Click on a photo to learn more about each of our candidates.
Manuel Villa, Iraq War Veteran
In the summer of 1998, after graduating from high school in Jacksonville Oklahoma, Manuel Villa enlisted in the army and began his basic and then advanced field artillery training at Fort Sill Oklahoma. For Manuel, who planned on at least a 20-year career in the military, this was just the first step in what had become a family tradition of military service. By April 2004, Manuel had completed additional training and tours of duty in both Korea and Iraq. Then, after completing Air Assault and Sergeant Schools at Fort Drum N.Y and with his unit planning a fall 2005 deployment to Afghanistan, Manuel married his wife Consuelo in February 2005. Just two weeks following their wedding Manuel and Consuelo’s dreams of his military career ended: he sustained disabling injuries in an automobile accident.
Today you will find Manuel living in Wichata Falls TX, still enjoying his lifelong love of the outdoors and passion for fishing, as he ventures out to lakes and rivers, with the support of his prosthetic leg. The accident left Manuel with multiple fractures, the loss of his leg above the left knee, a tracheotomy, ventral hernia and the loss of sight in his right eye. Yet with these injuries and more, Manuel counts himself fortunate to have returned from the dangerous duty in Iraq, without serious injury or causalities.
Assigned to the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry and entering Iraq on the heels of the initial 2003 invasion, Villa and his comrades narrowly escaped injury and death countless times. As surveyors, he and the others made numerous security trips in the infamous Sunni Triangle, destroying 6,000 pounds of explosives a day. They’d hear IED’s exploding within minutes of passing over the same spots in the road they’d travelled. Whether back at Camp Anachonda or sleeping in bombed out barracks, Manuel would often contemplate why he survived and so many others didn’t. Grateful for the life that he has, Manuel enjoys life with Consuelo and Delilah the Labrador Retriever, Clepa, the Chihuahua and Baby, the small red stray that joined them recently. After they move into their new house, Manual looks forward to possibly training in small engine repairs and continuing to enjoy lawn care, perhaps as a business.
Read article in Times Record News>>
Back to top
Lance Weir, Retired US Marine Corps Reservist
Lance currently resides in Oceanside , CA and is a principal liaison for CCI’s Veterans Initiative. He frequently visits the Wounded Warriors Battalion at Camp Pendleton and Navy Medical Center San Diego to share his personal story with talk about the benefits that can be derived from an assistance dog. Lance also serves as a Board Member for CCI.
Born on September 25, 1971, Lance Weir was raised in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Much of 
Lance’s childhood was spent running around on his grandparents’ 100 acre farm. From a young age, he began playing little league baseball and the summer before his senior year in high school, he was an assistant director and coached for the little league program where he played as a youth. At Walnut Ridge High School, Lance was a three year letterman in football, basketball, track and tennis.
After graduating from high school, Lance joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1990. After completing Boot Camp (in San Diego, CA), Marine Combat Training and Military Police Training, Lance worked for the Arkansas Department of Corrections as a Drill Instructor at the newly formed Boot Camp Program for first time offenders sentenced for ten years or less. Lance also enrolled in Arkansas State University but was unable to finish due to his accident on August 8, 1993 which resulted in quadriplegia at the C5-6 level. He spent the next several days in critical condition at the Med in Memphis, Tennessee and after eight months of rehabilitation, he was finally able to go home. Lance was 21 years of age at the time of his accident.
It took Lance a while to come to terms with his accident. In the three years that followed, he was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps as a Lance Corporal but was only able to complete one correspondence course towards his college degree due to the overwhelming physical and mental demands associated with his injury. Thankfully, his life turned a corner after a medical follow-up at Craig Rehabilitation in Denver, Colorado. It was there that he realized he had no right to feel sorry for himself after watching a young teenage boy who was unable to swat away a fly that had landed on his nose. Another breakthrough came when Lance learned how to drive a van modified for a quadriplegic. When Lance left Craig Rehab, he went back to Arkansas and enrolled at Black River Technical College where he received his Associate of Arts Degree and was Student Body President. From there he went on to get his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Williams Baptist College in May of 2005.
Lance’s spirit, determination, and perseverance to overcome the unique and challenging obstacles due to his injury is truly an inspiration. The Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and the Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities recognized Lance’s achievements by presenting him with the 2005 Arkansas Ability Award.
After receiving his Assistance Dog, Satine from Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) in Oceanside, California, Lance interviewed for a position within their organization.
When CCI offered Lance a job, he decided to make the big move from his home town of 4,500 to the seventh largest city in the country. Lance currently resides in Oceanside, CA and volunteers as CCI’s liaison to Camp Pendleton’s Wounded Warrior Facility.
Read more on Canine Companions for Independence>>