John D. Folsom
Colonel, United States Marine Corps, Reserve

John D. Folsom is the founder and president of Wounded Warriors, a Nebraska non-profit corporation. Wounded Warriors supports families of those who have been injured, wounded or killed during combat operations.

Folsom is a colonel in the United States Marine Corps, Reserve and has 27 years of commissioned service, the initial six years of  active duty as a CH-46 helicopter pilot and 21 years in the reserve component. His service has included a contingency deployment to Beirut, Lebanon. September- October,1983 and most recently to Iraq in support of Operation “Iraqi Freedom” from February 2005 to February 2006.

While deployed to Iraq, Folsom initially served as the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) liaison officer to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) until assuming duties as the “Air Boss” at Forward Operating Base Camp Korean Village near Ar Rutbah, Iraq. In this billet, Folsom was in charge of all Marine attack and army MEDEVAC helicopter operating in his area of operations.

Throughout his reserve service, Colonel Folsom has held numerous high level assignments that included working policy issues in support of the Marine Forces, Pacific and as an operations planner for northeast Asia while assigned to U.S. Pacific Command.

Immediately after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Folsom was recalled to active duty and assigned to Marine Forces, Pacific until his release from active duty in August, 2002.

Prior to his deployment to Iraq, Folsom was assigned as the Marine Forces, Europe liaison officer to U.S. European Command, December 2002 to April 2004. It was during this time that he founded Wounded Warriors.

Wounded Warriors began as a “pass the hat” initiative by Folsom on March 20, 2003 and with the initial $1,500 collected, he purchased items for the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, the first stop for U.S. armed forces personnel evacuated from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Colonel Folsom’s military decorations include the Navy-Marine Corps Medal for heroism and the Bronze Star Medal awarded for meritorious service in support of Operation “Iraqi Freedom”.

He is resides in Omaha, Nebraska with his wife Cate, son Jack and daughter Anna.

CNN recently broadcast an interview with Colonel Folsom. Read about it here.