Born on July 4th and named after the great John Wayne, you could say that our guest John Wayne Walding was destined to be an American hero. He spent 12 years in the US Army and seven in the Special Forces Group serving his country. While serving, John suffered a devastating injury during the Battle of Shok Valley after being shot in the leg. After losing his leg during the battle, John continued to fight on alongside the other soldiers, which ultimately earned him the Silver Star, Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his bravery.

Following his recovery, John’s determination and selflessness drove him to do what no one else had done before – enroll in the Special Forces Sniper School to become the first ever amputee to re-enlist as a Green Beret Sniper. As always, John was looking for another way to give back to the country he loves so much.

To continue on his mission of giving back and serving his country, John is now co-founder of Live to Give, a company built on the premise of giving back and one that donates 50% of its net profits to charities supporting military, first responders and their families. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, John’s company has donated hundreds of cases of water to first responders and schools, partnered with likeminded organizations to help employ those who have lost work, and continued to give back in however possible.

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