Rebuilding Warriors

After graduating from High School in Balaton, Minnesota in 1979, Gary enlisted in the Army as a 19E, M60/M48 Armored Crewman. Gary attended Basic and AIT at Fort Knox, KY and upon graduation was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 11^th Armored Cavalry in Bad Hersfeld, FRG where Gary served on the East/West German border as a member of L Troop on M60A3 tanks, filling in with the Scout section when needed. Gary also served as a Border Operations Sergeant during his last 6 months.

Gary served with the 4^th Infantry Division from 1984 until 1986 when he returned to Germany and was assigned to 1^st Armored Division, first with 35^th Tank and later 37^th Tank. It was while with 37^th tank in Vilseck, FRG that Gary took part in the last patrols along the border during the fall of the wall between the east and the west.

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It was during Gary's assignment to D Company, the 7^th Corps representative to the Canadian Army Trophy, a "Super Bowl" for tankers that Sadam Hussein decided to annex Kuwait and bring about the largest deployment of U.S. and Coalition forces since Vietnam. Gary was reassigned to A Company and deployed with the rest of the division to the deserts of Saudi Arabia.

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Gary served with A Company, 37^th Tank during Desert Shield/Desert Storm taking part in combat operations from February 24 through February 28, 1991. Along with the rest of 7^th Corps, they entered into Iraq and decimated the Iraqi Republican Guard, pushing to Basra before turning south to block any escape from Kuwait. Gary took part in two of the key battles, 73 easting and Medina Ridge.

After returning to Germany, Gary was reassigned to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA where he finished his military career with the OPFOR teaching lessons learned in the Gulf. As a result of his service in various locations and enviroments, Gary suffers from Asthma, GWS and PTSD which has been an ongoing and probably his biggest battle.

Gary then began a 20 year Law Enforcement career in Corrections working for various Agencies from the Penitentiary of New Mexico, Santa Fe where he worked on Death Row and Disciplinary Segregation to the Tempe, Arizona Police Department where he worked as a Transport Officer.

Gary currently resides in Mareno Valley with his wife and youngest son and works in the Palm Springs area as the overnight Supervisor for Security for a large world renowned Resort. Gary recently lost his German Sheppard, Koda, who served as his self-appointed "Battle Buddy" and it has left a very large hole. Gary met Jeff while at a K9 competition in Norco and the rest as they say is history.

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Jeff Anderson
CEO/Founder, Rebuilding Warriors