Recently my father passed away. Shortly after, my sister said to me, she had no idea of the extent of our father's service. She wished she had more serious conversations with him while he was alive. I don’t want anyone else in the family to not know of this family’s legacy of service.

I am the only one in my family who did not serve in the military.
And that is precisely why I felt compelled to write this book.

In full transparency his book was created with assistance from artificial intelligence tools that helped organize family stories, structure timelines, research historical context, and analyze service documents to ensure accuracy where possible. The goal was clarity, preservation, and honesty—not literary prestige. This is not a commercial project or an attempt at a bestseller. It is a record.

I wrote this to preserve my family’s legacy so future generations understand where they come from and why service—military and civilian—has defined our identity. I am proud of the people whose lives fill these pages. Their stories deserved to be put in one place, told plainly, and passed forward without being lost to time.

My father fought in Vietnam.
My grandfathers fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
My step brothers served in the Air Force and Navy
My sister served in the Navy
My extended family includes soldiers, aviators, intelligence officers, FBI, department of defense and a Green Beret.

Across generations—on both sides of the family—uniforms were worn, battles were fought, and service was carried forward without hesitation.

I grew up surrounded by this legacy.
My childhood was shaped by the ripple effects of wars fought long before I understood them.
My perspective on service comes not from combat boots but from watching the men and women I loved return from deployments, carry their scars quietly, show pride in their country and continue building families with the discipline and resilience learned in service.

This book exists so my children and grandchildren will know the people they come from.
It exists so the stories, sacrifices, and lessons of this family are preserved, remembered, and honored.
It exists because these men and women gave more than most will ever understand—and someone had to tell their story.

I didn’t serve.
But I carry their legacy.
And I am proud—deeply proud—of every one of them.

This book is my tribute to the past and my gift to the future.