Bruce and his identical twin brother grew up in Wisconsin with a shared sense of purpose. As young men, they both enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, quickly realizing they had found their calling. During his four years of active duty, Bruce distinguished himself through leadership, discipline, and physical strength. His dedication earned him Group Citations, a role as Scout Leader of the LAV Unit, and a place in the elite Super Squad. He trained across multiple specialties—serving as both Gunner and Driver—and became an Expert Shot after completing sniper training. On eight separate occasions, he achieved a perfect score in Physical Fitness Training. The defining moment of his military career came during a six-month combat mission in Somalia, after which he was honorably discharged.

Civilian life began on a hopeful note. Bruce married, welcomed two children, and secured steady work at a unionized printing mill. Life seemed stable, but the shadows of his combat experience soon began to surface. He battled complications from malaria medication, endured the effects of PTSD, and was diagnosed with tinnitus, which caused hearing loss and left him with a 30% disability rating.

In the midst of these struggles, Bruce was introduced to cocaine. What began as a way to cope with physical pain and emotional turmoil soon became a destructive escape. His hardships deepened when tragedy struck—his twin brother, who had served 20 years in the Marine Corps, died due to medical malpractice during surgery for a birth defect. The loss was devastating, and Bruce continues to carry that grief. Soon after, both his father and stepfather passed away. Overwhelmed by loss, Bruce became homeless for two and a half years and twice attempted to take his own life. Four months ago, his journey led to incarceration for drug possession.

Yet even behind prison walls, Bruce has found a renewed sense of hope. He has committed himself to recovery through AA and NA meetings, participated in the Changing Offender Behavior Program, and completed a study program based on The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Looking ahead, Bruce is determined to rebuild his life. He plans to use his leadership skills and business sense to launch a retail venture focused on buying and selling storage units, with an added partnership through Amazon. Because he loves to help people, beyond business, his dream is to organize a Mid-Continental Rift Bike Ride to raise awareness and charitable support for America’s homeless Veterans.

Bruce’s journey is one of resilience, loss, and rediscovery. His words capture the spirit of his transformation: “You can always change your ways… It’s better to help somebody than to hurt somebody.”