Document Type
1981-2000 Marines
Date of Submission
October 2024
Keywords
Mighty Pen Project, Veteran, Memoir, Marines, DUI, Demotion, mistakes
Abstract
A marine's life risks a downwards spiral after getting pulled over and given a DUI. Hands can become fists or bonds, and your actions will always be your own.
Articles, stories, and other compositions in this archive were written by participants in the Mighty Pen Project. The program, developed by author David L. Robbins, and in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, offers veterans and their family members a customized twelve-week writing class, free of charge. The program encourages, supports, and assists participants in sharing their stories and experiences of military experience so both writer and audience may benefit.
Author Biography
Joe Maslanka has been involved with the Mighty Pen Project since 2017. He has several short stories published on the VCU website for the Mighty Pen and in 2023 his screen play ‘Dress Code’ was performed in 2023 as part of the ‘War in Pieces’ series.
Mr. Maslanka is a United States Marine veteran and graduated summa cum laude from Strayer University with a Bachelor of Administration Degree in Business Administration and Human Resources.
He formed the Righteous Outlaws as a non-profit rock and roll band in 2009, they discontinued playing after raising over $175,000.00 from 2009 through 2019 for several charities; primarily they supported Veteran Organizations and Poverty initiatives.
Joe has worked in the Private Security industry for 30 years and is the Division Vice President for Admiral Security in Richmond, VA. In 2021 he became a Licensed Local Pastor for the United Methodist Church, working half-time for two churches in Hanover County.
He has been married to Holly L. Maslanka since 1987 and has two children, Amber Maslanka-Williams and Anthony Maslanka and two grandchildren (Alec Steven Williams) and (Flora-Jane Maslanka.)
Is Part Of
Mighty Pen Project
