When those who wish to tear down our military by portraying them as only in it because of benefits, college tuition, and because they have no other options in life, they should keep in mind the quality of the character of those who are brave enough to take to heart such words as: Honor, Duty, Courage.
Iraq vet wins scratch-off jackpot, still plans to serve third tour
Lots of lottery winners announce they’re quitting the workforce as soon as they get their hands on the prize money.
That’s not the case with Wayne Leyde.
The 26-year-old, who won $1 million when he scratched off a ticket Tuesday near his home in Mead, Wash., tells ABC News that he plans to park his winnings in the bank and volunteer for a third tour in Iraq.
“When I was laying in bed last night I spent all the money in my head about 40 times,” Leyde tells the folks at Washington’s Lottery. “Then I thought better of it and started to think who I’d give it to. Finally I decided that I’m just going to invest it and spend some time thinking about what I want.”
A former fetus, the “wordsmith from nantucket” was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968. Adopted at birth, wordsmith grew up a military brat. He achieved his B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (graduating in the top 97% of his class), where he also competed rings for the UCLA mens gymnastics team. The events of 9/11 woke him from his political slumber and malaise. Currently a personal trainer and gymnastics coach.
The wordsmith has never been to Nantucket.
Heh. Hope he has good financial advice. I’m wondering…normally about half of that would go to taxes…if he delayed the pay out, then left for Iraq, then arranged for the pay-out to occur while deployed, he _might_ get the whole kit and caboodle. Not positive – tax laws have _lots_ of fine print…but … maybe….
Hope he gets someone in the know to help him explore the options!
Suek,
The income tax free pay only applies to military pay (and even then, only up to a certain amount). He still pays the full tax amount on the $1mil.
Yeah, the Government will get a big chunk, and he should do it now before a person like Obama gets in and pretty much takes it all….for the common good.
>>The income tax free pay only applies to military pay (and even then, only up to a certain amount). He still pays the full tax amount on the $1mil.>>
Well darn. It would have been nice…! Still…more in his pocket than he walked in with!
It’s not the individuals who make up the military that are the problem. It’s the vast scale of the military as a whole that needs to be reigned in. Why spend more than the whole of the rest of the world put together?America can’t be that scared.