Koree Ritter

SSG Wallace Fanene is a Hawai’i native of Southern California and the father of two beautiful children. He is cared for by his loving wife of seventeen years who he met in high school and would come to wed in the spring of 2006. Wallace and Scarlet reside in the North County of San Diego and enjoy their life in the Southern California wine country where they raise their children Nalia age 16 and Lokepa age 14. As a family they enjoy an array of physical activities like hiking, gym sessions, anything at the beach as well as cooking and preparing meals with one another.
Wallace was recruited into the Army in 2002 and arrived at the 25th Infantry Division in Schofield Barracks, Hawai’i. While stationed at Schofield Wallace made various training deployments before making his first combat deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2003. While deployed he served as a rifleman in an infantry platoon tasked as the forward operating bases Quick Reaction Force. This deployment would end up being a fifteen-month deployment and his first introduction to life in combat. Wallace left this deployment with two Army Commendation Medals for actions in combat and a new motivation to continue his Army career.
The next deployment Wallace would make would be to Kirkuk, Iraq where he would fill new leadership roles in a very different combat environment. After fourteen daunting months of hard experiences and losses Wallace went out on his last mission. Two weeks prior to his return date Wallace would take a knee on an explosive device during the search of a suspected terrorist compound and would require medical evacuation back to base and eventually home to America. This explosive claimed his right arm below the elbow and right leg above the knee; Wallace would leave the combat theater with another Army commendation medal with V device and a Purple Heart.
Though the deployment was rough and would eventually bring him home as an amputee, it would also bring what would eventually fruit into a 17-year marriage and the birth of his first child. Nalia was born 6 months into Wallace’s second deployment and welcomed him home 8 months later where she and his wife would be waiting for him at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
While making strides in his recovery Wallace made the decision to return to California and finish his rehabilitation at the Balboa Navy Medical Center. It is here where he would see his last couple of years in uniform and settle down with his small family in the town where he and Scarlet first met. Wallace is a third-generation military service member with his grandfather serving in WWII and the Korean War, his father in the Vietnam War, and Wallace in Iraq and Afghanistan. While Wallace is humbled to have had the opportunity to serve his country, he is extremely proud to have followed the patriotic footsteps of the men who came before him.

Wallace would like to thank everyone who has contributed to his journey after combat and all who continue to bless him and his family.

Nano Scherrieb is honored to be a special guest at this year’s BFTB.  She was a supporter of BFTB from the beginning as a sponsor and also a member of Houston Welcoming Group.  

Nano was born and raised in Houston.  When she was a child, she contracted polio well before the vaccine was developed.  She graduated from the University of Houston and holds a masters degree from the University of Texas at Austin.  She retired in 2015 after 31 years as a librarian for the law firm of Andrews Kurth.  Her work there was interesting and challenging.  She was part of the change from predominately print-based research to electronic resources for not only the Houston office but 5 other offices as well.  

Nano is also proud of her contributions as a volunteer of over 40 years with the Special Children’s Committee at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.  She served as Chairman of the committee and was instrumental in helping to create The Top Hands Horse Show.  After 26 years of steady growth, it is now a 2 day, 5 event horse show for disabled riders of all ages.  The SCC also puts on another event, Lil’ Rustlers Rodeo, where disabled children from 5-10 yrs. old experience “just-for-fun” rodeo events such as barrel racing with a stick horse and riding a “bucking” bronc.  Nano’s role is to recruit over 150 volunteers from other committees to act as cowboys and cowgirls to go through the events with their Lil’ Rustler.  The volunteers are always eager to give special one on one attention to all the participants   Nano was also the first Chairman of the newly formed Scholarship Administration Committee which supports the HLSR staff with their substantial scholarship program.   

Nano calls herself a “late bloomer” when it comes to hunting.  On her first trip to San Rafael almost 10 years ago, she was hooked.  She credits Loralee, Kathy and all the ranch staff for their excellent training and encouragement.  They made it possible for her to do what she thought was impossible.  With their help and guidance, she has harvested bucks, does, Aoudad, wildebeest and a gemsbok.  She has also gotten her fair share of feral hogs and coyotes which is considered a public service to Texas!  She loves the spirit and freedom of San Rafael and hopes that all the veterans and their wives will too.

Omar Duran, a Texas native, spent 8 years in the Army in the mid 2000’s as a Cav. Scout, deploying all over the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan during the OIF & OEF conflicts, before being severely wounded in 2011. Omar was a Staff Sergeant assigned to 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment while on a mission during his 6th deployment to the middle east when everything went astray. While in the middle of a fire fight the team descended down a rocky cliffside on a goat path, Omar was in the rear when a team member in front stepped on a pressure plate and set off an improvised explosive device (IED). The blast instantly killed 90 percent of his team and the violent shockwave from the explosion sent Omar airborne down the cliffside. 

Omar sustained extensive life-threatening injuries from both the blast and the impact of the fall. The medevac team that rescued him had to resuscitate him multiple times. Once stabilized and knew he was going to survive he was flown back stateside to Walter Reed Medical Center where he would spend the next two years rehabilitating and recovering. 

Omar’s plan was to be a career soldier. His upbringing was not one you document in scrapbooks. His family business included dealing drugs, biker gangs, and prison time. Omar wanted a different life and enlisting in the Army gave him an outlet and opportunity he wouldn’t have had otherwise. Omar loved being a soldier and took full advantage, he jumped at every school and training opportunity they allowed him to do. Airborne, Pathfinder, Seer, Ranger, Sniper, Air Assault, etc. And it was all ripped away from him. Even as a teenager and young adult Omar was drawn to physically demanding jobs and challenges. He rode bareback horses in the rodeo, worked on oil rigs, was a ranch hand, ran marathons, jumped out of airplanes, raced street cars. So, to find himself in a hospital bed, staring down the barrel of forced retirement without eyesight (at the time), his jaw wired shut, a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures and broken bones throughout his whole body, and PTSD he decided to make plans to take his own life. Then, by some divine intervention, one of his nurses at Walter Reed invited him to a cycling group where he was introduced to para-cycling or handcycling.

Handcycling gave Omar a much-needed outlet and has allowed him to heal in ways no medicine could provide. In 2013, Omar was chosen to be a part of an 8-man wounded veteran team to compete in Race Across America or RAAM. A 3,000-mile cycling event considered the world’s toughest endurance race. The race begins in Oceanside, CA and ends in Annapolis, MD. It’s a race that runs 24 hours a day 7 days a week until they cross the finish line. It was here where Omar crossed paths with his now wife, Jill. Jill happened to be volunteering as a part of the support crew for this team. Jill and Omar became quick friends and hung out every day in California during the lead up and preparations for the start of the race. When Omar asked to take Jill on a date, she told him that he needed to ride his bike 3,000 miles and then they’ll talk!

The team finished RAAM in 7 days 12 hours & 21 minutes in July 2013 and by October 2013, Omar moved to Florida to be with Jill. One year later in October 2014, after Omar raced 26.2 miles in the Marine Corp Marathon in Arlington, VA on his handcycle, he proposed at the finish line. Jill’s lightening up on the miles Omar’s required to work for! 

They were married in July 2015 and currently live in Clearwater, FL with their two dogs Tyse (Yorkie) and Gunner (Belgian Malinois). When they aren’t driving across the country on road trips, Jill works as a digital marketing director for a technology finance company and owns her own digital marketing business. While Omar can be found training and riding his handcycle on the daily. They both are heavily involved and volunteer throughout the year. They work with their family’s charity rodeo events in Texas that support children in need. As well as supporting different veteran charities that help veterans heal through sport, especially cycling!

Joshua Sust was born in January 20,1987 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from Colerain High School in June 2006. 2 weeks after his graduation he was on a bus to the one and only Parris Island MCRD. After 13 grueling weeks he finally accomplished his greatest achievement becoming a United States Marine. Upon completion of boot camp PVT Sust was headed to SOI East at camp Gieger, NC. After another grueling 3 months PFC Sust graduated SOI and was headed to the Fleet Marine Force with 2^nd battalion 4^th marines at Camp Pendleton, CA

Cpl Sust spent a total of 7yrs with 2/4 and 3 deployments with them. His first two were the 31^st and 11^th MEU on his last and final deployment CPL Sust was deployed to Helmand Provence, Afghanistan in September 2011. On a day he will never forget which has come to be known as many others as his Alive Day. Nov 12, 2011 at around 0830 Cpl Sust was on a mounted patrol when his vehicle hit an IED causing his door to be blown off and ejected. His injuries include TBI, PTSD, shattered tib/fib left foot (Limb salvage) and open fractures to both bones in his left arm. After years of therapy and 9 surgeries later, Cpl Sust was medically retired from the Marine Corps in Aug 2013.

In August 2015, Josh made the decision along with his care team to do a below knee amputation. This decision changed his life for the better. He is no longer in pain and off all pain medicine. In 2016 Josh began a new career in the prosthetics filed as a technician and patient adviser. It was another act of selfless service helping new amputees continue on with their lives. As Josh always said, “It’s not the end, it’s just a new beginning” – he truly believes that mindset. In spring of 2023, Josh decided to retire once again and continue to give back to those that gave so much to him all because of a bad day at work.  

Josh now retired, enjoys his time giving back to the organizations that helped him out the most during his most difficult times. He enjoys being outside hunting and fishing. He also enjoys getting other warriors to the outdoors on outdoor healing therapeutic adventures. He also enjoys spending time with family, friends, and his good boy Loki. 

Christian Fierro was born and raised in the town of Canutillo, Texas, just outside of El Paso city limits. Chris is the second youngest of five siblings, in a generational military family. His father had a distinguished career and retired as an Army Master Sergeant.  His oldest sister also served in the Army, and his valiant grandfather served in World War II.  His family’s core values were God, family, and country: living and leaving a legacy of duty of sacrifice.

Following his high school graduation, Chris embarked on a journey that would shape the trajectory of his life. In 1999, he was nominated and accepted into the US Military Academy Prep School.  Upon completion of Prep came West Point, where he honed his skills and majored in Systems Engineering from 2000 to 2004. After graduation from West Point, he attended Artillery Officer Basic and was stationed in Ft. Sill, Lawton Oklahoma in the fall of 2004. Here he met his wife, Jessica.

Upon completing officer basic, Chris was stationed in Baumholder with the 1st Armored Division, 4-27 Field Artillery. After a brief long-distance relationship, he and Jessica eloped in Las Vegas’ Little White Chapel, June 21, 2005. Jessica joined him in Germany that September & Chris deployed to Iraq in November 2005. Initially he served as a Fire Support Officer then transitioned to the role of Executive Officer and Platoon Leader for SVC Battery 4-27 FA. In August 2006, Chris was critically wounded in a friendly fire incident during a mission in Baghdad. A misfired bullet struck his left lower ankle, and the recovery would be arduous. Flown immediately to Landstuhl Germany, he was met by Jessica who never left his side again from that moment.  He underwent eighteen surgeries during a four-month stay at Walter Reed and 12 additional at Fort Sam Houston. In 2008, at Fort Sam Houston, he made the difficult decision to amputate his leg due to complications. The limb salvage was ultimately unsuccessful. After years of hospitalizations, surgeries, and pain that never ended.  This decision marked the ending of a once promising military career and propelled him towards medical retirement in fall of 2009.

Since his amputation, Chris has redefined his limitations and embraced new challenges head-on. First, he learned to walk all over again. Though the life of an amputee isn’t pain-free, it was a new freedom. He attempted skiing, a first for a desert native. He learned the game of golf from PGA players volunteering their skills and time. He also cultivated unbreakable bonds with other wounded veterans as they pushed, cheered, and held one another through both unfathomable trials and thrilling achievements. 

In 2018, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Master’s in Business Administration. His professional journey led him to financial services. Being an instrumental role in developing life insurance products, performing program management, and embracing leadership at companies such as the esteemed USAA and the start-up Bestow. During Chris’ tenor at Bestow, it was ranked the #1 life insurance company.  Today, Christian Fierro resides in the picturesque hill country just outside San Antonio, Texas. His love story with Jessica continues and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Laci (16) and Lena (12.)

Cameron West was born and raised in Acworth, Georgia and decided at an early age he wanted to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and join the United States Marine Corps. He attended North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Georgia where he studies history and social science. NGCSU is one of the six senior military colleges of the country and he proudly participated in the Corps of Cadets while also attending the USMC PLC program his junior summer. In 2008 he commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps. After attending The Basic School and attending Infantry Officers Course he was stationed at Camp Pendleton with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. In late 2010 he deployed to a Taliban stronghold in the Sangin Valley in southern Afghanistan.

On Oct. 15, 2010, Cameron West was leading his platoon to remove the Taliban insurgents from their opium production when a pressure plate improvised explosive device (IED) was triggered causing a massive explosion. The blast hurled Capt West into the air, taking his right leg and severely damaging the left. He also sustained damage and partial use to his right hand and arm and lost the vision in his right eye. Only due to the fact his young Marines moved swiftly and without concern for their own lives was then Cameron extracted safely out of the combat zone.

Cameron spent the following 2 years at Balboa Naval Hospital learning to walk again and regain his strength. He was then stationed back at Camp Pendleton as the Commander of The Instructor Group at The School of Infantry as a Captain in 2012 where he was able to proudly serve back alongside many of the same Marines that saved his life. He was medically retired and transitioned out of the Marine Corps in 2013.

After retirement he moved back to the southeast and bought 160 acres of river bottom land on the Georgia /Alabama state line and turned a neglected and overgrown piece of raw land into a cattle ranch using a CAT 963 Loader and 40 horsepower tractor. He spent 2 years clearing 80 acres of pasture , constructing 10,000 feet of fence along with a cattle corral, and built a shop and small house where he now runs his own herd of black angus cattle.

Cameron has been graced with 3 kids who are Honored to carry the names of passed Marines; Ella James(8), Robert Thornton(7) and Ethan Bull(4). He is fortunate to be able to coach both of his sons baseball teams and cheer in his daughter as she is a cheerleader for the 3rd grade Buccaneers football team and part of her schools Pirate Council. Cameron could not be more proud of his 3 children that participate in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with him and he teaches them to push their own personal limits by competing in BJJ competitions where he has medaled.

In his spare time Cameron volunteers and is on the Board of Directors for Homes For Our Troops, a wonderful nonprofit that builds specially adaptive homes for the nations most severely wounded veterans. He also enjoys volunteering with the nonprofit Semper Fi Fund and was part of the first visitors to the hospitals of the Boston Bombing victims in 2012. Currently SFF along with Cameron and another Marine amputee are working to start a program in advising and mentoring the wounded and affected Ukrainian soldiers and their families from their war with Russia. He is most proud of volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in the foster care system and believes every child should have someone to fight for them. In February 2023 he was honored to hike and summit Mount Kilimanjaro with Adam Kisielewski and Steven Curry, past Boots for the Brave attendees.

In January 2022 he met and fell in love with Victoria Simmons (Tori). Tori comes from a long line of farmers and foresters from southeast Georgia where her Centennial family farm produces pecans and timber. She studied Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at the University of Georgia, later working for the Atlanta Botanical Garden. She presently works for a private company in Atlanta, Georgia, but dreams of managing wildlife and native plant conservation efforts at her family farm. She has a spunky 4 year old daughter named Liberty and when they aren’t creating upheaval and general depravity in Cameron’s life, they like to hike and garden and have a great time outdoors with Cameron and his kids.