Nathan Havice: Veteran of the Month | January 2026
Nathan Havice grew up in a small town in the Pacific Northwest called Oakridge, Oregon. He was raised with two brothers and two sisters, with family now living across the Northwest, Vermont, and Nova Scotia, Canada. As a child, Havice stated, “I was always outside,” and spent much of his time fishing, hiking, biking, and camping.
Havice enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in June 1996 and attended boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, California. After boot camp, he completed training at the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California, which is no easy task. Marine Corps infantry is widely considered one of the most physically and mentally demanding roles in the USMC. Havice then went through Marine Corps Security Forces (MCSF) Training, which focuses on advanced infantry skills necessary for guarding high-security assets. In the Marine Corps, he served as an 0311 Infantryman, a role he chose, working with Security Forces to protect nuclear weapons storage facilities.
After completing four years of service during peacetime, Havice separated from the military. Following the events of September 11, he felt a strong calling to return to service. At the time, the Marine Corps was not accepting prior service members, but the U.S. Army was. Havice enlisted and continued his military career without hesitation, stating, “I signed up and never looked back.”
In the U.S. Army, Havice chose to serve as an 88N Transportation Coordinator. Over the course of his career, he held multiple roles, including Infantryman, Transportation Coordinator, and Inspector General. His responsibilities ranged from guarding sensitive assets to participating in humanitarian efforts in Bosnia and Kosovo to planning and coordinating the transportation of personnel and equipment to destinations worldwide. In his role with the Inspector General, he helped fellow soldiers understand military regulations and ensured those regulations were applied correctly.
Havice deployed multiple times in support of global operations. He was deployed to Kosovo for six months, completed two tours in Afghanistan—one lasting a year and another lasting nine months—and served a 15-month tour in Iraq. His campaigns include the Kosovo Campaign, three Afghanistan Campaigns, and two Iraq Campaigns. His service and leadership were recognized with numerous awards, including two Bronze Stars and three Meritorious Service Medals. Havice shared, “I am one of the lucky ones that was able to serve in two branches of the service. I loved both equally. Both branches are experts in what they do. I am honored to have worn both uniforms.”
After retiring from the military in November 2018, Havice, a married father of six, settled in Missouri. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Transportation and Logistics Management and continues his career in logistics as the Logistics Manager for PLZ Corp in Pacific, Missouri.
Reflecting on the impact of his military service on his civilian life, Nathan shared, “The biggest thing I learned is give your best effort in everything you try to accomplish, and trust the people around you to do the same. Camaraderie is just as important after service as it is during the service.”
Veterans Care Coordination is proud to recognize Nathan Havice for his decades of service to our country. We are privileged to have the opportunity to share the stories of our nation’s heroes. Thank you for your service, Nathan.
