Gator 99.5 has teamed up with Loggerheads, Riverside Resort in Lake Charles to honor your warrior. We want to salute the true heroes among us, those who have answered the call to serve their country with unwavering dedication and bravery.

Each week, we will choose a different WARRIOR OF THE WEEK to honor and we will write a quick story about each of them. If you would like to nominate someone for our Warrior of the Week, CLICK HERE.

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With over 2 million service members, including Reserve and National Guard soldiers, the United States military is one of the world's largest. Its branches—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard—have distinct roles and cultures, but they all share a sense of patriotism and commitment to serving the United States.

Joining the military is a special commitment, whether it's for a few years or a lifetime. It is crucial for servicemen and their families to feel supported by their fellow Americans.

Aaron Burden via Unsplash.com
Aaron Burden via Unsplash.com
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Here are a few of my favorite quotes that help us put into words our feelings about our troops and what their service means to our nation...

"There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer." -- Gen. James H. Doolittle

"No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation." -- Gen. Douglas MacArthur

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader." -- John Quincy Adams

"This will remain the land of the free so long as it is the home of the brave." -- Elmer Davis

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This week, our Loggerheads and Riverside Resort Warrior of the Week is Mr. Raylen Manuel!

Raylen graduated from Westlake High School in 2018, and instead of a traditional senior trip, he headed straight to Army Infantry boot camp at Ft. Benning, Georgia. After completing boot camp, he went on to Airborne School, and his first duty station was with the 173rd Airborne in Vicenza, Italy, where he served a 3-year tour.

Upon returning to the U.S., Raylen was assigned to his second duty station at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, with the 82nd Airborne. In October 2023, Raylen proudly graduated from Army Ranger School. Since then, he has earned the Army Achievement Medal, among several other honors. Raylen has quickly risen to the rank of E-5, and we couldn’t be more proud of his accomplishments. He’s overcome tremendous adversity and has tackled both physical and mental challenges to achieve his goals. We salute Raylen for his dedication to serving this great country!

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