FORT WORTH, TX. - Leaving the Marine Corps didn't mean leaving behind a life of service for John Weiland. As he would come to discover, some of the most powerful conversations happen when they're least expected.
In 2013, one of those conversations unfolded inside a hunting blind in Texas, where a young Marine, recently returned from Afghanistan, had come hoping to find something he couldn't quite put into words.
The two spotted a large buck. The Marine raised his rifle, then lowered it. Instead of taking the shot, he began talking.
Top left photo: Three generations of military service in the Weiland family. Pictured from left to right: Col. Joe Weiland (John Weiland's Grandfather), Sgt. John Weiland, and GySgt. Tim Weiland (John Weiland's Father.)
Additional photos highlight John Weiland's military service and SOS-TX's outdoor activities supporting veterans and first responders.
“For the next two hours we sat in a deer blind, and he was telling me his life story,” Weiland recalled. “Everything that happened to him in the Marine Corps, everything that happened to him when he was overseas. Sometimes that’s what we need.”
That moment captures the heart of Support Operations Services–Texas (SOS-TX), a nonprofit helping veterans and first responders rediscover something many lose when their service ends: camaraderie.
For Weiland, a Ground Support Equipment (GSE) mechanic supporting Seabrook Solutions' FRCASE contract in Texas, a commitment to service runs generations deep. His grandfather and father were Marines (pictured above), and he followed in their footsteps.
Weiland watched his father establish the Texas Hunters for Heroes–DFW chapter, first volunteering as a hunting guide before taking on leadership responsibilities. After assuming leadership, he helped rebrand the organization as SOS-TX and continues to carry his father’s mission forward as the nonprofit’s president.
Through hunting trips, fishing excursions and outdoor activities, SOS-TX reconnects veterans with people who understand their experiences.
“When we get out of the military, we lose that camaraderie,” Weiland explained.
But behind his commitment lies a heartbreaking reality. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 6,488 veterans died by suicide in 2024—an average of 17.7 every day. Behind those numbers are lives, families and stories of service, sacrifice and struggles that often remain unseen. It’s painfully personal for Weiland.
“I got heavily involved when I lost one of my best friends to suicide,” he shared.
That loss reinforced something Weiland believes can make an extraordinary difference: simply being present and building community.
“Sometimes it’s just having someone there with an open ear to listen and not to judge.”
His commitment to creating a place where every veteran feels welcome has also shaped SOS-TX's outreach. With Navy veteran Marisa Tipton serving as Vice President, the organization has expanded opportunities for female veterans, including dedicated shooting-range outings.
“One thing I’ve noticed a lot about veteran organizations, you will not see a lot of female veterans. I really wanted to get them involved,” Weiland said.
As Veterans Day approaches, Weiland's mission reminds us that honoring veterans goes beyond thanking them for their service. It means showing up.
“You are there to be a brother or sister to whoever it is,” says Weiland.
For Weiland, the reward isn't measured in fish caught or deer harvested. It's measured in the lives touched along the way. Because sometimes, the most meaningful thing someone takes home from a hunting or fishing trip isn't a trophy buck or prized catch. It's the comfort of knowing they aren't alone.
SOS-TX hosts hunting trips, fishing excursions, and shooting range outings throughout the year. To learn more or donate, click here.