SAN ANGELO, TX — "One day I woke up and I realized, I was really tired of seeing 22 a day. The suicide rate of losing my brothers. Even though I didn't serve with them, but because they're in the military they're my brothers and sisters,” Juan Rubio said.
Juan Rubio: Navy veteran, Corpsman, husband, father of five. Now, he can add A Warrior's Wish Program recipient to the list.
"We applied for a grant to start our nonprofit organization. They really loved it, they loved our idea, what our mission was and we got approved,” Rubio said.
Juan and his wife, both former corpsmen, got a grant from the Hope for the Warriors Foundation. With the money, they were able to purchase all the supplies needed for their nonprofit called Fishin’ with Docs.
"And it's really important to me, to help others, because it's rehabilitating to me,” Rubio said.
Juan says he's always felt the call to help others. Serving as a medic through multiple deployments and two purple hearts later, he's still answering that call by helping veterans back home.
"That there are other veterans out there that suffer from flashbacks, night terrors, traumatic brain injuries, amputees, the feeling on guilt because 'why am I here and not my buddy that I lost in country,” Rubio said.
Juan knows all of those scenarios, all too well. On his second deployment to Iraq, his group was ambushed. He sustained several injuries but still managed to treat three wounded marines during the firefight that followed.
"That the struggle is real. Get our message out to other people to veterans that they're not alone, there is hope,” Rubio said.
The Rubio's nonprofit will take veterans for an all-expenses paid fishing trip. They'll get all the supplies they need including a custom-made fishing tube and reel made by Juan. Juan and his wife say they wanted to do this simply to thank their fellow service members.
"Thank y'all for protecting us. When you come home, you're not alone,” Rubio said.
If we want the world to change we have to be the ones who change it. So how are you making a difference?
#MakeADifferenceMonday: Fishin' with Docs
Anyone who serves in our military already goes above and beyond the call of duty, but some of those folks go even further. This Make A Difference Monday salutes a veteran who received not one but two purple hearts along with the silver star. Now, he's started a nonprofit to help other veterans like him.