Damon Foundation holds fundraiser to help soldiers

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The father of an Iraq war veteran hosted a fundraiser in Mobile on Sunday to benefit the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation.

Mobile's Blues Tavern may not be the biggest venue in town, but Sunday afternoon seven bands and a number of supporters filled the place with music to honor Damon Shontell.

Damon Shontell served his country in the U.S. Army's 64th Military Police Company.

The 2006 graduate of Alma Bryant High School deployed to Iraq with the 64th MP's and spent 15 months in combat.

Shontell died in 2010, while stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He was 22 years old. To keep his spirit alive, his father and sister run the Forever Damon Foundation.

Shontell's father, David, has only held three such gatherings of his Forever Damon Foundation.

“I do this for all of our soldiers, all of the military, because I want everyone to remember what they've sacrificed,” said David Shontell, “And I do it for my son because it keeps me going. Because, if I didn't do this for him, I don't know what I'd do.”

Proceeds from the event benefit the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation (WWIAF), a non-profit that provides world-class outdoor sporting activities for combat wounded, Purple Heart recipients.

Its founder, a Lieutenant Colonel, spent 20 years active duty in the U-S Army. He talked about how the charity’s work is good for those who return from combat.

“It gives them a chance to decompress, and they're among brothers and the outdoors. I mean the backdrop for what we do, the healing work that we do, is the great outdoors and I can't think of a better place to take guys who are trying to let go of things other than the great outdoors. And surround them with other heroes that share similar challenges and magic things happen,” said John McDaniel, founder of WWIAF.

More info (external links):

Forever Damon Foundation

Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation