Welcome to SITREP Foundation

Chris Wood is a dedicated individual who proudly served in the United States Army as an 88H - Cargo Specialist from 2003 to 2006, leaving a lasting impact through his service and contributions. Throughout his time in the Army, he achieved the rank of Corporal / Specialist as a Material Handler, showcasing his commitment to excellence and professionalism.

During his military career, Chris embarked on a deployment to Al Taqaddum Air Base in Iraq, where he served from February 2004 to February 2005. In this demanding environment, he played a crucial role in convoy security, ensuring the safe transport of essential supplies and materials to support ongoing operations. Chris's dedication, attention to detail, and vigilance were instrumental in the success of his unit's mission.

When Chris is not busy with his foundation, he actively engages with his local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post in New Richmond, Ohio. Recognizing the importance of camaraderie and support among fellow veterans, he remains deeply involved in the VFW community, fostering connections and providing assistance to those who have served.

In addition to his involvement with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Chris Wood holds the esteemed position of American Legion Adjutant for Post 550. As the Adjutant, Chris plays a vital role in the administrative operations of the American Legion, ensuring smooth communication, organization, and coordination within the post. His dedication to supporting fellow veterans extends beyond his service in the Army, as he actively contributes to the American Legion's mission of serving veterans and their communities. Through his role as the American Legion Adjutant, Chris continues to make a meaningful impact and provide valuable support to his fellow servicemen and women.

Chris's commitment to serving his country and his dedication to fellow veterans extend beyond his military service. He also invests his time and energy into a foundation that aims to make a positive difference in the lives of veterans and their families. Through this foundation, Chris seeks to provide resources, support, and advocacy to help veterans transition into civilian life successfully.

With his unwavering sense of duty and his passion for helping others, Chris Wood continues to embody the core values of the U.S. Army and the spirit of service. Whether through his military service, involvement with the VFW, or his foundation work, Chris remains a steadfast advocate for veterans and a beacon of inspiration within his community.

Justin Keely is a United States Marine Corps combat veteran. He served from September 2010 to April 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, displaying exceptional leadership as the 1st team leader of 4th squad and assistant patrol leader. Justin meticulously planned and executed numerous vehicle and foot patrols, leading his team through challenging terrains and situations as the patrol leader. His expertise extended to training an Afghan National Army platoon in collaboration with the Danish military, contributing significantly to the mission's success.

With a dedicated career spanning 6 years in the reserves under Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, Justin honed his skills and exemplified discipline, dedication, and resilience. Simultaneously, he began his journey in law enforcement, starting as a Police Officer in 2009. Currently serving with the New Richmond Police Department in Ohio, he continues to uphold safety and security within his community while making a positive impact with those he interacts with.

Prior to his military and law enforcement service, Justin started working at Kroger in 2003, where he has held various leadership positions, showcasing his aptitude for managing and motivating teams. He has been with Kroger for over 20 years. Beyond his professional roles, he has been actively involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) since 2012. For 5 years, he served as the Quartermaster for VFW Post 6770, managing all financial aspects, and later held the esteemed position of District 4 commander from 2020-2021. In this capacity, he oversaw 30 VFW posts across 8 counties in southwestern Ohio, where he diligently led his veteran community through the challenging rush of covid-19 lockdowns.

Justin Keely's life has been marked by a deep-seated dedication to service, both on the battlefield and within his community. His resilience, leadership, and commitment to making a positive difference serves as a testament to his character and leaves a lasting legacy in the hearts of those he has touched.

 On 1/22/09 Danny Ruck and his squad with 3/8 Weapons Co - CAAT Plt. were on their way back from a overnight patrol. At the beginning of their patrol they were being observed by terrorists in the area of Farah Province, Afghanistan. Those terrorists had taken the opportunity and under the darkness of the night placed a pressure plate IED at the end of a bridge that had a small wadi run under it. It appeared that they dug the pressure plate IED in from the wadi to go undetected. They placed the IED's pressure plate in anticipation of someone replacing our squad from the Combat Outpost (COP) which they operated from. That night though, they were replaced by a squad from another COP located on the other side from theirs.  

As Danny's HUMVEE (HMMWV), which was the last vehicle in the patrol, approached the choke point of the bridge he recalls seeing the end of the bridge and being in the tracks of the HMMWV in front of him when a bright white flash appeared in front of him. Following that bright white flash, everything then went black and he had a feeling that he was free falling. It would later be from the result of the IED lifting the HMMWV up 10ft in the air and dropping back down. At the time, Danny was not aware that he had blacked out from the event as everything seemed to have flowed together. It wouldn't be until later when he under went treatments and therapies when he realized he had blacked out from the blast. When he regained consciousness, the vehicle was on fire.  

As he went for his door, the door was not there. He grabbed his rifle (which at the time he was not aware it was damaged from the blast and not capable of firing) and exited the HMMWV to provide security for his Corpsman (Doc Lewis) while he attended to their wounded fire team leader (Vehicle Commander), Frank Amaya. At the moment he was unaware that he himself had been wounded from the IED blast as it was dark out. While providing security, the team was able to then move to the HMMWV in front of them where they could provide Cpl. Amaya with more medical treatment.   

After getting to safety and no complex ambushes had occurred, Danny's adrenaline began to come down. It was at that time when he began to feel pain in his arms and legs. He then grabbed another Marine to conduct a check to ensure he was not wounded as he had not performed a self check. As the Marine turned on his headlamp, he was able to observe bleeding coming from both arms and legs from shrapnel and burns. The Marine then provided him with medical aid by placing pressure dressings and tourniquets on his wounds. Danny and Cpl. Amaya were picked up by an QRF which returned them to their COP. It was about 2hrs later when an Army Blackhawk landed to pick them up and transfer them to a medical hospital where they would receive medical treatment for their wounds.  

Cpl. Amaya was transferred to Germany as he had extensive injuries and Danny was transferred to the NATO Base - Camp Bastion located in Helmand Province where he would continue to receive  treatments for his shrapnel and burns over the next 2.5 months. He would then return to his squad where he would finish up the remaining part of his deployment.   

When He returned home, his unit was set to be on a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). As a result, his unit immediately began conducting trainings and certifying in different requirements for that deployment. Danny was also set to be a fire team leader (Vehicle Commander) and he also was selected to attend his Advanced Infantry Assaultman Course along with LCpl Philip Lance. It was there where he began to notice issues he was having physically and mentally around his cognitive abilities. With the help of his close friend Lance he completed the course and began the workup to deploy again. Once he completed his course, he also had to go to Camp Lejeune's Naval Medical Center to have a post deployment workup done because he was

While in the field on a training mission, Danny received a call from the hospital informing him that he had sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a result of the IED blast. He was told that he would be placed on limited duty while undergoing further tests. At the hospital, medical staff explained that he would need to have MRI scans over the following months. This diagnosis rendered him combat ineffective, and he was advised that he would be transferred to Wounded Warrior Battalion - East.

Danny spent the next 1.5 years at Wounded Warrior BN - East, working towards his medical retirement. During this time, he was informed that his aspirations for a career in law enforcement might not be feasible. Despite this setback, after retiring from the Marine Corps, Danny underwent therapies and rehabilitation. With his wife’s encouragement, he completed the police academy and began his law enforcement career with New Richmond Police Department as a School Resource Officer (SRO) and Patrolman. After a year, he joined the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office as a Road Patrol Deputy, where he served for five years before transitioning to a career with Government Acquisitions Inc. (GAI), an IT company that collaborates with government and military entities to provide IT solutions. 

 Danny and his four close combat friends decided to establish the SITREP Foundation to support Veterans and First Responders. They understood that individuals like themselves faced unique challenges and required assistance. Their goal was to provide resources to those who have served their country and communities. The mission of the SITREP Foundation is to become a recognized organization that prioritizes Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Though Danny and his family have overcome and will always continue to have to overcome challenges related to his injuries, his story is there to help promote and motivate others to seek any help or assistance they need, so they too can persevere through their own challenges.