A Warrior's Perspective
Tony Bryan is the Associate Development Director, Individual and Corporate Giving at the The Mission Continues. He served in the United States Army for nine years spending time in Bosnia, Kosovo and Honduras in support of peace keeping missions.
We all meet people in life and build friendships that impact us forever. The most obvious and very first connection everyone makes is with our parents. Mom and dad teach us the fundamentals of life: how to brush your teeth, how to tie your shoes, and right from wrong. These are the basics that mold us to become young adults. After high school and moving on in life we must apply those skills learned from our parents.
If we are lucky, we will have the opportunity to surround ourselves with incredible people (like mom and dad) that inspire us to be great - people that challenge us to push harder and help us reach our full potential. Fortunately for me, I met that person after being assigned to the 463rd Military Police Company in 2000. I was young and motivated. I had drive and ambition. I was eager to learn and desired to be a leader.
Insert Captain Mark Weber. Mark was the embodiment of everything I wanted to be: charismatic, intelligent, and inspiring. He was the perfect soldier. In the military, it is not normal for junior enlisted soldiers to interact with command leadership, but for one reason or another, Mark and I became close. I like to joke and say he felt sorry for me, but if you ask him he’ll say he saw my potential. Mark challenged me to lead by example and to embody the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, and personal courage.
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I give full credit to Mark for molding my military career. He is the reason I became the youngest Drill Sergeant assigned the 14th Military Police Brigade. The reason I was promoted to Sergeant First Class in just seven years. The reason I had the courage to take a leap of faith and leave the military in 2007.
Both of our lives have changed since 2002. I have found a new role of service here at The Mission Continues, and Mark has found a greater role with the Minnesota National Guard. On July 22, 2010, Mark was diagnosed with stage four neuroendocrine cancer. In true character, Mark has fought and battled his cancer. He has remained vigilant and determined to live a life of purpose, and a life that continues to inspire me and others.
This past January, Mark and I were able to reconnect. He was invited to join our inaugural class of 2012 Fellows and provide perspective, a warrior’s perspective. Through a very difficult battle with cancer, Mark has remained strong. By looking at things as “half-full” he continues to fight. His mantra is that someone always has it worse, and that life is too short to feel sorry for your own self.
Mark left St. Louis that January afternoon and headed back to Minnesota. No one can tell the future. No one can predict how much longer Mark has, but I do know that his words inspired the room. I also know that I am a better man, father, and leader because of him.
