Sergeant First Class Julio Mella served in the Army for 21 years and 9 months including time in the New York National Guard. He was deployed four times, once to Iraq and three times to Afghanistan.
During his multiple combat deployments, he sustained numerous operational injuries resulting in multiple surgeries on his feet, hands, knees, wrists and finger. He also suffers from degenerative disk disease. He suffered traumatic brain injury causing memory and hearing loss. Like so many warriors he also suffers from PTSD.
He retired from active duty in May 2020 and works as a civilian for the Department of the Army. He and his wife Jackie have two children and resides in Clarksville, TN.
