Jon Hancock on mental health
From Marine combat Vet Jon Hancock shares his incredible journey of redemption and walk across America · · Exchange
“If you're struggling, you don't do this alone. Call your brothers, call your sisters, start there. If you don't feel comfortable, check in somewhere. You are needed, wanted, and deserving of a good life and peace, but you have to fight for it.”
On , Jon Hancock, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of International Commercial Insurance & Global Personal Insurance at American International Group, spoke about mental health during Marine combat Vet Jon Hancock shares his incredible journey of redemption and walk across America on Exchange.
About Jon Hancock
Jon Hancock, a Marine combat veteran who served with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment in the first battle of Ramadi in 2004, discussed his personal struggles and his walk across America on a September 2021 episode of the podcast "Chief Chat." Hancock stated that after returning from service, he experienced heavy drinking and two DUIs, and that following the second DUI he decided to end his life. He said he drove to the Baltimore VA hospital, where he was admitted to the psych ward for about five or six days. While there, he said he learned about Mike Feedy's "Legacies Alive" initiative, which involved walking one kilometer for each person killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001, and that this inspired him to begin his own walk. Hancock said he started walking across the country on September 11, 2015, and after traveling 5,800 to 7,000 miles through 19 states, he ended at Camp Pendleton's Fifth Marines War Memorial Gardens on December 12, 2016. Hancock also discussed the documentary "Bastards Road," which he described as being about growth and camaraderie and being "very real, raw, and uncut." He said he hoped the film would help veterans understand they are not alone and would show civilians that veteran suicide is an epidemic. Hancock stated that he does not make any money from the documentary and that his only goal is to help people. He encouraged struggling veterans to reach out to others or check in somewhere, and he called for military leadership to be more open with service members about their experiences. He also advocated for the phrase "Welcome Home" to be used more broadly to help veterans feel reintegrated into society.