Summary: A Marine + his guitar+ music = battle zone therapy anywhere in the world! Imagine this: A day’s work is completed, but you still feel all the stresses of life. Regardless of where the stresses are coming from or what they may be, you have options to relieve all those pesky things that are bothering you. You can go out for dinner instead of cooking. You can go for a walk in the woods or by the beach. You can take a roadtrip and create an overnight, spontaneous adventure. You have choices. As a Marine in the middle of a combat zone, choices are limited when it comes to stress relief. Surrounded by sand, pummeled with intense heat, and on constant alert as to the threat of oncoming battle, stress is 24 hours a day for the entire deployment. So, what would you do in these circumstances? On today’s episode of Changing Direction, I chatted with Marcus Fox, a Marine who used his guitar to help himself and fellow Marines combat one of our military’s most terrifying and ongoing wars: PTSD. Marcus shared the story of how his music and his guitar provided battlefield therapy for him and those around him -- and how he now uses his guitar to raise awareness for veteran suicides and recovery back here at home. About my guests: Markus Fox is from the state of Alabama, and proudly calls I-65 his hometown. He grew up living on the gulf coast in Mobile, Alabama and in the pines of Elmore County, Alabama. When Markus was 8 years old, he asked for a guitar for Christmas. His father told him that he wouldn’t play it for more than a month, but Markus got his guitar that year. This is the one time his dad was happy to be wrong. Markus continued to play that guitar, and has always had the desire to make people happy through the playing and singing of his music. When Markus graduated from Theodore High School outside of Mobile, Alabama, he left to attend Troy University. It was there Markus realized it was time to do something different and meaningful with his life. Having seen three generations of United States Marine Corp ahead of him, he walked into a recruiter’s office and decided to dedicate the next four years of his life to serving his country as a United States Marine. Markus saw his first tour of duty in Iraq when he was 19 years old, followed by a second tour of duty in Afghanistan when he was 21 years old. While serving his country, he continued to play and write his music, finding and providing a safe place within its chords. Seeing brothers make the ultimate sacrifice is what led Markus to write one of his most well-known songs, “Sacrifices.” It is enjoyed by many as a great tribute to those that didn’t come home. Markus now dedicates his voice to not just music, but to the causes of Veterans. “If you see a Veteran out, it doesn’t matter where, take a second to thank them. You’ll never know what it means to them,” Markus explains in a recent interview with ABC 33/40. He goes on to say, “Hire a veteran. They have more experience than anyone you will interview.” Markus finished his time in service as a U.S. Marine in November of 2011, and in turn moved back to his home in Elmore County, Alabama. It is within those pine trees that he finds happiness in bonfires, muddy boots and a few beers with good friends. He is currently seeking to fulfill that life-long dream of sharing his music with as many people as possible. Markus has played throughout Nashville and the South. He continues to write great songs and play dynamic shows and looks forward to meeting you soon! To learn more about Marcus and his music, you can visit his web site: MarkusFox.com.
