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Born in the small and historic town of Marshall, Michigan, I was twelve years old when my family up and moved to an equally small yet more historic town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. As a young man, I gained an unrelenting curiosity and appreciation of what transpired upon those hallowed fields.
After the events of 9/11 - like many - was deeply affected and decided to join the US Army with my parent's permission at the age of seventeen. I wasn't ready for college yet, and I felt like Afghanistan was my calling. After I joined, Iraq kicked off and I knew that I would have a rendezvous with destiny somewhere. I spent over three years as an infantryman in the 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans) part of the 101st Airborne Division and was deployed to Iraq from 2005 to 2006. I helped secure the courthouse for Saddam Hussein's trial in Baghdad before shifting to daily and nightly combat patrols throughout the Tikrit area (I wrote all about it). Some of my military awards include: the Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, two Good Conduct Medals, the Air Assault Badge, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
After my Honorable Discharge in 2006, I enrolled into college and pursued my interests in filmmaking. In 2009, I stumbled upon the rare opportunity to become one of the cast members of MTV's television show "The Real World: Brooklyn." I saw my time on the show as an opportunity to become a voice and face of the current generation of today's veterans and shed light on the struggles, joys, and misconceptions they face.
While an audience of millions looked on 'real' life caught up to me and I was involuntary recalled by the Army and forced to return to Iraq for another deployment. While the show was television to the nation, I had already returned to Iraq in April of 2009, and served in the southern Saydiyah section of Baghdad, again as an infantryman. I eventually was promoted to the rank of sergeant.
Throughout it all, I have always found time to simultaneously pursue my random personal interests. At the age of twenty-four, I became a published author with my first book entitled "An Angel from Hell" which is a very intimate memoir that chronicled my first deployment in Iraq. I even read the audio book version, which was an experience that humbled me, for I have a new found respect for other readers, as a week of reading out loud nearly killed my voice. My remedy of ice cream is something I encourage other readers to abide. For more information on the book, please visit: www.AnAngelFromHell.com
I also co-produced, filmed, and starred in "Return to Duty," a documentary about my second deployment, and the strain it puts a family through when a soldier deploys. It aired on MTV on Veteran's Day 2009.
In January of 2010 I was Honorably Discharged again from the Army and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first thing I did was returned to school and eventually graduated in August 2012 with a B.A. in Film and Media Arts from Temple University. Upon graduation I worked as a production assistant in London for NBC Olympics for the 2012 Summer Games. Over the past few years I have also traveled the country and spoke to several different colleges and universities about my service as a soldier. I've found a new calling that rewards me in ways I never thought possible, as I've become a professional firefighter and EMT.
In my off time, I enjoy writing and playing songs on my guitar, filming and editing personal projects, and - of course - I'm an avid Civil War reader. I'm a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). In February 2010, I was able to take part in IAVA's annual "Storm the Hill" campaign and spent a week in the nation's capital speaking with senators and members of congress about their legislative agenda formulated to help and support all veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
My curiosity in the American Civil War mentioned earlier has finally blossomed to a finished product for you all to enjoy and learn from. Fifteen years of research was dedicated to researching and writing the history of the 18th New York Infantry, a Union regiment from the Civil War that history has overlooked since their existence. My great-great-great grandfather, Robert Conklin, served in that regiment which became the genesis of my interest. I'm very proud to share my labor of love with the first telling of its kind, to share their story and honor the patriots that served in that noble regiment, titled, "The 18th New York Infantry in the Civil War: A History and Roster" released in November 2016. For more information on the regiment and book, please visit: www.18thnyi.com
I currently reside in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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