Coast veteran with past marked by addiction, incarceration speaks out to encourage perseverance

VANCLEAVE, Miss. (WLOX) - A veteran with a past marked by addiction, incarceration and loss is sharing his message of hope with people struggling to overcome similar setbacks.

Ricky Johnson Jr. has stood in places many never imagine - prisons, courtrooms and even treatment centers.

“You don’t have to be great from the beginning, but you must begin to become great,” Johnson Jr. said.

He stood in front of a crowd at Home of Grace in Vancleave to share his story in hopes that others would follow his path.

“I’m just here to share my story of recovery and resiliency with the men that are in attendance; I’m just trying to give back to them the gift that was given to me, and that’s the gift of hope,” he said.

Johnson Jr. is a Marine Corps veteran who served for five years. In stark contrast, he also served time in prison. He’s also a three-time convicted felon whose past is riddled with substance abuse and trauma.

Instead of hiding his history, he uses it as the foundation of his work.

“I believe that connection saves lives, and love is in lives. I get a lot of positive feedback because even if a person can’t relate to what I’m going through, they may know somebody that can,” Johnson Jr. said. “So my approach is with transparency, empathy and compassion, and it just lets them know that they’re not alone and I’m in the fight with them.”

Over the last several years, he’s delivered more than 600 presentations across the country, including schools, jails, and even treatment facilities.

His blend of life experience, military service and professional training has earned him recognition for his work in mental health advocacy, especially among men.

“It’s very important because a lot of times as men, we struggle with asking for help; we tend to feel like nobody can relate to us and that we’re the only one going through it, and isolation can be a very dangerous place to be, so that’s why I’m so open about my life, to let other men know that, you know, you’re not alone; I can relate to you.”

His journey from adversity to advocacy reminds audiences that their past does not have to define their future.

“I have the mindset of ‘I choose serving you over me.’ I’m free from my own mind by becoming the source that I seek, so being able to come out here and give my time to them, I gain peace, strength and value from that.”

Following the new year, Johnson plans to return to his home state of Missouri for a speaking tour.

To learn more about Johnson Jr.’s story, visit his Facebook page.

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