First, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the entire team at 2/75 for raising the bar on what a Ranger anniversary should be. Every single Ranger in the battalion went above and beyond, making this event truly unforgettable. Your dedication and hard work are deeply appreciated, and I cannot thank you enough for creating an experience that we will all cherish.
I want to take a moment to reflect on the event as a whole. Rangers are a special breed—a brotherhood that sets the standard for what a unit’s culture should embody. Reuniting with Rangers I hadn’t seen in over a decade filled my heart in ways that are difficult to put into words. Just when I thought my heart couldn’t be any fuller, I would turn a corner and see another familiar face, each reunion flooding me with emotions.
What truly moved me was seeing how many of these Rangers continue to lead with the same dedication in their civilian lives—building businesses, leading communities, and rising to senior positions in fields like fire departments, often in just a few short years. I was in awe as I listened to them reconnect and passionately share the paths they’ve taken since leaving the battlefield. Many of them faced struggles, but they worked through their challenges with resilience, finding new purpose and direction in their lives.
What struck me most was how much this time together meant to everyone. Despite life’s demands pulling us in different directions, we all made the journey. Again and again, I heard, “I’m so glad I made it. This is unbelievable, and I missed everyone more than I realized.” It reminded me that the bonds we share go far beyond any single moment; they are the ties that hold us together, no matter the distance or the time apart.
Reflecting on all my time in the 75th, one chapter stands out above the rest: my time in 2B, fondly known as the “Dirty Brigade.” I’ve had the privilege to work with a lot of talented individuals throughout my career, but that platoon was a collection of extraordinary men who exceeded every expectation. We didn’t just function together; we thrived in a way that could serve as a case study in organizational effectiveness. Names like Zachary Dean, Joshua Hormer, Sam Barrett , Christopher Frost , Bernie Folino, Daniel Austin , Neil Mowry, Joseph Lachnit , Corey Fike, Adam Clack , Andrew Bates , Chad Jenkins, David Stroud , Casey Casavant, Joshua Wheeler, Thomas Vitagliano, and Steve McKenna (to name a few) will forever be etched in my mind as some of the greatest our generation had to offer. They were ruthlessly effective at what they did, and there were times I wondered if my presence was even necessary, so remarkable was their capability.
Seeing some of these brothers again (though I must say, not all of you showed up—for shame!) took me back to those days and filled me with pride to have stood alongside such remarkable men. These were the men who accomplished feats overseas that would make for legendary tales, deserving of a place in the history books, if not on the big screen. Even though it’s only been a few days since we embraced, I already miss them.
This reunion has reignited my motivation to continue the mission with the Legends of the 75th . We have a responsibility to capture these stories, these emotions, and the brotherhood that stands the test of time. One day, we won’t be here anymore, and I refuse to let these stories fade into obscurity. Projects like the one Sean Spencer is leading to document the history of 2/75 over the last 50 years are essential. Or the effort to bring Rangers to the Philippines to walk in the footsteps of the Cabanatuan Raid and honor its significance—these are the initiatives that will preserve our legacy.
What we need now is the continued support of the Ranger community. My memories of 2B and the men I served with aren’t unique; each of us has our own stories of tight-knit brotherhood and shared experiences. And I want to tell those stories—not to glorify ourselves as individuals, but to honor the collective spirit of the regiment. That’s what makes the Ranger Regiment so exceptional: it’s a story of “we,” not “I.” It’s about all of us together, not any one of us alone.
Rangers Lead the Way.