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Colonel Trey Morriss is a distinguished retired United States Air Force officer whose career is closely tied to one of the most secretive and consequential missions in modern airpower history. As an Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) with the 596th Bomb Squadron, Morriss was part of an elite cadre of airmen operating B-52 Stratofortress bombers at a time when electronic warfare, long-range strike capability, and strategic deterrence were central to U.S. national security. His expertise placed him at the heart of operations requiring precision, discretion, and exceptional technical skill. One of the defining moments of his career came during Operation Senior Surprise, often referred to by its unofficial nickname, Secret Squirrel. This mission marked the first offensive strike of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and involved a highly classified, unprecedented 35-hour, 14,000-mile sortie that launched from Barksdale Air Force Base. Morriss and his fellow crew members delivered the opening salvo of the war, employing some of the earliest operational uses of conventional air-launched cruise missiles to neutralize enemy command-and-control infrastructure. The mission demonstrated the reach, precision, and adaptability of American airpower, and it helped shape the combat environment for the coalition forces that followed. Throughout his career, Morriss held increasing levels of leadership responsibility, including serving as vice commander of the 307th Bomb Wing. In this role he helped oversee operations, readiness, and strategic mission execution for one of the Air Force’s key bomber wings. His leadership was marked by deep operational knowledge, a commitment to aircrew professionalism, and a focus on developing the next generation of Air Force personnel. In retirement, Colonel Morriss has remained active in the veteran and military community. He has participated in public ceremonies, educational engagements, and commemorative events honoring both the Secret Squirrel crews and the broader bomber community. He has administered the Oath of Enlistment to new Air Force recruits during Veterans Day observances, symbolically linking the heritage of past missions with the next generation entering military service. Today, Morriss is widely recognized not only for his role in one of the most significant missions of the Gulf War, but also for his ongoing commitment to mentoring, honoring Air Force heritage, and inspiring the airmen who continue the mission he once carried out.

The Overwatch Initiative, founded and led by Shane Santelli, is a developing nonprofit organization built on a singular, urgent mission: to ensure that veterans and first responders—individuals who have spent their lives protecting others—are not left to struggle alone when the weight of trauma, addiction, and transition becomes overwhelming. Santelli’s vision is shaped by firsthand understanding of the mental, emotional, and physical toll that service can take. As a result, the initiative focuses on creating a community-centered support structure that goes far beyond traditional outreach. It is designed as a proactive, boots-on-the-ground effort that identifies those who are struggling, surrounds them with peers who understand their experiences, and connects them to meaningful pathways toward recovery and renewal. At the heart of the Overwatch Initiative is the belief that healing happens in community. The organization prioritizes peer-to-peer interaction—veterans and first responders helping one another, sharing lived experiences, and offering guidance from a place of sincerity and credibility. These interactions serve as the foundation for broader support services, which include assisting participants in accessing mental-health care, navigating treatment placement, and finding long-term recovery resources tailored to their specific needs. By focusing on connection first, the initiative reduces the stigma that often prevents people from seeking help and replaces it with a sense of belonging and trust. Beyond emotional and clinical support, the Overwatch Initiative is committed to restoring purpose. Many individuals emerging from high-intensity service roles experience disconnection, identity loss, or a lack of direction. Through mentorship, group activities, curated resource networks, and structured recovery guidance, the organization aims to reestablish a sense of meaning—and to remind each participant that they are still part of a mission that matters. The initiative is fueled entirely by grassroots support, including fundraising efforts that help secure meeting spaces, build networks, and expand outreach to those who need it most. As it grows, the Overwatch Initiative seeks to build a sustainable, nationwide movement that echoes Santelli’s core conviction: no one who has served their community or their country should ever face their darkest moments alone.

Joe Yurick is a United States Army veteran, storyteller, and sobriety advocate whose life journey has become a source of strength and inspiration for countless members of the veteran community. He entered the Army in 2000 through the delayed-entry program, beginning his military career at Fort Sill in Oklahoma before moving on to advanced training at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he specialized in operating the PATRIOT missile system. His service took on new weight after the attacks of September 11, 2001, when he deployed overseas in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Joe’s assignments placed him in regions such as Qatar and Kuwait, where he served honorably until completing his military service in 2004. But the transition to civilian life proved far more challenging than he expected. Like many veterans, Joe carried invisible burdens that he struggled to process, eventually turning to alcohol as a way to numb stress, memories, and emotional pain. What began as an unhealthy coping mechanism escalated into a destructive pattern of drinking and substance abuse that impacted nearly every part of his life. His turning point came in 2022, when his wife issued a heartfelt ultimatum that forced him to confront the reality of his addiction. That moment sparked a deep personal reckoning — one that led Joe to embrace sobriety with commitment, humility, and a desire for transformation. Over time, he rebuilt his health, repaired relationships, and began rediscovering the parts of himself that had been buried under years of struggle. Driven by the belief that no veteran should have to fight their battles alone, Joe launched This Sober Vet, a podcast and platform created to normalize conversations around addiction, recovery, and mental health in the veteran community. Through raw storytelling and honest dialogue, he uses his own journey as a roadmap for others, offering encouragement, practical insights, and a powerful message: sobriety is possible, healing is real, and asking for help is a sign of strength — not weakness. Joe’s mission is grounded in authenticity, shaped by his lived experience, and fueled by a desire to help veterans break free from harmful self-medication and find healthier, more sustainable ways to cope with trauma and transition. Today, Joe continues his advocacy work while also pursuing professional and creative endeavors, including video production under the Yurick Video Services brand. Whether behind a microphone, a camera, or in conversation with a fellow veteran, Joe Yurick stands as a reminder that recovery is a journey worth fighting for — and that one person’s story can light the way for many others.

The All-American Heroes Foundation (AAHF) is a Washington-based nonprofit dedicated to uplifting veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and the caregivers who support them every day. Rooted in the belief that healing doesn’t always happen in a clinical setting, AAHF focuses on restoring mental wellness through outdoor adventure, community connection, and shared purpose. Their signature approach—known as “outdoor wellness” and “throttle therapy”—invites participants into the backcountry for activities like snowmobiling, ATV riding, and wilderness education, giving them the chance to escape daily stress, breathe fresh air, and rediscover the camaraderie they often miss after service. These experiences are designed not only to reduce anxiety and isolation, but also to rebuild confidence and resilience by placing individuals in environments where teamwork, trust, and enjoyment naturally occur. Since its founding in 2020, the foundation has grown steadily, hosting group rides, community events, and an annual snowmobile giveaway for a deserving veteran or first responder—a gesture that reflects their commitment to recognition as much as support. Beyond adventure-based wellness, AAHF also offers scholarships and cultivates a tight-knit support network, creating a space where service members and first responders can share stories, form friendships, and feel genuinely understood. The heart of the organization lies in restoring connection—connection to nature, to others, and to oneself—helping heroes find renewed strength, purpose, and hope long after their uniforms come off.

Corporal Matthew Bradford’s story is one that doesn’t just inspire—it stops you in your tracks and forces you to rethink what the human spirit is capable of. Born with a deep desire to serve, Bradford enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq, where he quickly earned a reputation as a dedicated Marine and a loyal teammate. But on January 18, 2007, during a patrol in Haditha, everything changed in an instant. Bradford stepped on an improvised explosive device—an explosion so violent it ripped through the earth beneath him and left his fellow Marines fighting to save his life. The blast claimed both of his legs, took his eyesight, shattered bones, and inflicted devastating internal injuries. For many, such trauma would have marked the end of the story—but for Matthew Bradford, it was only the beginning of a new chapter. He woke in a hospital far from the battlefield, surrounded by medical equipment and uncertainty. The realization that he would never again see the faces of those he loved, and that he would live the rest of his life without legs, could have broken him. But Bradford chose a different path—one built on grit, determination, and a refusal to surrender. Rehabilitation was grueling. Every day brought new pain, new challenges, and new reasons to quit. Instead, Bradford leaned forward, fueled by his Marine mindset: adapt, improvise, overcome. Slowly, he learned to walk again using prosthetics. He learned to navigate a world of darkness. And he learned to reshape his life—not around what he had lost, but around what he still had to give. His motto, “No Legs, No Vision, No Problem,” wasn’t a slogan—it was a declaration of intent. Bradford pushed himself into challenges that defied expectations: marathons, races, mountain climbs reaching 7,000 feet, skydiving, blind surfing, hunting, fishing, and tackling life with a fierceness that demanded respect. But his defining moment came in April 2010, when he stood—on prosthetic legs, guided but not deterred by blindness—and raised his right hand to re-enlist in the United States Marine Corps. In that moment, Matthew Bradford became the first blind double amputee in Marine Corps history to re-enlist, proving to the world that courage isn’t measured by physical ability—but by the fire inside someone’s soul. Beyond the uniform, Bradford found a new calling: inspiring others. As a motivational speaker, he travels the country sharing his story with service members, students, businesses, and community groups. His message is simple but powerful: adversity is inevitable, but defeat is optional. His resilience earned him numerous honors, including Kentucky’s prestigious “Spirit of the Corps” Award, and he was invited as a special guest to the State of the Union Address—standing as a symbol of sacrifice, perseverance, and American strength. Today, Bradford continues to live a life of purpose. He is a husband, a father, a Marine, an athlete, and an example of what it looks like to confront unimaginable hardship—and rise above it with courage intact. His story underscores a truth that resonates deeply in the veteran community and far beyond it: you can take a person’s sight, take their legs, take almost everything they have—but you cannot take their spirit unless they hand it over. And Corporal Matthew Bradford never did.