Ronald Gullion: Warrior Helping Warrior |
Ronald 'Ronnie' Gullion
There are three things you never want to do around Ronald Gullion. They are, in no particular order, lie … be fake … and spit.
“Those are simply pet peeves of mine,” he explains. “But when you spend 22 years serving your country in the Army, you believe in respect, honor, and integrity. There’s no room to be phony, and spitting is just disgusting.”
Ronnie, as he likes to be called, cracks a smile when he says that. Perhaps it’s his way of downplaying his military achievements, of which there are many. His awards include Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medals (6 awards), Army Achievement Medals (4 awards), NATO Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Liberation of Kuwait Medal, Valorous Unit Award, and Superior Unit Award.
It’s that kind of experience that prepared Ronnie to take on the challenge of serving as an area outreach coordinator for Tennessee and Kentucky with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). He works directly with warriors and their families, helping ensure their needs are met. That often requires Ronnie to coordinate special outreach events, develop community support, and act as a liaison between warriors and bureaucratic red tape.
It’s a calling he says he’s particularly passionate about.
“When you have that one-on-one interaction with warriors, it can literary be a life-changing experience. I’m humbled to think back at times when I’ve assisted and stabilized several warriors who were on the verge of suicide.”
However, there’s more to Ronnie than just the serious side of his job. He’s an expert wild game hunter, motorcycle rider, and sports fan – with a particular love for the Indianapolis Colts.
And if there is such a thing as a “trifecta of contradiction,” it’s when he answers this question: What are your favorite TV show, movie, and book?
His answer, in this order: Sons of Anarchy, Billy Madison, and Common Sense by Glenn Beck.
“It’s not the contradiction it appears to be,” says Ronnie. “I’m simply passionate about my country, my family, and in the opportunities I get to help others. These things actually speak to those themes in their own ways.”
