I knew then that I wanted to join the military.
I think its the other way around.
I wanted to do my part to confirm that the freedoms and safety of my family was ensured.
In fact, my father had served in the military.
I had seen pics of him in uniform, and it was inspiring to me.
I wanted to pay back a debt I felt I owed my country for all it had given me.
TAL:Clearly, patriotism and a sense of duty are a big part of who you are.
Can you tell us about your experience as an infantryman with the U.S. Army in Iraq?
I wanted to take the fight to these guys head on.
I joined as an infantryman and was sent on a tour to Iraq.
It was a life-changing experience for me.
You learn really fast to cope with death and loss.
You grow up really fast, and you learn to not take things for granted.
Back here at home, its easy to forget whats important and focus on unimportant stuff.
On May 14th,2007, we were on a patrol just like any other day.
During the patrol, we were engaged by attackers and ran over a buried 200-lb.
improvised explosive rig (IED).
OCA:Its been a roller coaster.
There are days that are great and I feel blessed to be alive.
Other days can be really tough.
It has been a long road of recovery for me, and Im at 103 surgeries so far.
But it also made me who I am today and gave me a chance to help other people.
Its founder, Ryan Parrott, is a good friend of mine.
He served eight years as a U.S. Navy SEAL and was injured in combat and severely burned.
He founded Sons of the Flag to help address this through funding and support for this important issue.
It not only helps fund research but also helps individuals who are dealing with this.
Through this, I am getting to do what I love helping kids.
Ive worked with many children who have been burned at a very young age.
Ive been able to mentor them and help them.
Getting to do this really means a lot to me.
TAL:We also know that you have a passion for firearms.
OCA:Obviously, serving in the military was a big part of my learning about guns.
But growing up, I remember my father teaching me and my brother about guns and firearms safety.
I always enjoyed them.
And after I was injured, I found that I had a lot of free time on my hands.
A lot of time between medical appointments, etc.
I wanted to find something to keep my mind busy.
For me, it was firearms.
I wanted to learn everything about them.
I wanted to do as much training as I could.
I also plan on taking my nephew out hunting with me here very soon.
Guns are a big part of my life.
Has this had any effect on how you use/employ firearms, or the types that you do use?
OCA:I had the doctors pin my trigger finger at a curve so I could shoot.
So, I stuck with rifles early on.
But I soon built up my confidence, and now I shoot everything!
I love the sport of shooting.
Its truly a passion of mine.
TAL:Speaking of guns, we also know that you own numerous Springfield Armory firearms.
Can you tell us about why you like them, and what some of your favorites are?
OCA:Honestly, my favorite is theM1A Tanker.
That connection is important to me.
TAL:What are your plans for the future?
Do you have any new projects in the works about which you would like to talk?
OCA:The future for me is keeping doing what I am doing.
Getting to do this allows me to tell people the stories of my brothers in the military.
Juan Campos and SPC.
If I can mention their names every time, it helps to keep their memory alive.
This is very important to me.
Also, how best can our readers follow you to learn more?
OCA:I am happy to do it.
Anyone who wants to follow me can find me as @crispy11b across all social media platforms.
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