Koree Ritter

David Guzman is a Purple Heart recipient and retired Army Sergeant. He was wounded in Iraq on September 17^th, 2004. He was on patrol in Taji, Iraq conducting convoy reconnaissance for an alternate route to move supplies from one base to another. He struck a roadside daisy-chained IED as they were passing throughasmall town. That blast left him with the loss of use of his right lower leg, right side hearing loss, right eye, and sustained multiple wounds on his face. On October 16, 2005, he medically retired from the service. They currently live in Wimberley, Texas with his wife, Maribel Guzman. They have two sons named Davidlee and Anthony. Both children are attending college. One is attending Texas State in San Marcos, and the other is in The Culinary Arts Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York. David also has a daughter from his first marriage, Arianna Guzman. 

David was born in Utah but was raised in Texas. He is the tenth child of Mr. Juan and Maria Antonia Guzman. When he was a small child, his family migrated between Texas and Utah for work. His father worked for the State of Utah as the Migrant Counselor to organize the workers for both states back in the 60s and 70s. By the time David graduated from high school, he wanted to join the military to follow in the steps of his father, his Uncle Francisco Guzman who is also a Purple Heart recipient, and his oldest sister and brother who also served. He joined the Army in 1989 and his first duty station was Fort Hood. During the first Gulf war he was sent back to his home state of Utah to finish out his service contract.

In 1997 he moved back to Texas and met Maribel at a dance hall on February 14^th, 1998; six weeks later they married. They have been through the thick and thins of life and have been happily married ever since. Since David’s injury, Maribel has been his caregiver, chauffeur, drill sergeant, better half, food taster, corrections officer, and most of all his “Wifey.” 

David credits Maribel and his children for giving him the purpose to get up every morning and become a better person in life. They have also given him the strength to complete college in his 40s and earn three certifications in Culinary Arts, which he finds great passion in. David, has put his skills to good use by doing volunteer work for non-profit organizations in order to give back to people who need a hot meal.

David would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to help his family through his injury and recovery by supporting them with their love and generosity.

Dan enlisted in the Army in the beginning of his senior year of high school in 1990 in response to the news of Iraq invading Kuwait and the subsequent United States Military involvement, however the war was over by the time he graduated and left for training.  Dan initially spent eight years on Active Duty, serving in both Europe,  and at Fort Bragg, NC with HHC XVIII ABN CORPS. Upon ETS, Dan couldn’t give up wearing the uniform so he simultaneously re-enlisted in the National Guard after separation from Active Duty in 1999.

While serving in the CA Army National Guard with HHC 579^th Combat Engineer Battalion, the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon shook the world as well as Dan, who was putting himself through school at Sonoma State University. Very soon after 9/11 Dan was deployed for Operation Noble Eagle, which was a stateside deployment. SSG Nevins was ultimately deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom II, in January of 2004, was attached to First Infantry Division and assigned to a new task force, Task Force Tacoma.  After several months of combat and a ridiculous operational tempo, on 10 November 2004 his life would be changed forever when an IED detonated beneath his vehicle while headed out on a 72-hour dismounted counter-insurgent operation. As a result of the blast, Dan ultimately lost both legs below the knee, suffered a mild/moderate TBI and lost his Platoon Sergeant, friend, and mentor, SFC Mike Ottolini.

Dan spent nearly 2 years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, with over 30 surgeries, as well as 3 subsequent visits for other necessary surgeries over the years.

After medically retiring from the Army, Dan went back into pharmaceutical sales, and when he found no joy in that field, he searched for ways to give back. First at the PGA TOUR, where Dan and his team stood up the TOUR’s Military Appreciation Initiative, called “Birdies for the Brave” which have raised over $15million for player supported military charities. After success there, Dan went to his dream job at Wounded Warrior Project and is still involved today, but now as an entrepreneur he serves more as an ambassador and spokesperson. Dan and his wife, Kaylin also work on a  small non-profit, Warrior Spirit Retreat, where he uses yoga, mindfulness and meditation to help heal the invisible wounds of war and give back directly to those who have served and suffered.

Most recently, Dan was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer and is currently in treatment at Mayo Clinic. Dan’s chemotherapy treatment is scheduled to end the week before this incredible opportunity, so this will be a HUGE blessing for both him and Kaylin.

Dan has 3 daughters and one granddaughter. Daughters Karyssa (28), Carly (12) and Catherine (5) are the best things in his world and his proudest achievement is having the title of “Dad”, followed closely by the title of “Big Poppa” which is what Heidi (5) calls him in lieu of Grandpa.

Dan recently married his forever bride, Kaylin, in April of 2022 after 7 years of dating and parenting their daughter, Catherine together. Kaylin is a career massage therapist, however she has left the workforce to care for Dan full time, while he finally undergoes treatment, after a surgical nightmare from the tumor removal surgery had him hospitalized for a month. Kaylin is solid gold and the best partner a man could ask for.

Dan and Kalin both enjoy being out in nature, camping, shooting, golf as well as more cosmopolitan interests like the theater (especially musicals), dining out and an occasional trip back to Sonoma & Napa County to collect some amazing wines. Dan is a horseman and has shown cutting horses at the Futurity in Fort Worth, TX almost every year since 2008 in a special event called the “Celebrity Cutting” which raises funds and awareness for a local cancer charity called the Careity Foundation and Dan has even won twice and has the belt buckles to prove it.

Chris retired as a 1SG, combat engineer, that spent 21 years in the Army. He grew up in the middle of cornfield country in Lincoln, Illinois. He has an older brother (also a soldier, he is a COL in the Army currently serving in Germany) and a younger half-brother. He spent time in both Illinois with his Mom and stepdad and Ohio with his biological Dad.

He lost his right leg below the knee, broke several vertebra in his neck, and shattered his upper right arm in a motorcycle accident in 2005. He remained on active duty service for more than 10 years and retired at the end of 2016. In 2010 Chris reinjured his residual limb avoiding an RPG attack in Afghanistan. After several years of continued issues with his limb not healing, he ultimately had a revision to cut off another 4 inches of his limb at Walter Reed in 2015. This is where he met Kelly.

Kelly is a Physical Therapist and was working in the amputee clinic at Walter Reed. Kelly comes from a military family, her Dad is a retired COL and helicopter pilot with 28+ years of service as well. Kelly grew up as an Army brat all around the world, moving often. She has 2 younger sisters. Her family lives about an hour from Walter Reed and never wanted any service member to be alone on a holiday. Many stragglers have spent holidays at their home over the years. Chris joined for 4^th of July and spent the whole day talking to Kelly’s Dad- realizing her Dad provided air support to Chris and his unit on the ground while both were deployed to Bosnia. Through lots of mutual friends, the rest is history.

Chris and Kelly moved to Maine in the summer of 2017 to work for the Travis Mills Foundation. Kelly is now the Chief Operating Officer for TMF, as well as a contractor at the local VA to help with amputee care, and adjunct professor at 3 universities to help teach amputee rehab. Chris also works for the foundation as the Chief Facilities and Maintenance Officer. Together, with a wonderful team, they run the day to day operations of the Foundation.

After years of an infertility journey, they now have a 22 month old daughter that is the greatest thing to ever happen to either of them. Her name is Emma and she is every bit of the fiercely stubborn and independent bits of her parents in the form of a tiny human. They have 2 dogs and are enjoying living on several acres out of the hussle and bussle of the DC area. They enjoy being outside as much as possible, hiking, swimming, and exploring what still feels like their new state.

He joined the Army in 2004 and was stationed at Ft. Stewart along with his stepdad.  They deployed together twice in the same battalion. Tim was on his second deployment in Iraq as an artilleryman when he was left a double amputee after an IED explosion. On June 19, 2007, shortly after taking over as the driver of a Humvee, his vehicle rolled over a pressure plate IED that exploded through the floorboard, immediately amputating his right leg below the knee and his left leg above the knee. The reaction by the medic and medevac team saved his life.  He was stabilized and transported to a local hospital before later being airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany and finally to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he rehabbed for nearly two and a half years.

TJ was born in Germany in 1984 to two German parents.  After his parent’s divorce, his mother met and married a soldier stationed in Germany and they all moved to the United States.  Tim learned to speak English and was naturalized as a US citizen after his mother became a citizen.

He joined the Army in 2004 and was stationed at Ft. Stewart along with his stepdad.  They deployed together twice in the same battalion.  Tim was on his second deployment in Iraq as an artilleryman when he was left a double amputee after an IED explosion.  On June 19, 2007, shortly after taking over as the driver of a Humvee, his vehicle rolled over a pressure plate IED that exploded through the floorboard, immediately amputating his right leg below the knee and his left leg above the knee.   reaction by the medic and medevac team saved his life.  He was stabilized and transported to a local hospital before later being airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany and finally to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he rehabbed for nearly two and a half years.

TJ loves outdoor activities including, golfing, fishing, hunting–anything that gets him outside.  He also enjoys drawing and reading.  Currently he is retired and is taking that opportunity to be a stay-at-home dad.  He loves being a father but is looking forward to getting back to work.  He has been interning with his prosthetist in the technician lab and hopes to get into prosthetic work.

TJ and his wife, Jackie, have two boys Oliver (8) and Sullivan (5) and live in Elizabeth, CO.

Ryan was born in Phoenix, Arizona.  After high school, he attended Arizona State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies.  During his education at Arizona State, Ryan completed the Army ROTC program and was commissioned as an Armor officer.

After completion of Army Officer Basic and Airborne schools, Ryan’s first duty station was Ft. Riley, KS where he was assigned to 1^st Battalion, 13^th Armor Regiment.  Ryan deployed to Taji, Iraq in February 2005 where he led patrols, raids, and cordon and searches in the area surrounding the base.  On November 29, 2005 while returning from an early morning cordon and search, Ryan’s vehicle was hit with IED buried in the road.

His injuries resulted in the catastrophic amputation of his right arm and left leg.

After being evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Ryan remained in a coma for two weeks before slowly beginning rehabilitation.  Ryan retired from the Army as a Captain in May 2007 and he and his wife decided to relocate to the Washington, D.C. area.

Currently Ryan works with Wounded Warrior Project, one of the organizations that played a large role in his recovery, as the Combat Stress Recovery Program Director. Ryan oversees the operation of the CSRP team who facilitate events focused on increasing resiliency and physiological well-being.

Ryan enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Nancy, and their three children; Jillian (12), Liv (10), and Evan (8).

Robert, originally from Mexico, Missouri, enlisted in the Army in 1999.  During his 11 years of service as an Infantryman he was deployed to Iraq twice – once in 2003 with the 4th Infantry Division and again in 2008 with 1st Infantry Division.

On May 17, 2009, a US combat patrol was attacked in Baghdad, Iraq.  The attack was initiated by an EFP that hit the vehicle Robert was riding in resulting in the amputation of both legs below the knee.  He was evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he spent 18 months rehabilitating.  He was eventually medically retired from the Army as a Staff Sergeant.

Robert returned to Missouri after his military service and encountered difficulties adjusting.  Utilizing the character and fortitude he learned in the military, Robert learned to meet his challenges head on and overcome many obstacles he once thought impossible.

Robert has been an advocate for veterans since retiring from the Army.  He currently works at Veterans Unite.  As a loan officer specializing in the VA home loan, he helps veterans purchase the land they fought so hard to protect.  Robert volunteers as a Board Member at the local homeless veteran’s shelter, Welcome Home Inc., in Columbia, MO.  He also volunteers as a Veteran Service Officer with the DAV filing VA disability claims on behalf of those who served.

Robert currently resides in Columbia, MO, with his wife Krystal and their three children Sebastian (18), Lyric (9) and Emmett (1-1/2) in his home built by Homes for Our Troops.