It is that time of year again when we at Stack Up get ready to really let our geek flag fly! We are busily getting ready for our next Air Assaults trip to San Diego Comic Con!
Each year thousands of geeks flock to the sunny shores of San Diego to partake in all things, nerd! Geek culture will be on full display from comics and games, film and TV, cosplay and more.
It is five days celebrating what we all love and Stack-Up is bringing along some amazing Veterans as Air Assaults to join in on all the fun! Keep reading to learn a bit more about these awesome Vets and their love of comics!
Tyson Kuhlenbeck Favorite Video Game Franchises/Studios/Publishers: 343 Industries (Halo), Bungie (Destiny), Respawn (Titanfall /Apex Legends) Favorite Twitch/Mixer Streamers: Shroud, Summit1g, Dr. Disrespect, Smitten
I joined the Army six days after my 17th birthday in 2005 into the national guard. I was assigned to be a 96D (Imagery analyst) but ended up moving to Louisville KY and was given the opportunity to be a crypto-linguist with 20th SFG. I got to DLI and met Ethan Ward 13 years ago and have been a Drinkin Bros nerd for almost 4 years now.
I did 4 tours with 20th group. As a SOT-A attached to an ODA team and supported them in the field. I left 20th in 2014 and went to work for a number of contracting firms in Afghanistan and abroad. I am a ranger qualified, airborne air assault bred man who simply loves video games because it was the only escape for me for a long time.
I play Destiny with a lot of the drinking bros and Stack up replaced my Xbox when it was on its way out. They also gave me some comics from my favorite video game studio 343 Industries who make halo currently. I have played video games since Vectorman on the sega genesis and God willing one day will play with my grandchildren.
Alec Harbeitner Favorite Video Game Franchises/Studios/Publishers: 7 Days to Die, ARK, Divinity 2, Borderlands, Witcher, Destiny, Bungie Favorite Twitch/Mixer Streamers: Critical Role
I joined the Army in Oct 2006 as a 33W Military Intelligence Systems Maintainer/Integrator. After completing training, I was designated to be an unmanned aerial vehicle maintainer and stationed in Fort Lewis, WA. While at Fort Lewis I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009.
After that, I was stationed down in Fort Hood, TX where I deployed to Iraq in 2011. I left active duty in July of 2013 and spent another year and a half in the reserves upon which time I got out of the army entirely in Oct of 2014.
After the military, I went to college at Cleveland State University for a degree in Computer and Information Science. Two years into college I met a man that owned a small programming company, Bomzy Apps, in Lakewood, Ohio that offered me a job to write cell phone games and applications. I worked at Bomzy Apps while finishing my degree and am currently still working there.
Gaming and comics have always had a big impact on my life growing up and still to this day. They both provide a way to experience endless possibilities and worlds to explore whether with friends or by yourself. I have recently started to be a Dungeon Master for groups that I run through Dungeons and Dragons and comics and games have really helped me build tools to give the players better experiences and sessions, whether it be the need for good characters or a well thought out plot line or two to follow.
Kenneth Doyle Favorite Video Game Franchises/Studios/Publishers: Marvel, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Batman Favorite Twitch/Mixer Streamers: None
I joined the U.S. Army in September 2009 and in November 2010 I was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC as an EOD tech. In January 2012 I was deployed to Afghanistan attached to 1st Special Forces Group as their personal EOD team.
On August 15, 2012, my team leader and I were hit with an IED while conducting a post-blast analysis in a local village. I spent 2 years recovering at Walter Reed Military Hospital before I medically retired in August of 2014.
Now I live in Morganton, NC with my wife and three children. My wife and I run a small non-profit organization, called Warriors at Home, with the mission of preventing and eliminating veteran and caregiver suicide.
I am also going back to school working towards my Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling to further help the veteran community.
These Veterans couldn’t be more ready to hit the ground in sunny California for some geeky goodness!
Make sure to stand by as we will have some amazing pictures and video after the event to share with all of you. You can also follow us on Twitter to keep up with all the action all weekend long!