In Memoriam

For those of you who don't know, I am a Combat Veteran and proud of it.

I am also proud to have served with unique individuals of different cultural backgrounds, social classes, and ethnicities during my military service. We need to remember that they served our country with selfless service. They deserve it!

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This article mentions suicide, substance abuse, combat, and PTSD.

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Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, Press 1, chat online, or text 838255.

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Bookmark this article, as I'll constantly update it with new content.

Fallen Heroes

Whether they passed during or after their service, these men were heroes. 🫡

Nicholas "Nick" Arace
According to family and friends, Arace loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter, fisherman, and hiker. He loved the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Yankees, and NASCAR. His favorite driver was Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was an all-around good guy with many friends and a good friend of fellow infantryman Sergei Hearst (listed below).

Editor's Note: Private First Class Arace was a troubled Infantryman. During his time in the Army, he struggled with substance abuse and failed the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) twice. I know this because I was briefly his Fire Team Leader, and I used to escort him to and from the ASAP building in Fort Drum, NY. Anyway, after failing the ASAP twice, the Army released him from duty on October 26, 2010, and, like many Veterans, struggled with PTSD. You add substance abuse to PTSD, and it's a recipe for disaster.

Sadly, PFC Arace lost his battle on December 1, 2013. He was only 26 years old.

Arace was barely 26 years old when he passed.

Jeremy L. Brown
At barely 20 years old, Brown died during combat on May 9, 2010, serving during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He served with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY. Brown was from McMinnville, Tennessee.

Brown died by enemy fire in Afghanistan.

Even though Brown was not in our unit at the time of his death, we felt his loss as if he was. Once a Polar Bear, always a Polar Bear!

Vincent "Vinny" DeFrank
DeFrank was an Infantryman and a Combat Veteran. He was from Livonia, Michigan. DeFrank continued his selfless service after his military time as a volunteer firefighter. He killed himself on October 24, 2015.

Rest in peace, roommate.

Mike "Mickey" Gerez
Gerez was a combat veteran and an avid hunter who loved fishing. He was an Infantryman and SSG stationed in Fort Benning, GA. He passed away in 2023 from a self-inflicted wound. Gerez was 37 years old at the time of his death.

In this photo, Gerez (left) and I posing for a photo in Fort Irwin, Califonia.

Sergei Hearst
Hearst was a Combat Veteran, Infantryman, and Sergeant from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. He killed himself on June 13, 2014.

Hearst (left) and Arace were great friends. Both lost their lives at their own hands.

George "Geo" J. Mackulin IV
Mackulin IV, 30, of Jefferson Hills, committed suicide on Monday, October 12, 2015. He was an Army Infantryman Staff Sergeant. He was a member of the American Legion Post 712 in Pleasant Hills, PA, and the Floreffe Volunteer Fire Company.

1985 - 2015. Summer 2007, Iraq.

Matthew "Mully" Mullinax
Mullinax joined the United States Army and faithfully served his country as an infantryman for four years. His passion in life was music, and having taught himself to play the guitar, he was always known as a well-established guitarist. Mullinax overdosed in 2020. He was 34 years old.

Mullinax was also a talented amateur rapper.

Keep Pushing is a song by Matthew "Mully" Mullinax.

Jacob Raymond
Raymond was a former infantryman reclassified to another MOS due to an injury he suffered during Ranger School. Eventually, the Army medically discharged him due to said injury. Sadly, in 2015, 30-year-old Raymond killed himself.

Jacob Raymond was barely 30 years old.

Veterans Crisis Line

There is no shame in asking for help, especially if you are feeling extremely depressed or having suicidal thoughts!

Contact the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, Press 1, chat online, or text 838255. This 24/7 confidential crisis support line is for Veterans and their loved ones.

Final Thoughts

I served with these Infantrymen while stationed in Fort Drum, NY. All of them were Combat Veterans and struggled with PSTD.

I understand talking about PTSD and suicide can be challenging. However, it is essential to recognize that although national tracking of veteran suicide rates is unreliable at best, the VA estimates that 22 veterans commit suicide each day. That means approximately 8,030 veterans kill themselves every year. That's wild!

Nearly everyone in this post died of suicide. Jeremy L. Brown was the only one killed in action, and Mullinax died of a drug overdose.

These Veterans selflessly served our country. They return with scars that most people wouldn't understand. Never forget that!

Updates Coming

Do you see any typos, errors, or mistakes? I will update this post as I learn more about the people mentioned in it and attempt to acquire better-quality photos. Writing this post hurt me. I can't believe how many Brothers I've lost throughout the years. Rest in peace, everyone! 🍻