TOP CHARACTER STRENGTHS

KINDNESS - LOVE

Cory was born in Garden City, Kansas, and raised in Gillette, Wyoming. He was a caring and loving son, brother, and uncle. Cory was always involved in the community growing up and admired the service of other members of his family. He was a Boy Scout, Fire Cadet, and did ride-alongs with EMS. He wanted to be a medic firefighter. He had service rooted in him growing up. He was someone who got along with anyone, and he always wanted to serve and help others. 

When 9/11 happened, he knew he wanted to serve his country. He came from a long line of serving family members, and it was no surprise to his family that he joined the service post-9/11. In 2001, his mother, Mary, a teacher, and officials at Cory's elementary school created a Hallway of Heroes in the school building. When Corey came home from his first deployment, his name went on the wall alongside his grandfather’s, for receiving a Purple Heart. Every time he came home, he went back to the school to talk to the students and visit with his mother's students. He was proud of his service and the service of his family.

Character Strength Stories:

Kindness - If someone needed something, they could count on Cory. He would literally give the clothes off his back to his friends. He would do anything for his family and his sisters. He would welcome other Marines into his family home when they did not have a place to go. When his Marine friend Daniel came to live with Cory's family at the insistence of Cory, Cory shared his clothes and belongings with him. He did not want his friend to go without. His friend did not want to be a burden and ask for new boots, even though his own were held together by duct tape. Cory orchestrated a bet that he knew his friend would lose. He knew that if his friend Daniel lost, he would allow the family to purchase new boots for him. He was always taking someone under his wing.

Love - He had a tattoo dedicated to his family, and he had a great love for all his friends and family. He also had tattoos dedicated to the brothers he lost in Iraq, under his heart. He and his mother spoke multiple times a day, checking in on each other.

-Submitted by Mary, Surviving Mother