Beau Wise

Sergeant Beau Wise is a United States Marine Corps combat veteran whose experiences reflect the complexities and challenges faced by military families in the post-9/11 era. Wise served on active duty in the Marine Corps with First Battalion/Third Marines, Marine Corps Security Forces, and India Company Third Battalion/Twenty-third Marines. Influenced by a family legacy of Marine Corps service—including relatives who fought in the Battle of Belleau Wood during World War I and with the Marine Raiders in World War II—Wise joined the infantry as a machine gunner, embracing the ethos that every Marine is a rifleman.

Following the 9/11 attacks, Wise and his two brothers each volunteered for military service. While serving in Afghanistan, Jeremy Wise, a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran and CIA contractor, was killed in an al-Qaeda suicide bombing. Less than three years later, Ben Wise, a U.S. Army Green Beret sniper, was fatally wounded during a firefight with the Taliban. Ben was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, and Jeremy received the Intelligence Star, one of the rarest awards given by the U.S. government. After the loss of both brothers, Wise became the only known American service member to receive the Department of Defense's Sole Survivor designation as a result of the war in Afghanistan. He was subsequently removed from combat by order of the Marine Commandant, the only service member to be kept from combat in Afghanistan for this reason.

Wise faced significant personal challenges after losing both brothers and being pulled from combat, ultimately choosing to honor their memory by supporting fellow veterans and Gold Star families. His journey through grief and resilience is detailed in his memoir, "Three Wise Men," co-authored with Tom Sileo. Wise has discussed his story on CNN with Anderson Cooper and has been featured in national media, highlighting the sacrifices of military families and veterans' issues.

Wise addresses audiences on topics such as leadership, teamwork, military service, government, overcoming adversity, and resilience. Drawing on firsthand experience in combat and the realities of military life, he provides insights relevant to both civilian and military communities. Wise's openness about his struggles with loss and survivor's guilt, as well as his path toward healing, positions him as a significant voice on the enduring cost of service and the challenges faced by veterans and their families.