Justin Jordan

Justin grew up in Henderson Kentucky, He is married to Technical Sergeant Retired Shar Jordan, they have two children Summer Jordan, 15 and Dimitrius Williams Jr., 20. At 19 Justin enlisted in the United States Air Force and attended Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. During his 20 years of service he deployed 4 times and held a variety of different jobs, everything from Cook to Combat Readiness Instructor, however his most taxing job would be when he was assigned as the Non Commissioned Officer in Charge, base Mortuary Affairs. For nearly 6 years he spent his time, performing human remains inspections, uniforming the deceased, organizing military escorts, arranging for burial with honors and consoling grieving families. Justin also managed deployment Mortuary operations at two separate locations, ensuing the fallen were properly prepared for transport home. During his time as a Mortuary NCO he witnessed how fragile human life is, his cases included murders, drownings, auto accidents, war casualties and suicides. All this death led him to question his own mortality on a daily basis. In 2009 he was diagnosed with Severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and started his journey to healing. Over the next four years he struggled with traditional pharmaceutical treatments and sought out alternative therapies. In 2011 he became the first Active Duty Airman to be allowed to serve with the aide of a PTSD Service Dog. With the help of Paws and Stripes he found Dallas his Service Dog. Initially he made huge strides in his recovery and became a leader in the PTSD education movement, working tirelessly to educate the public on what PTSD does to the Service Member and encouraging others to get help, despite the negative stigma. In 2012 Justin had a major regression and his condition grew worse, with no other options he was hospitalized in a military treatment program for PTSD. It was there he found writing through Cognitive Processing Therapy, he noticed how his stories seemed to help other service members, by not only reliving the horrors of what he had seen, but more importantly, he wrote about how it made him feel. Shortly after he was discharged from the hospital, he decided to share his story with the world, proclaiming to the world "This will not beat me". His intent was to help a greater number of people, both military and civilian. In late 2012 Tactical 16 publishing, published his book "And Then I Cried, Stories of a Mortuary NCO". In 2013 Justin was Medically Retired from the Air Force with 20 years of Service. His book continues to help others who are struggling and he continues his advocacy, speaking at different venues across the country. Justin and his family now lives in a small town just north of San Antonio Texas and he reports that transitioning to civilian life as a veteran with PTSD has been a struggle, but his never quit attitude and perseverance has served him well as he starts the next chapter of his life. Justin Jordan is a is truly a remarkable American Veteran.

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