Notable Strangers Series| №1
What I Learned From My First Encounter with a Marine — and How He Changed My Life.
It was a hot morning in Canyon, Texas outside of Jones Hall on the Campus of West Texas A&M University as athletes started to fill up the parking lot to check-in for two-a-days to prepare for the 2010 football season. For those of you who’ve played you know how the first day of check-in's go at camp — the energy is high, everyone is excited to see each other, and most of all everyone trying to size each other up to see who their competition is going to be that season for the starting job (come on you all know it’s true). As I started to walk up to the check-in desk I saw all my coaches, and teammates. Talking smack to one another, and having discussions about the upcoming teams we would face I noticed one guy I’ve never seen before. “Hey, Chris (my best friend and roommate at the time), who’s that guy over there? He’s one big dude.” I said. Jokingly Chris replied , “Probably the guy that’s going to take your starting job this fall.” Putting my ego aside I went up to introduce myself. “Hey man — I’m Kyle. Where are you coming from?” As soon as he shook my hand I knew there was something different about this guy. The way he stood, shoulders back chest out with a stoic manner, the way he spoke, and just his overall persona as a person. I knew there was more that met the eye. His name was Aaron Hyman — he went on to tell me his story and how he got here. Aaron was part of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion and just got finished his active duty career as a Marine after multiple tours in Iraq/ Afghanistan, and wanted to give the college thing a try.
Since that first encounter with Aaron, we’ve grown to become family. He has shown me what a man is supposed to be in this world. He’s set the example and always pushed me to be better than I was the day before. He’s taught me how to check my ego and show me it’s never about you — it’s about the ones you serve. He has been there for me when I’ve had nothing, and opened his home to me in times of need.
To tie it all in — In 2015/2016 I played my last down of football in Berlin, Germany in the German Bowl Championship game as part of the Schwabish Hall Unicorns in the German Football League. When I returned to the states I had NO idea what I was going to do. I had no plan, little money, and all the anxiety in the world. I wasn’t “Kyle the Football Player” anymore.
As much as I tried to hang on to that identity the more and more I realized no one really cared, and it was time to find something else to give my heart to. Not knowing what else to do I got a job working in tech sales back home in Austin, Texas. Every day I fought to find happiness only to come home empty inside. About a year and a half at the company I get a phone call — the time was around mid-September, 2017 — a couple of days after Hurricane Harvey destroyed the Texas coast in Rockport and Houston. Staring at my computer about to drive my head through it I took the call. He told me that he wants to go down to the coast and help those people who were affected by the storm, and he wants me to be part of the team. I thought about it for a nanosecond before I shot an email to my boss at the time wanting to discuss my future with the company. After a peaceful parting of ways, I walked out of the office got in my car, linked up with Aaron and the team, and headed down to Rockport where we set up shop at a first responders camp.
We managed to rally up two trucks, two trailers, a bobcat, a fifth-wheel RV, and a small team that did everything under the sun to help the people in need. We created a company, called Rally Point Services. After a month or so down there doing some great work, we decided to pack it up and head back home.
Unemployed trying to build a business, an old car, and just enough cash to hold me over for a bit I needed to do something — the only thing I promised myself is that I wouldn’t go back to doing something that wasn’t going to bring me happiness. I knew two things about myself at the time: I loved being part of a team, and I loved a challenge.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting some spectacular Marines through Aaron. The idea to join was always in the back of my head. The ultimate decision came on Aaron’s wedding night in Las Vegas. October 1st, 2017 was one of the most memorable nights of my life. At Aaron’s wedding party I met some of the most decorated Marines in modern-day history — Tyler Van Hook, 2-time Silver Star recipient, Andrew “Tommy Guns” Thompson — Bronze star and silver star recipient to name a few. After the reception we all decided it was time to hit the town after Aaron and Karina departed for thier honeymoon. We started to walking down the strip and noticed there was a country concert about to start near Madalay Bay. It was Jason Aldean headlining and a few others. We eneded up grabbing a couple tickets. About an hour into the show we started hearing little explosions that sounded like fire crackers. I looked to my right and saw two men laying down. The one closest was turned on his side with his back facing toward us with a red stain on his shirt that was growing larger by the minute. The next round of fire crackers rang off — Tyler immediatley reconginzed that was gun fire. We stayed cool calm and collected, helped where we could, and we all made it out ok. That was a night I’ll never forget. The “Las Vegas Massacre” as they called it made me realize that no matter where you go you always have to be ready to respond and be ready to help.
Following, I knew reality was going to set back in. I ended up doing exactly what I told myself I wouldn’t do out of fear of the unknown. I pursued a job in New York City where it ended with me catching a one-way bus ride down to Wilmington, North Carolina to link up with Aaron. He drove all the way out to pick me up and drove me all the way back to Canyon, Texas where he lived.
I told him I’m ready — “ I want to become an Officer in the Marine Corps.
He gave me his spare bedroom, showed me how to train for the PFT, helped me lose 30 pounds, drove me to the recruiter's office multiple times until he dropped me off at the airport sending me off to Officer Candidate School.
He was my First Salute upon graduating,( which is a huge honor), and he has continued to be a mentor and a friend to me to this day.
Without his friendship, I don’t know where I’d be in life. I have two things I’ll end this story with that include some lessons that I’ve learned over the years since taking the jump to join the Marines thanks to Aaron. I hope these pieces of advice serve you just as they’ve served me.
The First — Friends & Family: I’ve always told myself that if you show me the 10 people you surround yourself with on a daily basis I’ll show you exactly where your life will end up. Sometimes I feel like I am the luckiest man in the world — I have the best family a man can ask for that love me unconditionally, and I have some of the best friends that will literally do anything for me. You show me your friends I’ll show you your future.
The Second — No one Cares: The second I realized that no one gives a hoot about your life more than you everything started to make sense. At the end of the day, I’ve come to see that no one really cared what I did — that was a big hurdle for me. I always wanted to do what was cool/trendy to impress my friends and family, but they really didn’t care. Just don’t be an asshole, be a good dude to others, and follow your heart. You must take extreme ownership of your life. No one is going to do it for you. I heard it a lot growing up, but it didn’t hit me until I became a man.
“If you are you’re true authentic self in this world you’ll attract the right people and opportunities in your life.”
So to sum that up in one sentence — don’t’ be an asshole in life, keep your loved ones close, and follow your heart.
Semper Fi.
-Kyle.
