From Warfighter to Healer: Why I started Honorguard
Noah was one of my best friends, an incredible man, and one of the most dedicated Marines I ever had the honor to serve beside.
We lost him to the battle within.
I was already struggling with PTSD. Losing Noah shattered what was left of my stability.
Not long after, I was medically retired from the Marine Corps, and everything started to collapse.
I searched and fought desperately to recover.
I followed the treatment plan the VA gave me. I did everything I was supposed to.
None of it worked.
It felt like being trapped in a room slowly filling with water, knowing sooner or later I knew I'd run out of air.
She Saved My Life
Venus. Named for the planet. To me it means love.
She is a gift of healing and love from the universe.
Venus has an unshakable instinct for knowing exactly what I need. How to create safety, stillness, and the space I needed to heal. It wasn’t just about disrupting nightmares, anxiety, or dangerous thought loops.
It was her presence. Her love. Her constant companionship. Quick to forgive. Quicker to love. She stayed beside me when no one else could.
Ready to ride, no matter the destination. She created the safe and loving environment I needed to do the internal work and find my way back.
Through the darkness, her light shone like a lighthouse showing me the way to safe water. I could go on for days. Her smile alone can lift me out of hell.
Without Venus, I would’ve lost myself completely.
From Pain to Purpose, Funded by Coffee
But here’s the part that still breaks me:
Why did it take nearly two years to find her? Why, in a moment of desperation, did I have to train her myself without any idea how?
I was in crisis. She was the answer. And today, a service dog is still the answer for so many veterans struggling in silence.
The healing she gave me, that’s the inspiration behind this mission. To save the lives of my brothers and sisters in arms. To meet the need our system keeps ignoring.
We lose 22 veterans a day. And most of those losses are preventable. So I built a service dog program to be the lifeline I wish I had.
It’s fully funded by the coffee we sell here. Together, me, you, and this mission, we’re training veterans to train their own dogs.
When they graduate, they won’t have to rely on anyone else for their lifeline ever again. We’re building the program I wish existed when I needed it most.
And you’re the one who makes that possible.
Meet the Mission You Have Funded
Operation Arctic Blitz
Rural Alaska - Call Sign Charlie
Charlie delivered to a Vietnam veteran (name redacted) in a high-priority remote deployment.
The veteran made contact through a retired Navy SEAL, triggering a rapid mobilization.
Our team acquired the dog in Portland and delivered to Ketchikan, Alaska, where the veteran flew in by bush plane to meet and secure his lifeline companion.
Operation Pacific Guardian
South Orange County - Call Sign Rebel
Marine Corps GWOT veteran Marcos requested support by dog.
Our team moved to locate and close with the supporting asset, delivering for effect.
Ongoing training and integration is led by a local organization under a retired Navy SEAL. Rebel has since been reported as a force multiplier in Marcos’ mission to fight for veteran rights in the California area of operations.
Financial Donations
Providing resources to non-profits aiding veterans
- Heavy Hitters Project: $142.54
- Vital Roots Foundation: $75.60
- Veteran Canine Intelligence Academy: $146.89
- Paws of Honor: $44.00
- Overwatch Collective: $100.00
How Your Coffee Becomes a Lifeline
It’s simple. You buy coffee. That coffee funds training for a veteran and their service dog.
You Choose Your Coffee
Start with the roast you love.
You don’t need to donate or volunteer just drink coffee. When you choose Honorguard, your cup fuels a warrior’s healing.
100 Bags = 1 Month of Training
It really is that simple.
Every 100 bags of coffee covers one full month of life-saving service dog training for a veteran. We track it. You make it happen.
Veterans Train Their Own Dogs
Healing happens on both ends of the leash.
Our program empowers veterans to train their own service dogs. Building trust, deepening purpose, and restoring independence along the way.
You See the Lives You Change
You deserve more than a receipt.
We show you the impact. Real stories, real veterans, and real gratitude. This is your legacy one bag at a time.
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