Mike Kilano - USMC 1999-2003

Mike Kilano served with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (2/1) as a field radio operator and SAW gunner. Mike served aboard the USS Boxer, USS Harpers Ferry and USS Ogden and after September 11th, 2001 was deployed to Kuwait. On March 20th, 2003 Mike along with the 2/1 crossed The Burm into Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their mission was to take Umm Qasr, Az Zubayr and Nasiriyah. “Those 4-5 months were utterly life changing. I still have nightmares of my mission, of what I had to do” - Mike Kilano

Like many Veterans Mike suffers from PTSD and has relied on the support of fellow Veterans and Veterans Service Organization to help stay connected. Mike currently works as a Veterans Advocate at PAWS OF WAR, a non-profit organization whose mission it to alleviate the suffering of veterans, first responders and their families by providing them with loyal service dogs while simultaneously rescuing and rehabilitating dogs and cats in dire straits.

For more information of PAWS OF WAR visit their website at www.pawsofwar.org or watch our stories on PAWS OF WAR