#50: Army Veteran, Sergeant Major Tony Glugla of Oakfield, WI.

In 2017, after 31 years of service, Tony "limped to retirement as a crusty, disgruntled soon to be civilian". Learning to fit in has been his biggest life challenge, but one improved since he's been working directly with Veterans and riding his friend's Harley. Entering service at 16 1/2 years old, Tony had traveled the world as a Heavy Vehicle Operator, rode convoys through the front lines of the Gulf War's Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and while in Afghanistan, took a position as a Door Gunner on a Blackhawk Helicopter assigned to casualty evacuation. In June, 2004, that helicopter came under fire, lost its hydraulics and hit the ground rolling several times. Tony was pulled from the wreckage with a broken neck, ribs and a collapsed lung, along with internal bleeding and another traumatic brain injury. After a year of recovery and a desire to stay within his military family, he became a Drill Sergeant and spent the next 14 years avoiding the trauma he'd been through. He borrowed friend's bikes to help him deal with his struggles; and as life changed he found himself unable to afford his own and unable to imagine life without riding. Hogs For Heroes believed this cowboy needed his own Iron Horse; and, on August 24, 2024, we put him on the road with a gorgeous Street Glide sponsored by the IUOE Local 139.

#49: Army Veteran Brandon Wheaton of Appleton, WI

After graduating Brandon got his first taste of riding a motorcycle came shortly after that. He married his high school love and after starting their family, the economic turn of 2008 made finding stable work harder for Brandon. In order to support his family, he joined the Army as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. It was a paycheck, never a dream or devotion... but it became one for him over the years. Flash forward to six years in, an OEF deployment and years of difficult memories and several brothers lost to suicide... Brandon's PTSD struggles began showing themselves. He was eventually medically retired and returned home to face more emerging demons and contemplate the end of his own pain. He's worked hard to move forward and through his mind's challenges, but not having his motorcycle to jump on has burdened his heart further. He sold his last bike to help his family while he deployed to Afghanistan, and they've not been in a position to afford another since. Hogs For Heroes believed getting this tool and wind therapy back in Brandon's life would augment his fight for himself. He received his keys to this dream bike on August 24, 2024.

#48: Army Veteran Cory Shier of East Troy, WI

A senior in high school, Cory chose Infantry because "if I was going in, I wanted the type of action they make movies out of". He got just that and he did just that. And as a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) operator, he learned why that harrowing action is the same stuff they later make statistics of. Just 8 months after starting boot camp, Cory found himself in Iraq, 2009 for a year, followed by a two years at Hohenfels Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Bavaria, where his time was spent acting as opposition forces to prepare others for combat deployments. He began drinking to numb his anger and pain; and rather than separate, he deployed to Afghanistan for an experience that was unlike anything he'd been a part of and forever changed his mental health. Along the way he'd lost brothers to suicide, struggled with his own demons and began drinking and isolating himself more. After failing a hearing test, Cory was medically discharged and became a civilian and at-risk Veteran all at once. It was his motorcycle that did more for him than all the counseling he'd gone through; and after selling his bike to care for his family while he attended inpatient treatment, he no longer had that to look forward to. Hogs For Heroes admired Cory's determination and passion for riding; and we knew a bike would support the rough road ahead of him. Cory received his keys on July 27, 2024 during the H-D Homecoming.

#47: Marine Andy Beck of Superior, WI

Seeking GI Bill benefits, Andy headed to boot camp in 2000. He was training on 9/11 when they heard and immediately transformed into fierce preparations and combat anticipation. He was sent on an MEU that hovered off the coast of Afghanistan, with a daily readiness to be called ashore. Two months after returning, he headed to Kuwait to live amongst the burn pits and build their camp until their initial push into Iraq. Andy was an Artilleryman and, as such, typically didn't see the impact of their actions. But for the next 30 days they would shoot and move forward, through the death and devastation they created, and then fire more rounds. He returned stateside in 2004 to a Base and culture that mocked the weak who struggled with what they'd been through; so Andy hid his struggles and partook in the ridicule. His contract complete, he moved through his next 20 years fighting the demons he brought home, working as a Firefighter and harboring the shame of his actions years ago. Along the way a family member loaned him a bike and riding became an instant, soothing passion. When he had to return the bike, he knew enough to connect with the VA and begin exploring his depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia. With a blended family, high expenses and financial debt, he believed purchasing a bike for himself was selfish and irresponsible and, instead, dreamt of his "someday". That's where we came in. Andy's bike was fully sponsored by the Tavern League of Wisconsin and he received his keys on July 13, 2024.

#46: Army Veteran, Sergeant First Class, Paul Morrison of Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Paul enlisted in the Army's delayed entry program as a Junior and left for boot camp after graduating. He then spent his next 20 years as an MP serving through multiple tours and specialized operations too numerous to list, three combat deployments, and earning several personal and unit awards for dedication and heroism along the way, including two Purple Hearts. During those years he transitioned to a Reservist and became a Deputy Sheriff to continue serving his community. He worked for the Adams County Sheriff's Department until retiring in 2016, after 22 years with the department. Along the way he recognized his struggles with PTSD and took up motorcycling as a release. Finding his mental health in a better place, he spent his free time volunteering within his church, his community and schools, and within the Veteran community. He continued riding and learned additional coping strategies to handle the struggles within, including the hard work of sharing your story with others. With back and knee injuries hampering his riding, Paul could no longer tolerate the pain his sport bike's positioning caused. And having just been elected President for the State VFW Riders Group, he now had no way of riding or affording the bike he wanted. Paul's level of anxiety and despair rose; and Hogs For Heroes was lucky enough to be able to support this Hero's return to The Road he both loved and needed. Paul's bike was fully sponsored by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139 and he received his keys on June 22, 2024, following their amazing benefit ride for us!

#45: Army Veteran, Sergeant First Class, Jennifer Driebel of New Lisbon, WI

Jennifer embraced the rider culture as a teen, then worked to save for her first bike at age 18. She dreamt of service, and wanting both a civilian and military life, she joined the Army National Guard as a Healthcare Specialist/Medic. In 2010, after seeing so many deployed, she volunteered to go and found herself at Bagram Airfield Base in Afghanistan for a year as a Convoy Combat Medic. A lot of bad things happen on convoys and Jen saw, felt and did it all... and suffered physically and mentally from it all. After returning to Milwaukee she denied every single struggle and issue just to get back to "normal". She rode, turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain, and lost relationships and jobs before recalibrating. Jennifer advanced her military career as an instructor, pursued business developments and she rode some more to keep her demons at bay. After life spiraled again, she found herself in debt, without her bike or home, and her pained body and unchecked PTSD brought her to a breaking point. A suicidal Jen turned to the VA's ER and their team set her on a path of counseling, medical/surgical treatments and, eventually, medical retirement in 2023 after 15 years of service. Unable to afford a bike, let alone the trike she need for the stability her damaged legs and nerves required, she applied to Hogs For Heroes for the chance to regain her beloved wind therapy and a piece of her identity. Jen's awesome Tri Glide rolled out on June 22, 2024, compliments of Wisconsin's Operating Engineers Local 139 fundraising efforts in 2023.

#43: Air Force Veteran, Major Scott Williams of Three Lakes, WI

Scott, a small-town Kansas kid, earned a spot at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado and never looked back. Eyes focused on his future, he amassed several certifications and achievements in his 17 year career that would entail over 2,000 flight hours covering at least 500,000 miles, roughly 300 special operation missions, at least 12 deployments to combat zones on record and several covert operations he can't acknowledge across countless countries. Experiences like these come at a severe cost: personally, physically and psychologically, and Scott was not immune from any of it. Early on he learned to both hide his struggles and "work around" every injury and ailment, every anxious, depressive and dark thought, and every strain on his family life to achieve more on his career path. Scott rode during his career, tinkered on bikes and restored a few for the chance to stay close to a passion that gave him freedom unlike that he'd known. After two years as a Diplomat with the US Embassy in South America, his final military achievement, Scott and his family chose to separate and stay in South Africa for the next six years to start an anti-poaching nonprofit. After receiving threats from poachers and exhausting their personal savings to fund the nonprofit, they returned to Wisconsin to start anew. Unfortunately, broke and discouraged, their return was a hard readjustment for all and coincided with the re-emergence of Scott's physical struggles, depression and suicide ideation. It wasn't until 2020 that he finally sought benefits and care from the VA and, given his financial losses and inability to work, buying a bigger motorcycle to wander the roads he loved wasn't an option. After years of Scott fighting for others, Hogs For Heroes felt it time someone fight for him and his life. Scott received his keys to this brand new Heritage on May 11, 2024.