I was  born in Anchorage, Alaska, on May 30, 1979. I am the fifth child of seven. I have three older sisters, one older brother and a younger brother and sister.

I lived in Anchorage until I graduated from Dimond High School in 1997. I then moved to Utah until I went on a two-year LDS  mission to Antofagasta, Chile. When I returned from my mission I applied and was accepted to Southern Utah University. I started school there in January of 2001.

I am happy to have Shanna by my side. We met the summer of 2001 and were married in the Salt Lake Temple on December 21, 2001. We lived in Cedar City, Utah for 2 years and then moved to Washington Terrace, Utah to further our education at Weber State University located in Ogden, Utah. While living there, I decided that I wanted to enlist in the Marine Corps. I signed my life away in March of 2004.

Shanna and I then moved to Orem to be near her family while I went away to MCRD (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) San Diego for boot camp. I left for boot camp in October of 2004 and graduated in January of 2005. I then was assigned to Camp Pendleton for Marine Combat Training and then Fort Leonard Woods in Missouri for Military Police School.  I graduated from MP school in April 2005 and received my first duty assignment.

Shanna and I arrived at Camp Pendleton, California in May of 2005, where I was assigned to MWSS (Marine Wing Support Squandron) 372. Shortly after arriving I was informed that my unit was deploying in August. That summer I was trained for combat and deployed. Two weeks before I left, we found out Shanna was pregnant.

I was deployed for seven months, August through March. I came home 2 weeks before our son, Nathan Tanner, was born. I spent the next year working as an MP at MCAS Camp Pendleton. While there HMX-1 came out to recruit MPs. I decided that sounded like a good opportunity and I put in for the job. I was accepted and we moved to Quantico, VA in March of 2007.

Shortly after we moved, I decided that I really wanted to get a dog. Because housing here allows us to have pets, this became a reality for us. We adopted a German Shepherd puppy from MAGSR in April of 2007 and she has been such a good dog.

I have been a Marine for almost 4 years and have been at HMX-1 for over a year now. I have had many amazing opportunities. I have been able to travel across the country and even overseas.

I am continuing my education through University of Phoenix. My major is Criminal Justice Administration. I am on schedule to be done next July. Until then, I am going to continue to be very busy.

The End