This week’s Veteran is Chris Filley, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2002-2017. Chris did not have parents when he was growing up, instead he was in the foster system until he aged out. That fact alone would have discouraged many from a military life, but Filley’s joining of The Corps and his basic training in San Diego, California, gave him a growing realization of what it means to have a family. Chris attended artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003-2004 as a Field Artillery Cannoneer, serving with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. On his second tour overseas, this time in Iraq in 2005-2006 as a Squad Leader, Filley was assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, still in his field artillery position. In February 2006, he was in-charge of a motorized patrol on a Main Supply Route, when his vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). He ordered two vehicles to pull ahead to establish a safety corridor, while he ordered the men in his vehicle to dismount to search for additional IEDs, a secondary device exploded, injuring Filley and additional Marines. His squad then started to receive small arms fire. Despite his injuries, Chris was a man on a mission to assess the situation and counter the enemy forces. He notified his command of the situation requesting a Quick Reaction Force and medical assistance. At times he had to move over open terrain, to direct medical personnel to where the wounded were located, while at the same time coordinating a defense against the enemy personnel. Filley disregarded his own personnel safety throughout the action, and refused all medical treatment on his person until all of his squad were evacuated to safety. Following his combat service, Chris was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He then retrained as Martial Arts Instructor, teaching at The Basic School, educating officer candidates in martial arts combat tactics. Then Filley was posted to Pensacola, Florida, as a Marine Recruiter, until he faced a medical board, which unofficially retired him in 2012, the officially retired him five years later. Following his service, Filley dealt with the PTSD from his combat deployments, and the stressors of civilian life, then self-medicated with drugs and alcohol, beginning a struggle that few can solve on their own. He was married while in service, and became a father, but even that couldn’t help him in his efforts to fight his demons. In 2024, Chris married his second wife, Amanda, whom he lovingly calls her his ‘Rock.’ She was instrumental in building Filley’s faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ, who has become the most important figure in his life. Amanda’s persistence has shown him the value of life, as well as sharing time with his wife and kids. Chris has been staying at Camp Valor, just east of Conroe, undergoing treatment that will finally defeat the demons that had kept him down for so long. He will graduate on October 15th, and restart his life in Nashville, Tennessee. Good Luck Chris, and Congratulations on being MCNs ‘Veteran of the Week’.