A Marine with a Mission: John’s Story
We sat down with USMC Veteran John Wheeler, a recent graduate of our Health & Wellness Program, to discuss his story. Hear what he had to say:
Q: Why did you join the military?
I joined the military to serve my country. There are pictures of me at five or six years old wearing shirts that said “MARINES” across the front, running outside, and dreaming of the day I would join. My family has a long history of service, with members on both my mother’s and father’s sides who served in different branches of the military. I chose the Marine Corps because I wanted the most complex challenge and the longest boot camp of them all.
As I grew older, the commercials on television only strengthened that desire. The Marines were always portrayed as the best of the best. They showed images of climbing cliffs, battling through fire, and earning the honor of the Dress Blues. That was larger than life to me, and I knew I wanted to be one of them.
More than anything, I wanted to serve my country and become one of “The Few, The Proud, The Marines.”
Q: Tell me about your military experience and what was most meaningful for you.
I shipped out to boot camp on July 29, 2001; however, a last-minute medical review found a discrepancy in my enlistment package, and I had to return home to have it resolved. Just weeks later, September 11th changed the course of our country. I would have been seven weeks into boot camp basic training when those attacks occurred, and it was a surreal moment to realize that while I was facing knee surgery and my first major setback in my military journey, the world outside was preparing for war.
While I was recovering from that first major setback, the others were graduating from Marine Corps Basic Training. Three of my fellow Poolees from the Delayed Entry Program were killed in action during the initial invasion of Iraq. Losing them was devastating, and it left me questioning everything about my decision. Sitting at home with a leg in a splint, working a desk job, while my brothers fought overseas, was one of the hardest things I have ever endured. Eventually, I found the courage to return, and I reenlisted to fulfill the dream I had carried since childhood.
The Marine Corps gave me pride, purpose, and a bond of brotherhood that is impossible to replicate. The connection between Marines is indescribable. Earning the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor after the crucible was the most rewarding moment of my life, even above my high school diploma and my Eagle Scout award. That specific emblem, which gave me the title of United States Marine, I later gave to my mother. It was my way of honoring her for raising me into the man I had become.
Q: When you left the military, what was that process like?
Leaving the military was nothing like I had envisioned. I had planned to serve for twenty years and retire as a Chief Warrant Officer, but my body had other plans. After multiple injuries in Afghanistan, numerous surgeries, and the weight of both physical and mental health struggles, I was placed in the Medical Evaluation Board process.
My Military Occupational Specialty was changed to “Recovering Service Member,” and the label was difficult to accept. I had joined the Marines to fight, to serve, and to lead, but now I was being defined by injury and limitation. Ultimately, I was deemed unfit for active duty due to injuries to my arm, shoulder, and back, along with mild traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder. After countless appointments and even lost medical records, I had to appear in front of a review board at the Washington Navy Yard. The process was grueling, but in 2015, I was medically retired with a seventy percent rating from the Department of Defense and a one hundred percent permanent and total disability rating from the VA.
It was not the ending I had wanted, but it was the one I was given.
Q: What did you struggle with when you left the military?
I struggled with almost everything. Depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, pain, migraines, substance abuse, and anger consumed my life. I felt that I had lost my identity, my family, and my sense of belonging. Civilian life felt foreign and empty. My humor and perspective no longer fit in. I felt disconnected and abandoned.
I resisted counseling and buried myself in unhealthy coping mechanisms, which only made things worse. The one and only constant was my wife, Tera, who never gave up on me. Years later, the birth of our son Maddox gave me a reason to begin healing and rediscovering love and purpose. That was the turning point when I started to understand what it truly meant to feel human again.
Q: What made you reach out to Boot Campaign and what has been your experience?
My journey with Boot Campaign began with an Instagram post my wife shared, showing a Veteran wearing a shirt that said YOU MATTER. Not long after, with my wife’s encouragement, I reached out. That small step became one of the most critical turning points in my healing journey.
My experience with Boot Campaign has been life-changing. When I first joined, I weighed 270 pounds, was out of shape, and felt deeply depressed; I was angry and spiteful, drinking all the time. I went through many dark times—so many; I would say years of darkness if I’m being honest. I never wanted to be around people or go places in public. I was isolated. There were a few suicidal thoughts and two times when I was ready to end it all. But taking that step would have left my wife and son without a husband and father.
Through my personalized treatment plan, Boot Campaign LITERALLY saved my life. I began to see the goodness in front of me. Boot Campaign taught me to give myself grace and to understand that what I went through in the military isn’t who I will forever be. Boot Campaign helped me address years of gastrointestinal issues caused by burn pit exposure, surgeries, and chronic stress. I stopped drinking alcohol and I learned how to use food as medicine to rebuild my body physically. Every provider I worked with at Boot Campaign was heartfelt and intentional in their communication and treatment, which was so important to my healing.
I relearned the basics of movement, posture, and mobility, and regained strength and learned to breathe through stress, regaining control of my anger. Today, I am in the best shape of my life and living without pain. Boot Campaign propelled me forward and opened my mind to a holistic approach to self-care. I spent years after the Marine Corps searching for a path and purpose, and I have found them now. Boot Campaign sparked that beginning, and I will never forget it.
Q: What does YOU MATTER mean to you?
For me, “YOU MATTER” carries significant weight because I know what it feels like to believe you do not matter. During a deployment in Afghanistan in 2011, I was isolated at a remote forward operating base and I felt forgotten and alone. That memory stayed with me for years.
A decade later, Boot Campaign showed me the true meaning of the words YOU MATTER. Their support gave me the chance to heal and rebuild my life, not only for myself, but also for my wife and son. YOU MATTER is not just a slogan. It is a reminder that lives can be saved when people know that they have value and purpose.
Q: What would you tell other Veterans who are having a difficult time?
I would tell them precisely what Boot Campaign told me: YOU MATTER. Every Veteran deserves to be heard, seen, and understood. Healing begins when you decide to face your struggles instead of burying them. You must take the first step and commit to saving yourself. Once you do, support is out there waiting.
It’s also important to take it one day at a time. Keep it simple. Learn to be present. Stop compartmentalizing the past and start processing it. Once you rediscover your sense of self, the path to healing and growth becomes possible.
Q: What would you tell a supporter or donor who made your individualized care possible?
Thank you from the deepest part of my heart. Your generosity and support have changed my life. Because of you, Boot Campaign provided me hope and healing and you have made me feel seen, valued, and cared for. Your belief in this mission reminds us that we matter, that we are not forgotten, and that there is still purpose and strength ahead.
