I served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain and 25th Infantry Divisions from 2000 – 2009 followed by a short stint in the Army Reserve until mid-2010. During that time, I deployed to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in 2001/02, Horn of Africa in 2003, Afghanistan in 2004/05, and Iraq from 2007/09. I received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Eastern Illinois University in 2013, a Master of Arts in Education University of the Cumberlands in 2019, and an Education Specialist degree from University of the Cumberlands in 2021. I continue to serve my community as an educator, working to change instructional practices to meet the needs of individual students. I currently reside in Shelbyville, Kentucky, with my high school sweetheart, Theresa, and our two children, Jacob and Claire.
Dexter Pitts is a proud Purple Heart recipient and medically retired U.S. Army veteran. He proudly served in Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division and is a graduate of American Military University with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. After serving his country in a time of war, Dexter exchanged his military fatigues for a police officer uniform. He has continually served his community as a law enforcement officer for over a decade and a one-year tour of duty as an agent with the United States Border Patrol on the southern Arizona border.
Raised as a Christian in a military family, Dexter starts to question his faith in the wake of his mother’s unexpected suicide while he is on duty. Having struggled all of his life trying to find his own identity, Dexter became submerged in the battle between his conservative values, black skin, and PTSD (Post Traumatic-stress Disorder).
Despite the obstacles that have befallen him, Dexter stands unshakable in his faith and identity as a proud American patriot who believes in the promises of America. Dexter’s faith and values are tested once more as civil unrest consumed America in 2020. In defense of his profession, his community and the U.S. Constitution, he stands shoulder to shoulder with his brothers and sisters of the thin blue line on Louisville’s embattled streets.
Frank Demith is a retired Army veteran who served on active duty for twenty-eight years. He graduated from the United States Military Academy and later worked on the Department of the Army team that developed the Army interpreter/translator program. He is a graduate of the Deliberate Discomfort Challenge and is a member of the Endless 6. In his free time, he enjoys reading history and fiction novels, visiting battlefields, and playing the saxophone. He currently lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia with his wife and their four dogs.
After enlisting in the Marine Corps, I graduated from Marine Corps boot camp in December of 1995. I was assigned to third Battalion 3rd as a machine gunner. In 1999, I got out of the Marine Corps and moved to Houston, TX. There I worked in juvenile and adult probation at the correctional boot camp. From there I joined the Department of Public Safety as a State Trooper in 2003 and reenlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004. Once back in the Marine Corps my wife and I were stationed in 29 palms, CA. There I served with 3rd Battalion 7th Marines as a scout sniper. After returning from Ramadi Iraq, I moved over to second Battalion 7th Marines. I deployed again to the outskirts of Fallujah. Upon returning from this deployment, I changed jobs to a UH-1Y Crew Chief.
As a crew chief, I was assigned to HMLA-369. With the squadron, I deployed to the Helmand Province from May-November 2010. Upon Returning from that deployment, I was sent to Recruiter School. I was stationed in Houston Texas were I worked primarily in Conroe, TX. After 9 months, I was sent to take over a struggling office in Lufkin, TX. In 2013, I was sent to the Wounded Warrior Battalion in San Antonio. After my back surgery and other medical problems that were fixed I eventually was able to begin playing sports. It was nice to feel normal.
In 2014, I was a lucky participant in the Warrior Open. After spending 17 years in the Marine Corps, that chapter in my life finally ended in July 2015. Since retiring, I have been traveling to different places and spending time with my family. I have spent many days out on the golf course and going to golf camps thru Semper Fi Fund. Luckily, my scores have gone down and my handicap is getting much better. I am hoping to be a participant in the 2017 Warrior open