My name is Charles “Brandon” Bailey and I am a 1993 graduate of Boone County High School in Florence, Kentucky. In 1998 I enlisted in the Marines and I hit the Yellow Footprints at the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina on 10 November 1998.

I served 14 years in the Marine Corps before medically retiring due to wounds received in Afghanistan when my humvee was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The blast resulted in the humvee landing on top of me, shattering my pelvis, crushing my right hip and severely damaging my left hip. I also had multiple fractures in my back. Along with all the orthopedic injuries I had severe internal damage and was suffering from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Before retiring from the Marine Special Operations Command in 2012 I was part of Combat, Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Missions all over the globe. Ranging from combat and peacekeeping tours in Iraq and Afghanistan to Humanitarian missions in Bangladesh.

I served with some of the greatest warriors in the world. Though my time in the Marine Corps was cut short I was very fortunate to have the rewarding career I had. However, missions often change as mine now has.

I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, Parris Island, South Carolina and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina over the years. I proudly served multiple Combat tours in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

I received numerous awards and decorations including the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/combat valor (multiple awards) and numorous awards from the Marine Corps and Department of Defense for my achievements in the United States Intelligence community to name just a few.

After retiring in 2012 I felt as though I had lost my purpose in life, for the previous 14 years the Marine Corps was my life, it’s all I knew. In August of 2012 I received a call from the founder of the Field of Dreams Foundation, Tom Dermody. Unbeknownst to me, Tom had received a recommendation from my good friend Jeremy Heid to contact me to see what Field of Dreams could do to help improve my outlook and morale. Tom called and offered me an opportunity to go to Canada with the Field of Dreams on an elk hunt with other veterans, which I graciously accepted. Tom and Jeremy were both hopeful this hunt would help me begin to deal with the everyday issues I was facing in my post-military life.

I cannot begin to describe what happened to me on this hunt. Something very therapeutic took place to say the least. Being around the other service members, sharing the stories and the camaraderie and getting back out into the woods was just what I needed. Fortunately I was able to harvest a couple of nice animals on this trip, but that was really just a bonus. This trip was about something way more important than hunting, it was about the healing and fellowship with other veterans. Many of the guys I met in Canada that week are some of my closest friends today.

Over the last couple of years I have been blessed to attend more hunts with the Field of Dreams Foundation, but not always as a hunter. I was able to accompany a few of the Marines who were with me the night of the blast back to Canada in 2013, that was an amazing trip I’ll never forget. Today, I continue to go on outings with the Field of Dreams as an ambassador for their program and to volunteer in any way they need me to. It’s really an honor and my duty to serve these fine men and women, these special needs kids and the children of our fallen soldiers in any way possible.

In 2014 I decided I could do more. So with help from Tom Dermody, the Field of Dreams Foundation and my friends and family, I founded the Purple Hearts and Heroes Foundation! Purple Hearts and Heroes was developed to provide deserving veterans, special needs children and the children of the fallen the opportunity and ability to connect or reconnect with the outdoors through outdoor adventures.

Please look over the rest of this website for ways you can get involved, volunteer, donate or apply to take part in a Purple Hearts and Heroes event. It takes an army, scratch that, it takes a corps to serve those deserving and I hope you will join us in our efforts!

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

Charles Brandon Bailey

USMC/GySgt Ret.