A military life is a hard life. It requires commitment, dedication, discipline and a boatload of sacrifice. When we consider that fewer than 1% of Americans serve at any given time to protect the freedoms and lives of over 330 million, well, that is a very distinguished group indeed.

Within that group stands a Marine who served his country with honor, bravery and distinction: Sgt. Anthony Patrick Muhlstadt, USMC 0331. A vehicle commander and machine gunner out of Twentynine Palms (affectionately known as 29 Stumps) was loved and admired by his fellow Marines, family and friends.

As military life would have it, especially in the combat arms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) would rear its ugly head, and Sgt Muhlstadt took his life in 2021. It was a combination of many factors that included returning from a six-month deployment to Australia to the Covid pandemic, in Twentynine Palms, plagued by loneliness and depression, and the increased medications created a toxic soup that would overwhelm Sgt. Muhlstadt.

The Sgt. Anthony Muhlstadt Foundation

The pain and anguish of a light being darkened emanated throughout his community and family. This led his mother, Gold-Star Mom, Tanya Mort, to ensure that Anthony’s service and sacrifice would not end without purpose. You see, America loses 22 heroes a day (on average), according to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. That is 22 too many.

While becoming a Marine or Soldier changes a person from the inside out, making them the epitome of a selfless warrior, it also adds to the lie of the stigma that only weak people seek help. You need to suck it up! And unfortunately, they do such a good job at building us up into Marines that the bad comes with it as well and is not easily discarded.

This is why Tanya and her organization, The Sgt. Anthony Muhlstadt Foundation, a 501c3, was founded. Their mission is simple: Spread awareness of this insidious condition and how everyone can make a difference in saving the lives of our men and women, who came back from service alive, only to lose the battle at home.

Defender Ruck Event to Raise Awareness and Funds

Tanya, along with the Marine Corps 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion, will host a Defender Ruck, Run or Walk event, to help spread the word. This 2.2-mile ruck (hump), walk or run, symbolizes the 22 men and women we lose each day, due to PTSD.

On June 8^th, starting at 0645, it will be a fun day of camaraderie, food, music and purpose. Whether you choose to don a pack and hump it in the good ole fashioned grunt style, walk it leisurely or run it and wait for everyone else at the finish line, all present will help draw the community’s attention to learn of what they can do to make a difference in this tragic siege on our veteran heroes lives.

Whether you served or were the beneficiary of the largesse of the freedoms defended for you, we hope you will join the Sgt. Anthony Muhlstadt Foundation, shout from the rooftops that they are not alone! That they are loved and appreciated more than they can imagine. And that they can come out of the darkness with no shame or guilt and receive all the support they need to win. After all, their time to give has passed; now it’s their time to receive.