Dean Carter Jr.

DJ was the first born to Michelle and Dean Carter, followed by two siblings; a brother named Darren and the baby of the family being his little sister Brielle. DJ was always a pretty fit kid and his grades were pretty good, he wasn't a dumb kid. He grew up rough housing with his brother and the two had a pretty good relationship. So much so that when DJ decided he was going to enlist in the marines, his brother wanted to as well. Being a soldier wasn't something DJ always wanted to be, in fact it was far from what he wanted. As a kid he was always incredibly artistic, and had been in advanced art classes in school. He was always incredibly self conscious of his work though. He had an incredibly close relationship with his art teacher Ms. Givens. She was the only one he felt comfortable enough showing his art, not even his own family. She greatly encouraged him to go to Art School, and he did once he graduated high school... But college wasn't for him. His friend, Joel McKinley was enlisting in the marines and something about that was appealing to the Carter. He always had a fascination for the military, since he and his brother was younger and he was always a very fit guy... So he decided to give it a shot.

DJ soon found out that the real discipline for a Marine was mental, learning how to tough things out and be tougher than the enemy. He was eventually deployed as a machine gunner, and he did plenty of missions alongside his best friend. Darren eventually enlisted soon after as well, though the two never worked together on the field. DJ enjoyed his job, he loved doing something important and that mattered. Well, he did up until one day if Afghanistan. Being the lead machine gunner and first squad leader, DJ's staff sergeant knew he had a lot of experience and asked where they should place everyone in the convoy. DJ placed himself in the first vehicle, knowing that it was the most dangerous position as it would hit an IED(Improvised Explosive Device) first. He placed Joel and a few other people he considered friends - Alexander Martinez, and Miranda Clark in the last vehicle, figuring they'd be safer. He was wrong.

It was early in the morning when they hit an IED while traveling down one of the roads. It didn't explode under the first truck, the one DJ was in. Instead it exploded under the last vehicle. Miranda was killed instantly. Alexander was thrown from the turret and landed on the ground, both of his legs shattered. Joel, somehow wasn't killed instantly. Immediately, the rest of the team quickly created a 360-degree safe zone around the convoy so that the injured could be medevaced. DJ held onto his best friend's hand tightly as he laid in the dirt road. There was blood everywhere and screams filling the air. With tear stung eyes, he told Joel to hang in there that he would be okay, help was on the way. No, he didn't just tell him he demanded it. He wasn't allowed to go, he couldn't die. Joel could barely speak, his body covered in severe burns and blood. The solider tried to grab at the necklace around his neck and DJ quickly pulled it off of him, to put it in his hand - in between both of their palms as he just gripped him tightly. Joel's eyes fluttered open and shut, as he tried to fight through it and DJ saw the moment the life left his eyes. He felt the moment his body went limp. The Marine tried to stay strong, but he broke into a million pieces and then - boom - there was another explosion.

As the smoke cleared and the ringing in his ears stopped, DJ looked around. Two more soldiers were gone, and he didn't know how many was injured, including himself. As enemy forces raided their safe area, DJ threw himself over Alexander Martinez who was still alive. They shot DJ multiple times, and before they could do more reinforcements showed. DJ laid there on top of Alexander, the pain was insane but DJ was content. He protected his fellow soldier, friend, and even if that meant his life... He was okay with it. He let go... It was time to leave this world.

Or so he thought. DJ woke up in the hospital, confused. The doctors told him that he was a miracle, that he would've been dead but somehow every bullet managed to miss any vital organs. But that wasn't right, DJ was shot so many times... There was no way, even if it were possible the blood loss should've killed him. The staff just told him to not question a miracle, and be glad he was alive. Everyone called him a hero. But he wasn't, he was just a man doing what he was supposed to do 0 serve his country.

Alexander was also hospitalized, and DJ managed to see him while admitted. He was in extreme pain but DJ had faith he could make it through. Sadly, Alexander's injuries were too extreme on his body and pain medication wasn't working. He died of a heart attack. Being one of the only survivors of his squad, DJ felt lost and survivor's guilt began to eat him alive. He blames himself for what happened, because he was the one who decided on the positions that day in Afghanistan. He wasn't strong enough to save them.

DJ was in the hospital for a while and because of it, he missed his best friend's funeral which ate him up even more. When given his belongings, he found the necklace that belonged to Joel. Somehow he was gripping it when the second bomb went off. He lifted the necklace and saw that it was an angel's wing with the words "come home soon" engraved on the back. It took everything in the man not to break down.

DJ now is on his way back home to Willow Creek, to his parent's house. He's suffering with PTSD from the war and survivor's guilt. He's put three metal tags on his boots, attached to the laces and each are carved with the last names of the three friends he lost. McKinley. Clark. Martinez.