“COL David McCracken and I were married for 16 years. We met while working at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. As a US Army Reservist, David deployed several times after 9/11. His last deployment was to Victory Base Complex located in Baghdad, Iraq. He deployed days after settling into our new home in Tyrone, GA. He was not due to deploy again for a few more years. However, 12 days after landing back in the States, we were notified of David’s imminent departure. In early 2008, David arrived in Iraq resolving to come back in the best shape of his life. He started a fitness plan and began running daily. He added in a weight lifting program and came home a very fit 180 lbs. During his post-deployment medical exam, it was noted that while fit, he was now experiencing, “a persistent cough and headaches.” The headaches continued but still continued with his fitness regime. We sought medical assistance when he couldn’t rise up out of bed in early October of 2010. During a CT scan, the doctors picked up on two suspicious looking masses in his brain. A biopsy confirmed that David had Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive type of brain cancer. David deteriorated very rapidly, surprising all of his doctors because he was in such outstanding shape. David fought until the end, continuing to honor his Reservist duties and regularly attending Battle Assemblies. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel one month before his death. He approached each day with courage and never gave up his will to drive on and make each day a memory. It became our family motto, “Make memories.” David's death was recently ruled service-connected due to exposure to toxins while deployed in Iraq. His wife and children seek to carry on his legacy by reaching out to those experiencing loss of similar nature across the US”
