Dana always knew he was going to be a part of the military. His decision was a natural extension of his father’s and grandfather’s time in the Marines and Army. His journey started in ROTC as a freshman cadet at Ohio University. The September 11th attacks happened during his senior year. After commissioning in June 2002 as an infantry officer, he went through the officer basic training course and deployed immediately to Iraq.
After changing his career path to become a chaplain, Dana recalls being surrounded by death. During his decade of service, Dana buried his emotions. He didn’t have time to process anything he went through.
In Dana’s words, he had been going so fast for so long and started to notice that something was wrong. It took him a long time to confront the fact that he was suffering from PTSD.
“The fast-paced nature of post-9/11 Army life meant that I never had the time to deal with any of the traumatic things I had witnessed,” Dana said. “Finally, I realized I was burning out and needed to come back to civilian life.”
When Dana moved back to his hometown in Ohio, he turned to alcohol as an attempt to cope. Dana went from one job to another and says he felt like he had gone from hero to zero. He felt like he hit rock bottom. The transition from active duty to civilian life also took a toll on his marriage and his relationship with his three sons.
“I realized that my issues were deeper and were going to require a constant source of support,” he said. “The Army is a phenomenal gaslighter. It breaks you down, then blames you for being broken and you still find yourself in love with it anyway.”
Dana read about Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD and asked his psychiatrist if that could be an option for him. He applied to K9s For Warriors and got accepted.
While on the waitlist for his Service Dog, Dana still struggled. He felt that he wasn’t deserving of help.
“It’s really common for members of the military to think of others before themselves,” Dana said. “One of the things I’ve learned is that trauma is trauma, and we can’t compare it to each other.”
It wasn’t until Dana was paired with his Service Dog Spruce that he realized it was just what he needed. Spruce refused to leave his side.
“When I met Spruce, it was an instant connection,” he says.
Now, with Spruce by his side, Dana feels a renewed sense of confidence and peace.
“Spruce helped me feel calmer and more centered — more stable and engaged,” he said. “He helped me lay a foundation for the types of relationships that I wanted to have with my wife and our sons.”
Whether he’s at a sporting event, at work or at home with his family, Spruce is right there with Dana. He urges other Veterans who are considering getting help to prioritize themselves.
“At the end of the day, he just reminds me to take it easy and just enjoy the moment,” Dana said. “I can’t imagine where I would be without Spruce.”
Dana is grateful for the unconditional love and support of his Service Dog - and for friends like you, who helped bring them together!
