This week on 13WMAZ Morning, we are sending out a ‘Salute to Service’ for all our military and veterans.
Reporter Suzanne Lawler has the story of one man who is working to put his life back together after combat.
Randy Wynn didn't go the usual route when it came to joining the military.
"I joined the Marine Corps at the age of 29 after 9/11," he said.
And three years after he joined, he wound up in the Second Battle Fallujah in November 2004.
"I took a little grenade shrapnel and that's about all I'd like to say about that," he admitted.
PHOTOS: Salute to Service -- Randy Wynn
There is a lot of emotion there. Randy is a tough Marine and he never thought the injury was a big deal, and that's where the conflicting emotions come in.
"I got medevaced immediately," he recalled. "They sent me to the rear, they thought my arm was broken, but come to find out it was not. They kept on insisting on sending me back home and I kept on insisting on staying in the rear and letting my arm heal."
Ultimately they let him stay, and he earned a Purple Heart. It's given to anyone wounded or killed while serving in combat.
"At first I was apprehensive. I got [my] Purple Heart, but it has really opened doors for me," Wynn said.
He is an employee of Robins AFB and he says the honor helped him earn a living once he took off the uniform. He wears the Purple Heart proudly on his arm.
"It was the way I got on at Robins Air Force Base," he explained. "I don't have any college, so it's really hard for personnel to get on without college. And being an older person coming out of the military short term and not retiring, it took me a little while, but the Purple Heart opened all the doors to get me on to Robins AFB. I thank God for it."
Randy works as an equipment specialist and was offered a special 15-week course in air conditioning to advance in his career. Melissa Wynn is Randy's wife.
"I think it's cool he's doing it. He comes home every day with new knowledge and he's always telling me don't run the fans because it's pointless to run the fans when you're not in the rooms," she said.
Melissa is witty, but she's also sick.
"It's been a long road. I've been sick for awhile, but was only diagnosed with lupus a year ago," she said.
"I couldn't do anything to help her and that hurts. That hurts a lot. My wife's wonderful; she's one of the best people in the my life, I thank God for her," Randy said.
But he can do something. Randy never misses a class.
It's an accelerated course, so he's had to miss some of Melissa's doctors appointments, but he knows he's earned opportunities and chances he can't let pass by.
"Randy was in the front lines of battle and he put his time in and earned everything he got over there. Every medal, every pat on the back, every thank you for your service, every handshake, solute and Purple Heart," Melissa said.