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Corporal Wade Spann served with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment as an infantryman at Camp Pendleton, San Diego, in 2002. Spann’s first duty in Iraq was to pick up supplies and begin setting up a base for his unit. Upon his unit’s first casualty in Baghdad, Spann noted that “the reality of war quickly struck home.”

During his second tour in Fallujah, Iraq, his unit faced an IED attack by enemy forces. The attack wounded Spann and four others in the unit. Spann was struck in the back of his head by shrapnel, which caused him to lose consciousness. He quickly recuperated and remained in Iraq. Spann’s unit left Iraq in the summer of 2004 but deployed again in March 2005.

His deployment to Al-Ramadi, Iraq, would be his last. In August 2005, Spann declined to extend his service time and made the decision to leave the Marine Corps.

Spann was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which caused him to reevaluate his coping mechanisms. He continues to work on recovering from his service while also reaching out to other Veterans to stay connected and help them live fruitful lives.

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