Charlie Mike

Written by Mary Beth Bruggeman, CEO of The Mission Continues

I first met David at one of the dozens of service projects that he led as the volunteer leader of The Mission Continues’ Washington DC Service Platoon. I go to projects in cities across the country all the time which comes with the job and mostly, I attend in my capacity as CEO of The Mission Continues. But DC is different for me because it’s my own city. In DC, I (mostly) am able to attend service projects as a veteran volunteer who is still looking for ways to continue my service post-military, and as a veteran who will always love doing hard things with my brothers and sisters in arms.

When David took on his volunteer role as platoon leader, he quickly became an organizational example. He planned consistent, high-quality projects, didn’t need much help or guidance from our staff, and always delivered incredible impact for the communities in which we serve. I found myself referring to him often in conversations with our team, usually when painting a picture of what “right” looks like. David was a model platoon leader, and we could design around what veterans like him need from The Mission Continues. Admittedly, he was tireless, often saying that (much to Laura’s occasional chagrin) he was someone who was unable to sit still. He sacrificed his free time (and probably his sleep) to lead volunteer work in DC, something we can’t reasonably expect other volunteers to do, but which he did not only willingly, but in fact out of his own necessity. David, like most of the veterans that serve with The Mission Continues- including me -, needs to be needed.

At every project he planned, David led from the front. He was active, engaged, on the ground digging, shoveling, directing, cutting, building and motivating. The most common words out of my mouth at a DC service project were “I’m not in charge here, but let me ask David”, which was a poetic kind of relief for a CEO. Laura who manned the registration table like that’s the most critical part of the project, and in fact, it is. She instantly made every person that arrived feel connected, welcome, and needed, setting them up for a successful day from the start. Laura and David are a perfect team. Then Cori met Henry, then a staff member for TMC, and…well…that’s another wonderful story. Point is, it’s always been a family affair for the DuBois clan.

When David started experiencing more, at the time still unexplained, symptoms late last year, he knew it was time to step back from platoon leadership and pass the mantle to the next capable leader. Darren began stepping in, shadowing and learning from David. This can be an awkward time for our platoon leaders, especially one who is as involved and invested as David has been from the jump. It’s hard to know when to step aside, whether your continued presence is welcome, or if you’re hovering over the new leader. Somehow, though, David found a way to strike that delicate balance, showing up as a constant support to Darren while stepping back to allow him to lead in his own, unique, and equally effective, way.

In September 2022, at our 9/11 commemorative service project in DC, David’s ALS had clearly progressed significantly since we’d last seen him. He was unable to speak and was communicating solely through his texting app. That didn’t stop him from schooling us on the proper measurement of a raised garden bed, or ensuring we were attentive to accessibility challenges for the students who would use the garden, but it was clearly more challenging and, at times, frustrating for him. His stamina had declined as well, and I found myself being protective of his energy, knowing he’s not capable of throttling back on his own. Or, rather, he hadn’t been able to do that in the past, but this David was different.

There’s a calm and a self-awareness with now-David that is more inspiring than I can put into words. This is a man who is living every single moment of his life to the fullest, who recognizes what he has and what he most values in this world, and who is determined to be intentional with every breath. Having a conversation with him requires the rest of us to just be still and listen. Try reading his texts while he types, I dare you. You will learn to sit in the silence, to wait for a response without yourself waiting to respond, and to be in the moment, fully present. Trust me, there is nowhere else you need to be. Every moment is precious, and if you can apply that lesson to other relationships in your life, I think David will be very proud.

Until David got sick, I thought he was a Mission Continues Platoon Leader. I admired him deeply, appreciated him, and genuinely enjoyed my time with him and his family. I know now that he was MY platoon leader, and has taught me more than I ever realized, and he is teaching me still.

At The Mission Continues, we borrow a phrase from the military- “Charlie Mike”. Pulling from the phonetic “C” and “M”, it stands for “continue the mission”, something David does every single day.

So David, Charlie Mike, brother. I’d follow you anywhere, and I promise to continue our mission for as long as God grants me the time.