RETIRED ARMY CHAPLAIN

The Reverend Dr. Matthew Owen Willi

I am a Retired Army Chaplain. I served with some of the greatest men and women that I will ever know. Some of the most fearless, courageous and honorable people that will ever walk the face of this earth. As I left the Wounded Warrior Program, I was prescription drugged. The docs had me on plenty of pills, too many to count. I was a zombie. I sat on that couch for about a year and a half after that. I was lost. I was treated like crap by some folks. I had some kin-folk and some friends treat me like I was nothing, like I had done nothing. I remember when one person told me that the nation was going to Hell and that I was part of the problem. It hurt. I actually thought that person loved me. I was wrong. Well, thanks to some great Docs, an incredible Social Worker and the group she runs for OIF/ OEF/ OND soldiers down at the VA in Pensacola Florida I kicked the drugs. Standing clean and tall again. I wondered what I could do with my broken life, broken body and broken spirit. John Kroll (an incredible Drummer and fellow Veteran) got me playing music again and I started playing and thinking. A great warrior and a friend died, and I knew I had to do something significant with my life. One of my closest friends invited me to join him in attending Operation TOHIDU. I did. I found myself. I realized that I had been an ARMY Chaplain and that nothing would ever beat that. No one could take that from me. A couple of DOG FACED MARINES (their words not mine) heard some of my songs and encouraged me to keep playing. One of them told me not to worry about people who, "Don't Rate." The other Marine Veteran sent me a pretty expensive guitar. He said, "This is better than the one you have- go play it." So, I am playing. I am singing. It is therapy. Therapy on the stage, on the street, on the corner, in the bar, in the shadows singing. I am playing with all my heart and soul. I am playing for the people who died. Who keep dying. I am one of the voices of the American Warrior. I sing for those who can not. I have bore witness to their pain, their struggle, their victory. I was part of the tribe civilians know as Military. If you know of a Vet tell them about Operation TOHIDU and Operation Song. These are programs that are educational and interested in maximizing the lives of Vets. If you know of other incredible educational programs tell me about them so that I can pass on the wealth.

Chrome | Firefox | Safari | Internet Explorer

Sorry! Something went wrong

Is your network connection unstable or browser outdated?

I need help