Hugh Tychsen’s Story

Finding Purpose: My Journey to Irreverent Warriors

My path to joining Irreverent Warriors (IW) and leading the charge against veteran suicide has been anything but linear. It’s been a journey of struggles, triumphs, and moments of awakening that shaped me into the person I am today.

I was born in Iowa City in 1980, and my early years were spent bouncing between places and identities. By the time I was a teenager, I was constantly searching for belonging—skateboarding crews, graffiti groups, even gangs. I wanted to be part of something bigger, to find a tribe where I felt at home. That search eventually led me to the Marine Corps, where I served multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Combat shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. The violence, loss, and constant adrenaline left scars and panic attacks I tried to ignore. When I came home, I carried the weight of friends I’d lost to war—and even more to suicide. Four Marines in my first platoon died by suicide. They weren’t just colleagues; they were brothers. Their suicides hit me harder than any battle I fought overseas. I asked myself over and over: What did I miss? What could I have done?

Like so many others, I turned to self-medication and distractions to cope—alcohol, prescriptions, and chasing external validation. It wasn’t until I hit mental health rock bottom during the pandemic that I realized I needed a different path. I explored alternative therapies: hiking, journaling, meditation, plants/nature, and reconnecting with myself. Slowly, I began to heal. I realized that numbing the pain wasn’t the answer; going in deep and unpacking it was. Forgiving others, and more importantly, forgiving myself.

That’s when my purpose became clear: to help veterans find their own path to healing. IW started in my town in 2023, and it felt like fate. The camaraderie, humor, and connection I experienced at IW events reminded me of everything I had been searching for throughout my life. When the GSF Board of Directors invited me to interview for the Program Director position, it felt like the universe answering my call to serve.

My mission now is to bring people together to heal. I want every veteran in IW to feel they have a tribe and the tools they need for their own emotional first aid. The VA is a great starting point, but there’s so much more available—ancient practices, alternative therapies, and timeless wisdom to help warriors truly recover.

At IW, we’re not just an organization; we’re a living, breathing community. Together, we can co-create a future that’s focused on humor, healing, connection, and purpose. Let’s build that future—together.