Dereck W Rickman is a US Navy veteran and former Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman who served alongside Marines in Iraq in 2007. After returning home, he faced the lasting effects of war, traumatic brain injury, addiction, and the challenges of civilian life. Treatment through Defenders of Freedom and Resiliency Brain Health became an important part of his healing. He holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership. He continues serving through public service, veteran advocacy, emergency medicine, and efforts to connect veterans with meaningful careers. Dereck is a husband, father of three boys, and follower of Jesus Christ. He and his wife, Keri, chose sobriety together in January 2024, beginning a new chapter of faith, family, healing, and purpose. He wrote *Carried Through the Fire* to share his journey through war, marriage, fatherhood, addiction, recovery, and faith. His hope is to remind veterans and their families that asking for help is courageous and that hope, healing, and purpose are possible.