John Zgaljic joined the United States Marine Corps in 1968 and was a decorated Marine veteran who toured two tours of Vietnam. Court marshaled twice, was forced into a bad conduct discharge. Traumatized by the effects of war, and what he saw in Vietnam, John began abusing alcohol to escape reality. One thing led to another; John committed a crime to survive in the streets. An incident occurred where John blacked out, standing accused of four homicides, John went to trial and lost. He was facing four cases: one murder-in-the-second-degree charge and three cases of Manslaughter-in-the-first degree. John was given by the trial judge 18 years to life in New York State prison. John's first facility was Attica Correctional in 1985. John's time in prison was good and bad throughout his thirty-five years of incarceration. John managed to obtain his bachelor's degree and helped put a few dogs from (PBB) Puppies Behind Bars through graduation during his incarceration. After ten denials from the Parole board, finally, John was granted his release and he is Thriving.