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  • Helping Heroes Battle Hardships

Our Spokesperson

Bernie running

Bernie Teich was born and raised in Rhode Island.  He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1996 and served as a Marine until 2001, when he joined the Rhode Island National Guard.  Following September 11, 2001, Bernie was compelled to return to active duty, so in May 2002, he re-enlisted in the United States Army as a Combat Engineer, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas with the 91st Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. The 91st was one of only two battalions utilizing the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV), and Bernie became a Bradley driver, and later, a gunner.

In January 2005, Bernie deployed to Baghdad, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom II (OIF II).  He led hundreds of missions that resulted in the capturing or destroying of over 50 insurgents, which dramatically improved security for US soldiers and Iraqi citizens in Baghdad.
In October 2006, Bernie redeployed to Iraq as a squad leader, after being promoted to an E-6. On February 28, 2007, while on a route clearance mission in the Al Dora district of Baghdad, Bernie’s Bradley was struck by a large IED, buried underneath the road. Bernie sustained substantial damage to both of his legs. As a result of the incident, Bernie was awarded his second Purple Heart by General David Patraeus, Commander of Operations in Iraq. Bernie spent several weeks undergoing treatment for his injuries in Germany before he was evacuated to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. There Bernie underwent 14 surgeries on both of his legs, and was finally released from the hospital in May 2007, when he began extensive rehabilitation on both legs. He spent 3 painful months fighting to keep his right leg, but eventually it was determined that the leg needed to be amputated.

Additionally, his left ankle was fused, limiting mobility of the left leg, and eliminating any chance of running again.During his time in the hospital, Bernie was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his acts of bravery and meritorious service in Iraq.  The Bronze Star is the fourth highest combat award in the US Armed Forces, and the ninth highest military award.
Today, Bernie serves as a spokesperson for Wish For Our Heroes, where he discusses his own personal experiences, along with why the organization is so important to the average soldier who may fall on hard times.