Seaman Brandon VanWagoner

Brandon’s motivation to serve his country stemmed from the events of 9/11, seeded in an overwhelming ambition to help others. He enlisted as a Navy corpsman whose medical training served as a catalyst to personal development.

At the tender age of 19, he treated his first casualties after a firefight and he came to the realization the he was responsible for the lives of others. A month later, five Marines were struck by an improvised explosive devise and Brandon provided treatment in a run down shack. While he doesn’t recall exactly how many men he treated that day, he will always remember the names of the two Marines who were lost. He was forced to learn his most difficult lesson, to persevere and continue despite hardship and sorrow.

Eventually, Brandon has plans to obtain a medical doctorate and become a physician to serve others. Already, he has a passion for helping others as evidenced by his volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, serving as vice president of the Student Veterans of America at UM-Flint and by partnering with other organization on clean-up and restoration projects of home and parks throughout the community.

Through his community service and his medical background, he gained a new sense of purpose as a person who can help others meet their goals.