“Nothing prepares you for war,” reflects Travis Mower, Army veteran, grateful husband, and girl-dad of two preteens. The Arvada native served ten years, fighting for our freedoms in Iraq and Afghanistan. After witnessing the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th, Travis felt compelled to take action. Putting his college career at Front Range Community College on hold, he visited the Army recruiter’s office off of 88th and Wadsworth, and informed them of his desire to be on the front lines with the US Army. The Pomona High School graduate and journalism hopeful left his life to answer the call of duty.
After completing basic training, Travis persevered through months of specialized training. Understanding and operating different weapons systems and vehicles, strategic planning, chains of command, and more became second nature to him. When Travis deployed to Iraq, he was a well-trained, single-minded soldier. Still, nothing prepared him for the harsh realities of war. “When you’re in battle, your consciousness goes out the window, and all that’s left is a trained individual,” Travis explains. Living in developing nations increased Travis’s gratitude for the order, justice, and organization of our own country. He also highly values the leadership training, comradery, and discipline the military provided.
When his second tour ended, after living an ocean away from his bride off and on for years, Travis was ready to come home and start a family. Like so many servicemen, however, he returned home with unseen mental and emotional wounds. Veterans experience things most people only imagine in nightmares. Additionally, countless hours of combat and training make re-entering civilian life a battle of its own. The instincts ingrained in combat—hyper-awareness, split-second decisions—became hurdles in everyday situations. For many brave individuals who have sacrificed so much, the transition is overwhelming, rarely understood by those who haven’t served, and incredibly isolating.
Though the government seems to offer plenty of help to returning soldiers, few of these heroes know how to access these resources. A lack of education regarding services offered to veterans compounds the existing internal tug-of-war between the government and the VA. As a result, thousands of retired servicemen and women suffer in silence, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Not only do these individuals endure ongoing agony, but the families and close friends of these incredible people suffer as well.
Travis is no exception. Like so many brave men and women who have served, returning home carrying more than just memories, he bore the invisible wounds of PTSD and the relentless toll of physical ailments. For years, he silently fought battles no one could see, shouldering his pain alone. Navigating veteran benefits and obtaining financial help for these issues proved to be a frustrating challenge. Incredibly, like most veterans, Travis does not quit easily.
After putting in long hours to receive the help he needed and making significant strides in his healing journey, Travis developed a passion for helping other vets. His heart to serve others and to offer freedom did not end with his military career. Travis continues to live a life of service, not selfishness, now as a mortgage loan officer with Fairway Independent Mortgage. He is passionate about helping people experience the freedom that comes with owning a home. Being a loan officer, specializing in VA loans, provides an excellent venue to connect him with fellow veterans he would not have otherwise met. As Travis builds relationships with his clients, he gets to share snippets of his own journey as a veteran. He enjoys the privilege of walking alongside those who have sacrificed so much and now need a hand in their healing.
Not only does Travis help veterans navigate the VA loan process, but he also connects them to opportunities like Hero’s Puppy for Life. Hero’s Puppy for Life, founded by Vietnam veteran Frank Griggs, takes typical service breed puppies, trains them in basic obedience, and then pairs them with a veteran. The dog and the soldier then go through a nine-month training program together, which in and of itself, provides healing and purpose for vets. For some servicemen, these pups, who are trained specifically to help with PTSD, have proved life-saving. A dog lover himself, Travis proudly sits on the board for the program, which perfectly blends his two passions: helping veterans and working with dogs.
Travis’s deep connection to dogs isn’t new. During his tour in Afghanistan, he found an unexpected companion in a tiny, near-death puppy. While assisting another unit after an attack, he stumbled upon the five-week-old pup, who bore a striking resemblance to his own dog back home, Kylo. Breaking protocol, he brought her back to base and nursed her to health. His unit quickly grew attached, and together, they persuaded their sergeant major to let Sierra stay as their squad dog. Once trained, she accompanied them on many missions, comforting soldiers on and off duty. When the time came to return home, Travis ensured Sierra found a loving family in the US where she could live out her well-earned retirement.
While not everyone has the experience or expertise to assist veterans like Travis does, we can all play a part in supporting those who have made sacrifices for our freedoms. Whether through donating, volunteering, or simply expressing gratitude, small actions can make a difference. And if you know a veteran in need, connect them with people like Travis—individuals who continue to serve, even beyond their call of duty.
"Veterans experience things most people only imagine in nightmares.”
“His heart to serve others and to offer freedom did not end with his military career."