Gracie Wheeler may be only five foot four but she is planting her two feet on the ground as a proud patriot ready to serve our country.
Wheeler graduated this year from North Duplin High School and started boot camp with the Marines over the summer. The now 19 year-old was once shy and overcame her life on the sidelines to serve the front lines.
Wheeler’s mother, Chastity Carrion, served in the Army for 8 years and was stationed at Fort Bragg for the North Carolina National Guard.
“I got out to be a mom. That’s where my story of military service ended but I’m excited for my daughter’s military service to begin,” said Carrion.
Wheeler was unsure if she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps or head to college. She came home one day and talked to her mom and said that she would prefer the military over attending university. She met with an Army recruiter and did not feel connected. Next, she talked to a Marine recruiter at 17 and was blown away.
“As a mom, I was fully supportive of it but it kind of just took me by surprise,” said Carrion.