#40: Army National Guardsman & Army Reservist Bryan Knez of Oostburg, WI

After 8 years of service, including a 30-month domestic deployment at Fort McCoy to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, and three surgeries to repair torn knee ligaments incurred during active duty, Bryan eventually followed his law enforcement dreams. Getting there was no easy path for their family with financial struggles threatening the loss of their home, bills piling up, and pain that worsened as he juggled multiple jobs. Together they made ends meet with Bryan living in a van, across the state from his family, while he went through law enforcement academy. Flash forward and Bryan is currently a Deputy Sheriff within the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department. Over the years he took up riding and it quickly became his way of releasing burdens and stress. The knee pain and its limitation have never left and compensating body mechanics further affected his back, eventually causing him to sell his CBR when he could no longer tolerate its riding position. Bryan began saving for a bagger, but life got in the way and supporting his family always took precedence over anything he may have hoped to buy. While still enthralled with serving others, losing riding as his release for the job's psychological burdens has made life harder to endure. Hogs For Heroes believed putting this Veteran back on the road would allow him better care for himself and continue caring for the community he loves. Bryan received his bike on September 2, 2023.

#39: Navy & Army Reservist John Olen II of Appleton, WI

After a few years of running with the wrong crowd, John joined the Navy and became one of few selected to serve in the prestigious U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard. During the course of his next two years, he would drill with physical and psychological control to perform at least 750 funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery, year-round and in the worst of weather conditions, honoring and absorbing the grief of others. Although a great honor, the toll of his service laid a foundation of depression and PTSD that only grew as he moved along in his military career and personal life. He then became a Corpsman working stateside; and after separating in 2014, he joined the Army Reserves a year later for the additional income and chance to remain with his daughters. This time he focused in Psychological Operations and was working toward Drill Sergeant when Covid derailed his efforts and he realized it was time to permanently separate. During his time in the Navy, a friend introduced him to riding and it quickly became a lifeline for John: helping him through his hardest life moments and right up until he lost his bike in divorce. After moving through years of counseling, educational pursuits and financial pressures, John has found himself on a better path but missing his bike and the peace it provided him. Newly remarried and now with five young children in their combined household, purchasing a motorcycle isn't an option they can afford--and that's where Hogs For Heroes stepped in. John received his bike, compliments of The Tavern League of Wisconsin, on August 19, 2023.

#38: Marine Josh Hameister of Sun Prairie, WI

Needing a directional life change and feeling the need to fight, Josh took an unplanned turn into the Marine Recruiter's lot one day, asked for an Infantry assignment, and then requested the fastest deployment he could get. A year later he was on an MEU to the West Pacific that unexpectedly changed course and, instead, took Josh to Iraq where, in 2004, he landed in the midst of heightened explosive and deadly combat. Images, actions, smells and sounds fed an anxiety he had to hide and quickly built a home for demons he couldn't talk about. He returned stateside to ride, enjoy life and marry. He was on another MEU that was headed to Iraq when the ship again changed course and this time, went to the West Pacific. With great relief, Josh realized then he had had his fill of combat and anxiety and chose to separate from service when his contract was complete. Oddly enough, Josh still wanted to serve others and he then chose to become a Police Officer with Sun Prairie PD. Ten years later, and after counseling he had to hide, the job strains met with his demons and he resigned to support his own mental health. Josh rode most of his adult life, originally for the thrill, then to keep his demons at bay. Unfortunately, PTSD also took its toll on his marriage; and in the fray of divorce, he lost his bike and the brotherhood that came with it. With no finances for a bike, Josh could only dream of his return to riding "someday". Hogs For Heroes felt that "someday" should be now to help this Veteran stay on the good path he created for himself. Josh received his keys on July 15, 2023 during the 120th Harley-Davidson Anniversary Celebration.

#37: Marine & Army Veteran, Sergeant First Class Earl Beaudry Jr. of Wisconsin Rapids, WI

After five years as an Infantryman in the Marines, Earl separated in 1995 to pursue his dream of joining the DEA. Ineligible without a college degree, and struggling to fit in the public sector, he needed a way to provide for his young family. Six months after separating, Earl turned toward the comfort and stability the military provided him. Unfortunately the Marine Corps had an enlistment freeze at the time and so he chose the Army, where he would remain active duty, in the Infantry, for another 19 years. During his 24 years of service solely focused on combat, Earl would take on hundreds of trainings, multiple deployments and five separate combat deployments. It all took a toll, leaving this Purple Heart recipient to battle anxieties and depression as well as the physical ramifications 24 years worth of drills, jumps, rough living, explosions and a TBI would impose. After years of dreaming of a motorcycle, Earl bought his first Harley in 2010, when he found himself finally attached to a permanent base, and immediately grasped its therapeutic benefits. After retiring in 2015, and seemingly overnight, he found himself without structure, purpose or family; and riding helped fill those holes. When his father became ill, Earl sold his Harley to pay for the costs of moving back to Wisconsin to care for him and hasn't been in a position to afford another bike since. Hogs For Heroes believes riding moves a soul, and we thought returning to the road would help Earl move further down his healing road. Earl's bike rolled out on June 24, 2023, compliments of Wisconsin's International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 139 .

#36: Army Veteran Chad Caso of New Glarus, WI

After a rough childhood, Chad enlisted in the Army to both make something of himself and earn a stable income...one month before 9/11. It took every bit of courage he had to leave home one month later, on the brink of war. In March, 2003, now an Abrahms Tank Crewman, Chad's unit was the first to invade Baghdad, rolling through untouched, rough terrain, gathering intel, taking out assailants and clearing a path for U.S. Forces behind them. Combat left an indelible mark on Chad and a deep moral injury that he'd spend the rest of his precarious life dealing with. After completing his three year contract, and without transitional support, Chad found himself struggling with all he'd been through and his abrupt return to civilian life. Unable to fit in, he joined the Army Reserves for the stability and income he desperately needed. He successfully became a Surgical Technician; but unfortunately his demons followed him and began to erode both his military and personal lives. Chad is a fighter who's fought for every opportunity and accomplishment; and, for every day of his life. In the midst of fighting for himself and his marriage, Chad learned to ride. He bought a cheap bike and immediately understood what riding could do for his tortured heart and mind, as well as what it could do for his relationships. But with his bike in disrepair, and unable to afford a replacement, Chad struggled even more. Hogs For Heroes felt someone needed to fight for Chad and the good man that he is. He received his keys on June 4, 2023 on a bike made possible by funds raised in 2022 by sister restaurants, Sloppy Joes and Smoke on The Water, at their annual Ride and Music Festival in Lake Okauchee, WI.

#35: Army Veteran Derek Gagne of Seymour, WI

Derek joined the Army National Guard as a 17 year-old junior in high school, graduated a year later and left for boot camp in July, 2005... delaying his basketball scholarship to UW-Madison, because he loved his Country more and wanted first to serve. Trained as an MP, Derek deployed to Iraq where, while on base, a mortar struck mere feet from him. Injured himself, he still pulled two unconscious Brothers from the wreckage; and after losing 90% of his hearing, he earned his first Purple Heart. Two months later, his vehicle took a direct hit from a RPG. Bloodied, blinded and limping, he began pulling out two others still in the vehicle. Derek was riddled with shrapnel, lost his nose and left eye vision, and sustained injuries to both legs that would require immediate surgical amputation of his right lower leg and part of his left lower leg. At just age 20, he would receive his second Purple Heart for injuries in combat and a Bronze Star Medal for his heroic service. After several surgeries and extensive rehab, Derek pushed faster than predicted to regain his new sense of normal. Part of that journey included learning to drive again, race cars, get a college education, play basketball again, find love and start a family...and regain his motorcycle license. He finessed his skills and confidence on his wife's Softail and passed his riders class with ease. Unable to afford his own bike, Derek happily rode hers for the escape and comfort it provided him, and drove his wife around on dates. Hogs For Heroes couldn't help but admire this man's perseverance and believed having his own bike would support his life journey. Derek rolled out on May 13, 2023, on a bike that came compliments of Wisconsin's International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 139 fundraising efforts in 2022.

#33: First Sergeant Mike Erickson, Army Veteran, of Oconto, WI

Mike no sooner got his license when he bought his first bike, long before owning a car. He joined the Army to get the GI Bill for his college plans, sold his bike and headed to boot camp. He became a Combat Signaler, deploying for both Desert Storm and Desert Shield. A 20 year old "invincible" kid, he saw it all as a great adventure, never giving much thought to the toll it would later take on his physical and mental health. His contract over, Mike headed to school as planned. But nine years and a daughter later, he was still missing the camaraderie and joined the Reserves in April 2001. Little did he know then how our world would change, and four years later deployed to Iraq for a year as a Civil Affairs Team Sergeant. The violence surrounding him was unlike that of his first deployment. Over time, Mike built, and quelled, layers of anxiety and he pushed through the physical strains that compounded damage done years ago. While running to help Brothers hit by a rocket on base, Mike tweaked his knee. At the time he dealt with the pain and thought little of it, but is was an injury that would eventually require three surgeries, including a knee replacement, and further damage his hips and back. Upon returning home Mike bought another motorcycle to help ease his struggles; but when he needed a home for his daughter, he sold it for the down payment. As doctor's told him to "just deal with the pain", Mike began withdrawing and drinking more. He eventually retired from service with 21 years in, but after Covid devastated his bar and bank account, regaining a bike and the deep healing he needed, seemed a long ways off. Hogs For Heroes chose to put Mike back on The Road to help him reengage with brotherhood and reconnect with the benefits riding has long provided him. Mike received his keys on May 6, 2003.