Brave, loving, joyful, resilient, dedicated, badass
Les was “a devoted father, a brave soldier, and a man who faced his struggles with courage,” his daughter, Camryn stated. A joyful spirit with an infectious goofiness, Les brought smiles and warmth to those around him, even as he quietly carried the heaviness of war and addiction.
At 17, Les, an Eagle Scout, enlisted and began his military career in the United States Marine Corps. After his service in the Marines, he became a licensed pilot and later joined the Army Reserves as a Green Beret serving multiple tours in Afghanistan. He earned numerous awards, including the Purple Heart.
Les’s proudest and most treasured role was being dad to his daughter, Camryn. They cherished every moment together-vacations, holidays, and even ordinary days that brought lots of love, laughter, and connection. “He was joyful, brave, and goofy,” Camryn recalls. “He brought light even when he was struggling.”
For over two decades, Les looked for solutions to treat his PTSD and mental illness, left from the trauma of combat. His struggle with substance use disorder (SUD), eventually contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to Camryn’s mother. Still, he persisted in reaching out to other veterans, becoming a mentor to them.
His family remembers the challenges of loving someone with SUD, but Les always had their unwavering support and their love remained constant. Camryn was deeply affected by her father’s illness, which influenced her relationship with substances. She has courageously begun her own journey of recovery. Now newly sober, she honors Les’s legacy by telling his story, determined to help others in their recovery. “His struggles were hard on me,” she shares, “but his life—and the love he gave me—guides me forward. I want to help others because of him.”
Les passed away at 41, leaving behind a family who misses him deeply—his daughter Camryn, his parents Bobbie, and Lucy Thomas, and his sisters Heather Anne and Angela Kaye. His joyful spirit, his dedication to family and country, and the love he shared with those around him persists.
Les’s daughter, Camryn Thomas, provided the information for this narrative.
September 9, 1977-August 6, 2019-Age 41
Portrait Artist: Clayton Conner
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
