to Twentynine Palms to gather evidence about Anthony’s death once it was released. She was on a mission to speak with Anthony’s commander and the doctor who had seen him.

WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW

By Stephen J. Del Castillo

My dad and I didn’t have a great relationship when I was growing up.

What I didn’t know then, but I understand now, is that he was probably doing the best with the information that he had. I also didn’t realize that many now-grown men have had similar childhoods.

Seemed many dads were doing their best, like mine.

I want to think that I did a better job with my kids in many areas than my father. I went out of my way to learn and gather information. But then, ultimately, I did the best I could with the information I had. It’s all any of us can do. While my kids are grown, I still do my best to be a good father. Again, the best I can do with the information I have.

I’ll tell you one thing I do know for sure, though…

I know that one of the best things I did for them was raise them up in a martial arts academy. They became confident, competent Blackbelt leaders prepared to survive and thrive in any situation, and they were empowered to lead.

Isn’t that what any father wants for their kids?

Consider developing a family activity that includes incremental learning, personal achievement, and team building. Martial arts, scuba diving, sailing, swimming, and many other activities await families who are intent on building a closeness that endures.

When family members learn together and learn to have each other’s backs, bonds and memories are forged that last for generations. Remember, what kids need more than stuff and electronics is our time and investment in their lives.

Prepare to live. Empower to lead!

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Stephen J. Del Castillo is a Krav

Maga Grand Master and Founding Master Instructor of Krav Maga

Martial Arts (KMMA)

school in Lutz, Florida.

VETERAN VOICES

FireWatch Magazine is pleased to introduce Josh Porthouse, a contributing writer for Veteran Voices.

Josh is a Marine Corps Reservist with 14 years of active duty in the Marine Corps. Deploying on both humanitarian aid and combat deployments to numerous regions of the world, Josh has learned a few things. Most lessons learned are from his time in the Marine Corps infantry and are related to the depth of the human condition, character development, and self-reliance.

Josh hosts a keystone podcast, Transacting Value, where he and weekly contributors discuss ways to digitize the great American Values Playbook for the world. The podcast’s focus is education, empowerment, and the encouragement of self-worth through value systems. You can find the Transacting Value podcast on Wreaths Across America Radio.

As a team FireWatch Veteran Voices contributor, Josh will work alongside other veterans to bring a personal perspective to relevant topics for today’s active and veteran service members.

First and foremost, my coping strategy largely depends on the relationship I have or had with the service member. From past experiences, I clearly need some time to process this loss on my own. I do this to evaluate how much I want to wrestle with something like this in my own head, leaving it up to my own devices.

I say that because a support group is paramount here, at least for me. Having others who know what it is like to feel this way, with whom I can open up, makes or breaks how well I cope and move forward.

Self-reliance has a role, but I feel absolutely blessed that I have others whom I can depend on and rely on, other than myself, to help me through a devastating time, like losing a fellow servicemember. – T. Kelly, CPO, USN

Gold and Blue Star Families were first named during World War I. A blue star on an American flag meant an immediate family member was actively serving in the war. A gold star on the flag meant a family member had been killed in action.

Memorializing fallen heroes happened before then, too. Statues of soldiers and militiamen on horseback depicted the status of that person following a battle, where the number of hooves in the air meant wounded or killed in action. Even feathers in an Indian headdress signified specific outcomes in battle.

Now, we have medals, ribbons, plaques, parades, street names, shadow boxes, “I love me” binders, and folded flags to keep memories alive. Traditionally, our American culture honors its past to educate its future.

Often, before a society can strengthen its resolve from loss, we must first process and

grieve in our own ways. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but proximity always results in the most damage. Here’s how these veterans view self-reliance as a coping strategy.

Self-reliance is a pivotal attribute for anyone to have to be successful and healthy in our society, specifically veterans who’ve lost someone they served with. Survivor’s guilt is heightened (based on my experiences before and after service).

Self-reliance allows the individual to process and “zoom out” for a broader perception of the loss. Often, this allows for the healthy processing of emotions and feelings of loss typically involved in the loss of a loved one. Additionally, I think it bears mentioning, that the veteran’s coping process is often completely different from that of non-service members due mainly to the self-reliance cultivated throughout the veteran’s life. – R. Lee, USMC

To some, another service member passing can mean a couple of things: They are just another person, a number in a news report or statistic, or they were a person who could not mentally and emotionally handle the stressors of war.

To us veterans, they were our friends, family, brothers, and sisters, whom we had come to be very close to. Regarding self-reliance, can we make it on our own and keep ourselves going while grieving the death of a friend or another service member?

Yes, we can. We should also confidently know that we have support from others, such as fellow veterans and outreach groups. I believe some people think since we never really knew the service member who died, it should not affect us because they were not related to us.

This is incorrect thinking, but I understand it because they can’t relate to the relationships we have formed with other military. I have lost too many friends who were either veterans or on active duty to suicide or acts of war. I know my values and coping strategies to overcome these losses.

However, everyone is different, and not everyone grieves the same. Self-reliance forms in the initial and post-thought stages of grievance, mainly as a questioning. I have repeatedly said that I am okay, but I always try to take time for myself and others to remember the good times and those we have lost. – W. Grissom, USN

A Mother’s Mission

She felt his command had turned a blind eye to the relentless harassment Anthony had been dealing with.

For the doctor, simply, “Why? Why did you increase his medication and not alert command?”

Tanya could not understand how a person who has been diagnosed with severe depression could be left to hold a position of authority as vehicle commander.

“I didn’t want him to be stripped of his duties, but I felt there was some obligation to share the concern with his command. As the command was in close personal contact, they could have held a room sweep to locate any weapons or contraband.”

The Doctor explained, “We are on a tightrope. They get angry if we disclose, and there is anger if we do not.”

When asked about suicidal ideation and potential weapons in Anthony’s possession, the doctor explains, “Well, he (Anthony) said he didn’t have any weapons.” And, as to why Anthony’s medication was increased, “Anthony said it was a good idea,” the Doctor says.

Tanya laments, “I know my son. He would never have admitted he had a weapon, and he would have thought increasing his medication would help him get better faster. But that was not a decision Anthony should have made. He is not a doctor.”

It is a perfect storm.

1. Limited Resources. “There is a waiting list to see those guys (counselors/psychiatrists). They’ve been trying to get more counselors to these particular bases, like Alaska, which are higherrisk areas. They can’t find people to get out there. There is a huge need for healthcare workers on these bases, and they can’t find them,” explains Tanya.

2. Impersonal Treatment. Asking for help is a huge step in the military, considering the consequences to career and reputation. When someone does take that step, there must be a better way to serve a person’s mental health than simply speaking with them for a few minutes, handing them a prescription and saying, “See you in six weeks.”

3. Peer Experiences. Says Tanya, “Sam, a friend and fellow Marine of Anthony’s, came for Anthony’s funeral. He was already out of the

military. Sam had sought help while on Active Duty, and they (the Military) had pushed him out and messed up his DD214 under medical or mental health or something. Sam told me at Anthony’s funeral, “Maybe if he would’ve gone sooner, sought help sooner, he’d still be here. But he’s not. He didn’t because of me. He watched what happened to me.”

4. Disclosure vs. Nondisclosure. No protocol works to alert command when someone is mentally at risk for fear that the patient’s career will be jeopardized. But, if the command knows they have someone at risk, they can implement action that does not isolate a person, like health & safety sweeps, to ensure there are no weapons in the barracks.

The Fine Line

An answer must come. We must figure it out. What do you do in a case like this? Maybe you don’t just dump service members; kick them out of the military when they have disclosed mental health challenges. Perhaps they can’t do the job they’re in right now, maybe that is true. But there has to be something else that can happen that doesn’t strip them of their careers or put a giant label on them that results in scrutiny and ridicule.

If a person is diagnosed with a mental health issue, there should be ongoing counseling, not just a prescription, and there should be a team effort between the doctor and the commander to protect the person.

For Tanya, there is no way to change what happened on that November 2021 day. Now, she spends time with her son in her garden each morning, where they feed the birds together. She speaks to him, and she knows he is listening, helping to guide her to make change for active duty service members in our armed forces.

“There are a lot of great programs for veterans, but I want to make sure our active duty service members get the support they need as well,” says Tanya.

Tanya remains in close contact with many Marines who served with Anthony at Camp Lejeune. She works tirelessly to find and support organizations that concentrate on the health and well-being of active-duty service members.

Jong Ill was still alive, and he was a bad guy. I asked for orders to go Infantry in Korea. When you are Infantry, the only thing to do is Ranger School, Airborne School, or Air Assault School.

“I was heavy into the training aspect of my career, earning my certificates and credentials which gave me ‘street creds’ as a new young Officer.”

In Korea, Christian oversaw a platoon training in trench warfare.

“One of the coolest things we came up with was helium balloons taped to targets floating in trenches that, when you went around the corner and shot them, they would fall down. That was like cutting edge!”

Christian reminisces on the gear and uniforms his platoon was issued, “It was all inherited from the Vietnam guys.”

This is all shared in jest with the understanding of how geared-up troops are in today’s military.

After Korea, Christian was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia and the Brigade Bootcamp, basic training.

“I struggled; it was so boring,” he says.

Back then, there were no computers, no email and Christian would spend his days waiting for the guys to rotate through the ranges.

Later, Christian decides to try out for a parachute team called the Silver Wings. He arrives at the office and knocks on the door.

“They wouldn’t answer the door! They saw me in my First Lieutenant sharp uniform, and they’re like, ‘oh God, don’t answer it.”

Not to be deterred, “I showed up the next day in civilian clothes, knocked on the door, and said I was FedEx; when they opened the door, I said, just kidding! My name is Lieutenant Christian, and I want to try out for the team.”

For Christian, serving in a peacetime army didn’t scratch the itch he had for high-level action, so he chose to accept an early transition. At the time, the National Guard was looking for officers to join their ranks.

“I remember sitting across from this quintessential stereotypical little old lady wearing white tennis shoes who was working the desk at Fort Benning. She asked where I wanted to go, and I replied, ‘where do they need me?’”

Turns out, there was a place on the Island of Kauai off Hawaii that hadn’t had an officer in more than seven years. “Sign me up!” Christian said eagerly, and just like that, he was off to Hawaii, where he claims it took years to break in with the largely Filipino/Hawaiian population.

On September 11, 2001, Christian was on the wrong island. Christian had met a girl (now his wife) from Minnesota who

was attending the University of Hawaii on Oahu. He had spent the night of September 10 with her, waking up to an alarming beeping noise on the radio calling for all military personnel to return to their bases.

“I didn’t understand what was happening, but I knew I was going to be in big trouble.” All the airplanes had been shut down, and there was no way for Christian to return to Kauai, which was usually a 15-minute air ride.

Nevertheless, the Hawaii National Guard was mobilized. It had not been mobilized since the Vietnam War.

“It was crazy to show up in Afghanistan with a detachment of 30 guys. Once Iraq happened in 2003, we got our orders shifted from Afghanistan to Iraq, and we were there for 18 months,” he says.

The experiences Christian had during his time with the National Guard during wartime showed him everything had changed from his experience in the Army at peacetime, and he loved it!

After a year in Iraq, Christian wanted more. He wanted more of the recognition, the life-or-death situations, and decisions; This was exactly where he was supposed to be.

He recalls being put in charge of a training team for the Iraqis. De-Ba’athification had begun, resulting in the removal of all sergeants and officers of the Iraqi Army. Once that occurred, there was no one left to train and fight. So, the Iraqi Army stood up with all new people who required training.

At the time, there were simply not enough regular army, Navy Seals, or Green Berets to train the newbies, so the U.S. turned to National Guard troops.

Christian was sent, along with three other guys, to train an entire battalion.

“It was crazy, and I loved it,” he says.

After his tour in Iraq with the Hawaii National Guard, Christian volunteered to return to active duty and, after that, tried out for Special Forces, where he eventually became a Green Beret.

I took two years in the training pipeline to become a Green Beret, ultimately rotating through Afghanistan under completely different circumstances with 11 highly qualified, well-trained men.

&

THE ART OF BEING PRESENT

In a world where distractions reign supreme, and the pace of life seems to quicken by the day, the simple act of being present becomes a rare and precious gift.

The constant bombardment of notifications, the relentless pressure to juggle multiple tasks, and the ever-expanding list of things to do often pull us away from what truly matters: immersing ourselves fully in the present moment.

Being present transcends mere physical presence, requiring conscious immersion in the here and now. When we embrace the present moment, we grant our undivided attention to whatever task, conversation, or activity is before us, allowing us to engage more profoundly.

Moreover, the art of being present strengthens the bonds in our relationships. How often do we find ourselves physically present but mentally absent, lost in our thoughts, or distracted by our devices?

I have personally discovered the power of presence in my interactions with my wife. When she asks me something while I am engrossed in work, I deliberately choose to pause, set aside distractions, turn to face her, and fully engage with her. This simple act of presence has deepened our connection and enriched our communication.

Similarly, being present extends to our physical endeavors, such as exercise. Rather than cheating our bodies by rushing through workouts with one eye on the clock, embracing the present moment allows us to fully experience each movement. By focusing on our breath, feeling the muscles

engage, and ensuring proper form, we enhance the effectiveness of our workouts.

Moreover, embracing presence in our daily activities fosters a sense of curiosity and gratitude for the present moment. Whether delighting in the flavors of a homemade meal, taking a leisurely stroll in nature, or engaging in heartfelt conversations with loved ones, immersing ourselves fully in each moment enriches our lives immeasurably.

Transitioning to a present mindset is not a walk in the park. It demands intentional commitment and concentrated effort.

First, you must consciously choose to be fully present and actively participate in the moment. With consistent practice this awareness gradually becomes second nature.

I have encountered numerous instances where my thoughts wandered either aimlessly or to other concerns, pulling me away from the present. However, through dedication, I am developing the ability to ground myself in the present moment with increasing ease.

It is a journey that necessitates persistence, but the dividends it pays are substantial as each moment becomes enriched with a newfound sense of depth and appreciation.Embracing presence in every facet of our lives transcends mere moments of mindfulness; it becomes a transformative way of existence. Through the ongoing practice of being present, we foster a deeper connection with the world around us.

Take a moment to pause, take a deep breath, and fully immerse yourself in each moment. By doing so, our connections with others will deepen, and we will uncover a treasure trove of details and beauty all around us that might have escaped our notice before.

“We were doing operations that were well above our pay grade, bringing in Afghan leadership and Afghan police. We were organizing the development of Valleys to run on their own. It felt really good to be a part of that.”

Deployments included time in the Philippines, and then to Nepal training the Nepalese for two months.

“I was doing all of these missions. There were terrible times, there were good times, and there were great times,” he says.

Christian’s career continued to climb when he later tried out for and earned a position in a specialized unit on the United States east coast. During his time there, he was able to complete his master’s degree at Harvard University.

After years of high action, the time ultimately came when Christian had to “take the bitter pill” of doing some sort of joint staff work, which ultimately moved him to SOCOM in Tampa, where he met Chris Kelly in “the closet,” officially known as the SCIF (Secret Compartmentalized Information Facility.

The two had traveled very similar timelines within their military careers; both had been in Hawaii, both been in war zones, sometimes at the same time and place, and then all of a sudden, they were in the same office.

“The closet” was a nickname given to a particular office inside the special operations command where needs and assessments of specialized units like Seals and Green Berets took place. Both Chris and Christian had unique affiliations to this group with their collection of personal experience within specialized seal units and specialized joint SOF units.

“There’s a lot of what we would call ‘white sock,’ or regular Green Berets and regular Seals, and even non-special operation guys filling the headquarters. So, to have guys who have actually been to some of the specialized units, they shoved us in ‘the closet’ because the assessments can only be done by guys who can go and speak intelligently to those units,” explains Christian.

The pair had worked together for some time at SOCOM but eventually split, with Chris staying in the building doing hard strategic-level work and Christian returning to the line for a few years.

The two stayed in touch, having developed a friendship around mutual ideas and objectives as they each prepared for their end of the military road. Both understood they wanted to maintain connections with the things they were both passionate about, the people they had worked with, and the exploration idea of military service.

“Because young men and women, when they join, admittedly they join because of patriotism and a paycheck, but the real reason is, ‘I’m Going to See the World!’ and we had that, and wanted to keep that life of exploration,” Christian says.

Is there any place that scares you?

We wanted to know of these two men, for all they have seen and done, if there was any place in the world they would be scared to venture?

“I mean, North Korea would be difficult. Russian and China, especially because of our backgrounds. If we are discovered, we could be a juicy target,” says Christian.

“Our backgrounds were never this public before. Now that we’re becoming exposed, we are becoming vulnerable. So, if we go to more dangerous places, if they discover our background, we do become a juicy target.” says Chris.

These two men have never talked about what they do. For them, it is a bit unnerving and uncomfortable. But they know they must get comfortable with that uncomfortable feeling to tell the story and make their business successful. They know the saving grace is the friendships and relationships they made through military service. Knowing people to connect with in these foreign countries helps to keep them safe.

Why Wood?

If you are military, there is probably a wooden plaque somewhere in your home, and behind that plaque is a story. Chris shares a time, more than two decades ago, when a neighbor of his who was ex-military had traveled to England with his wife and came upon the wood that locals had chopped from a 2000-year-old oak tree that had fallen in a storm.

The neighbor brought back pieces of the wood from his trip and later made a plaque out of it for Chris’ birthday.

“I thought it was the best birthday present ever, and it is still a prominent feature in every house I’ve ever owned since,” Chris says.

The moral of this story is yes, the wood has value, but the backstory can make it priceless.

Chris and Christian understood that if you can capture the story of the wood, from the beginning through the disassembly all the way to the end, and provide that provenance, that authenticity, you could provide much more than pretty wood. You could provide something that could become a family heirloom.

So many experiences, travels, interactions, and memories had come together within an idea that would ultimately become Three Forks Wood Reclamation, where things are done a bit differently.

The vision for Three Forks Wood Reclamation is to provide historical wood to a family who can place it in their building,

WHERE THE RIVERS MEET

RIVERS, FROM PG 31

their home’s floor, or accent beams, and when people come to visit their home, they are able to tell the story of that wood.

“We are people of stories. Humans are storytellers.”

The Tie-In

The pair took a trip in October of 2023 to three countries: Estonia, Lithuania, and Romania. What is unique to this pair is their ability to maintain the relationships they have built through wartime.

“So, Romanians during Afghanistan were largely in charge of Ring Road. Afghanistan is a landlocked country. There’s one major highway that does a circle. The enemy plants IEDs all along that road and many others. But the Romanians, as an allied force, were responsible for clearing that road every day,” says Christian. He got to know them from deployments and got to know one Romanian very well.

“I saw him again in Afghanistan as a tanker clearing that road. I said, Remus, my friend, I am out here in the valley on the border of Pakistan, trying to build it, and here you are

clearing the road. We each have a piece of the war effort, and it’s so good to see you. He hugged me and said, ‘My God, it’s good to see you Christian!’

“We maintained that friendship, so when I knew, I was traveling to Romania, I linked us up with him. He is retired now and took us around Transylvania to help us find barns, talk to the farmers, helped us identify, discover, and document all the current Romanian barns in our catalog.”

The same goes for the trip to Lithuania, where Christian met up with another old friend from his time in Afghanistan, a Lithuanian he had worked with to help set up Afghan villages.

Likewise in Estonia, Chris and Christian had found a U.S. Air Force Special Operations guy who was about to get out of the military.

“This person had married into an Estonian family who knew all the ranchers, who owned the farms, and stuff like that. When we arrived in Estonia, we met with his family who took us around to find a lot of good sites,” explains Chris.

Christian chimes in, “So, you’re looking at two guys who don’t know anything about wood, never been in business, yet we’re finding our way because we’re leaning based on the

things we know. We have our networks and friends. We have this exploration and this ability to travel easily and lightly. And we have an appreciation of the history and heritage of other cultures.”

The Name

Everything in the lives of Chris Kelly and Christian Knutson has meaning, from the mundane times to the world-changing times of their careers. It goes without saying that the name chosen for their company must have meaning, too.

“Three Forks are the headwaters in Montana of the Missouri River. The Jefferson Gallatin, Madison River, and America’s longest river, the Missouri River, all come together.

“Back in 1994, me and my best friend, Fritz put a canoe in at Three Forks and canoed for 60 days all the way through Montana and North Dakota. My friend ended up being killed when he hiked from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, doing what he loved, but he was killed, and I miss him. So, this is a little bit of an homage to him, to that journey, and to that wonderful time. It also works out really well because Navy Seals symbol is a trident, and the trident has three forks.”

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness.

If you have served at least one day of active military duty since December 7, 1941 and were honorably discharged or you are still serving active military duty honorably, you are eligible for membership with The American Legion.

The Auxiliary and The Sons provide an opportunity for children, grandchildren and spouse of veterans to honor their family members that served our country, and keep their legacy alive for years to come.

SERVICES AND PROGRAMS:

BENEFITS CENTER

CAREER CENTER

EDUCATION CENTER

HEALTH CENTER

TROOP AND FAMILY SUPPORT USAA FINANCIAL CENTER

WOMEN VETERANS BASEBALL BOY STATE/NATION

NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUND OPERATION COMFORT WARRIORS ORATORICAL CONTEST SCHOLARSHIPS

MEMBER DISCOUNTS

E-NEWSLETTER PUBLICATIONS CAREERS

Join Veterans and our families 4th Monday of each month 5pm Auxiliary • 6pm Sons • 7pm Legion Plantation Palms 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd. Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639 www.americanlegionpost108.org

FireWatch Business Classifieds

New for 2024

FireWatch CLASSIFIEDS

FireWatch magazine will highlight local businesses supporting our area’s veteran community each month. Scan the QR code to learn more about each of the Team FireWatch classified advertisers.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES

ACKERMAN FAMILY ENTERPRISES

handles all your home inspection needs in the Tampa Bay area with a 10% discount on your home inspection. (813) 750-3644

jackerman@hometeam.com

REAL ESTATE FOR VETERANS

Get Matched With AGENTS, LENDERS, INSPECTORS, & MORE! NO BULL –WE CAN HELP

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VETERAN SERVICES

VETERANS FUNERAL CARE

Serving the entire Tampa Bay area. Veteran family-owned. Crematory on premises. We help you with all VA claims. Clearwater (727) 524-9202.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

SARA B. & ASSOCIATES

High-quality financial products through A-rated companies. Life Insurance/Annuities. (813) 997-1947 i nfo@iamsarab.com

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

LUTZ CEMETERY

Rest with Dignity and Honor Managed by The American Legion 108 Lutz Seeking Applications for Legion HONOR GUARD Contact Bob 908.655.7927

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

BARRACKS BRAWL

Secure Your Shelter & Future Keller Williams Realty New Tampa. Be a Real Estate professional today! FREE licensing prep course Josh Porthouse (352) 978-2265

MARTIN SECURITY SERVICES

Specializing in home/business complete security systems. No long-term contracts. Free consultation. 10% military & FR discount. (813) 352-6398