Benjamin Mendoza’s early life was marked by uncertainty and challenges. He was born in an undisclosed location and faced a tumultuous upbringing, as his parents struggled with addiction. Throughout his childhood, he experienced a nomadic lifestyle, constantly moving from one place to another and from state to state. His earliest memories are from Jacksonville, Florida.

 

As he grew older, Benjamin’s life took a significant turn when he came under the care of Texas Child Protective Services. He found himself moving from one foster home to another across the vast state of Texas. Eventually, he found stability in the care of his grandmother and aunt, who lived in Mission and Donna, Texas, respectively. It was during his time in this region, known as the valley, that Benjamin made a life-changing decision: he resolved to join the United States Marine Corps to ensure he would not follow in his parents’ footsteps.

 

After spending three years living with his grandmother and aunt, circumstances changed as they fell ill, forcing Benjamin to leave their care. He spent his final two years of high school living with another relative. During this period, Benjamin endured the painful loss of six family members due to their battles with addiction.

 

Motivated by his desire to serve and a commitment to a better future, Benjamin decided to enlist in the Navy when he learned that the Marines did not offer their own medical program. This decision marked a new chapter in his life, one where he would pursue a path towards personal growth and a brighter future, far removed from the challenges of his early years.

 

My Why

During my time in the Navy, my journey took me from being a Corpsman to eventually becoming an FMF Corpsman. I began my first duty station assignment, which happened to be the unfortunate land of twenty-nine palms, MCAGCC 29 Palms. Here, I would once again confront the harsh realities of addiction. While stationed at 29 Palms, aside from deployments, I tragically witnessed the loss of friends who succumbed to the destructive grip of addiction. Before I even reached the legal drinking age, I had attended more funerals than the years I had spent on this Earth.

 

The weight of these experiences eventually took a toll on me, leading me down a path of self-destructive behavior that spiraled out of control until 2016. It was during this difficult time that I was transferred to NATTC (Naval Air Technical Training Command) in Pensacola, Florida. It was there that I had met with a compassionate Chaplain who would become instrumental in my journey toward sobriety.

 

Over the course of approximately a year and a half, I sought help from the Chaplain, even experiencing moments of setback along the way. However, the Chaplain posed a pivotal question to me: Was I ready to stop hiding from my problems at the bottom of a bottle and instead embrace personal growth, accepting whatever life had in store for me? Without his unwavering support and guidance, I might have faced expulsion from the Navy due to the mistakes I was making.

 

To this day, that same Chaplain remains my sponsor, providing me with the strength and guidance I need to maintain my sobriety, one day at a time. My aspirations are to continue on this path, staying sober and extending a helping hand to those who find themselves in similar need of support and understanding.