Community Treasure Chest
by Heather Kehrli-Krug - 11/10/19
Sgt. Yvette Figueroa, Marine Corps Sgt. Yvette Figueroa Wiederhold, or “Fig,” grew up in Cicero, Illinois, knowing deep in her heart, there was something more in life. After graduating high school, she yearned to see the world and “get as far away from the little town,” which bordered the bullet-ridden streets of Chicago, as she could. “The farthest I had traveled was Michigan and Wisconsin.” Figueroa entered the Marines in 1990. Not knowing what she was capable of, the Marines told her she was naturally inclined in engineering, and she became a basic diesel engine mechanic, studying at the Engineer school in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina.
“After graduating from boot camp and being shipped off to North Carolina for Basic Engineer School, I volunteered at the base Marina,” said Fig. There, she discovered a lifestyle she had never imagined. At the Marina, she learned how to drive a speedboat, pull water skiers, water ski, jet ski, and she became professionally licensed to conduct these activities. Fig’s experiences facilitated both her professional and personal growth. “When I entered the Marine Corp, I didn’t even have a driver’s license. I had never been in the ocean, and I absolutely fell in love with this whole new world that was opened to me,” she said. Fig served for eight years, completing four years of active duty, then four more years of inactive, regular service. Her Marine Corp training not only prepared her for battle, but also laid the foundation in her life to become a hero in her community, where she serves as a pinnacle, building programs from the ground-up, facilitating community growth, and serving those in need of patient advocacy and veterans’ care.
From Courthouse Bay, North Carolina, to Okinawa, Japan, to Korea and California, Fig traveled the world, training with the very best. “Our Commanding Officer loved going to the field.” They participated in an array of jungle warfare and amphibious assault training, plus they played war games with the ROK (Republic of Korea) Marines, among many other training activities. “I got over my fear of heights, the dark, and the unknown,” noted Fig. “I don’t know when or how it happened, but I truly believed I could do anything! Why not me?”
 "THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS “NO” IF YOU DON’T ASK!" - Fig With a can-do attitude, Fig learned one of her most valuable life lessons: The answer is always ‘no’ if you don’t ask! Every week, Fig found herself in the midst of doing something extraordinary and out-of-the-box, just by asking. “In Korea, I got to fly on
a helicopter to Seoul to go shopping. In Coronado Bay, I asked a Navy Seal for a ride on his Zodiak in the bay.” There, she visited with Navy training dolphins, in underwater explosive detection. “I can not tell you how many things I got to do just for asking,” said Fig. Fig also noted that although most who enroll in the military are concerned about their boot camp experience, it is what happens after boot camp that is the most important, “I lived an entire lifetime, during those 4 years of active duty. I am truly so grateful!” While serving her country as a Marine, Fig also became an advanced scuba diver, a nationally published photographer, and she was featured on the cover of the VA Color Guard magazine.  INTEGRITY AND RESPECT ARE EARNED.
While being a Marine was her greatest accomplishment, Fig also had the challenge of being a woman in a military man’s world; she was required to go above-and-beyond, proving herself by fighting harder, climbing higher, turning pain into a weakness. “Being a woman and going into the Marine Corps at that time was very hard, and different, and fighting a fight that I didn’t start. The older military men didn’t like us women.” However, after proving to her unit that she was just as hard and determined, things changed. “After my first year, I felt accepted, and these guys were proud of me. These men were truly my brothers.”
MARINES MAKE MARINES! Yvette Fig, her husband Jeremy Wiederhold, and their son, Jon, have all earned the titles of Marine Sgt.; Jon has also reenlisted as a combat videographer. “Since my children were born, (my intentions were that) they were all going in the Marine Corps, but my oldest daughter is pursuing a career as a first responder and wants to be a nurse. I’m so proud of her for knowing herself enough to go for it. Now, my youngest, is mean and green,” says Fig, whose excitement resounds in her voice, as she describes her hopes for her family to join the Marine Corp.
 Fig has worked in a variety of roles since re-entering civilian life, but the one role that has never changed is that of a dedicated mom and Marine. In addition to working at the VA in the past, Fig also volunteered on the Reno, Nevada VA Veterans Guest House, and she was instrumental in joining others as a volunteer for the Veterans Guest House Grand Opening in Reno, Nevada.
“Yvette is hard-working, strong, fearless, talented, beautiful, funny, caring and supportive,” said her sister, Bridget Bishop.
When not helping other veterans or those in need of hospice, Fig will be honoring American veterans via grassroots efforts in the Community Treasure Chest Music With a Message project, in addition to continuing her arduous work in Northern Nevada. One of Fig’s dreams is to see a Veterans Guest House in every state across America, like the model non-profit program established in Reno, Nevada. Fig’s talents, training, and education that she gained in the Marine Corps launched her success in serving as a pinnacle for needy Americans in Northern Nevada. “I didn’t know that veterans had federal government employment preference. I had no idea all the benefits that were available to me, as a Veteran,” she said. Fig utilized many of her military skills to successfully enter civilian life— from running a Facilities Department at the Chicago Branch of Whittman- Hart, to managing an IT education consulting center, Fig eventually found her true calling while working with oncology, in the specialty clinics at the VA. “Hospice is an under-utilized medicare benefit. The right to decide quality over quantity, and die with comfort and dignity, is the right of every American.” Fig currently serves as Director of Operations for Community Hospice of Northern Nevada, the only pediatric hospice care in Northern Nevada. She embodies ‘Semper Fi,’ always faithful, always loyal! Sgt. Yvette Figueroa is a true American Hero, making the world a better place through her service and shining as an exemplary role model of American strength, accomplishment, tenacity, and an undying love for her country! www.VeteransGuestHouse.ORG The Veterans Guest House was founded in the early 1990s when two Reno veterans, Chuck Fulkerson and Dick Rhyno, realized that veterans and family members were sleeping in their cars while visiting the local Veterans Administration Medical Center; the needy veterans didn’t have the money or resources for a hotel, and their local VA was more than a hundred miles away. Since 2004, the Guest House provided nearly 60,000 guest nights of lodging to veterans and their families. In addition, to date, the original “Spouse House” provided close to 10,000 nights of lodging, bringing the total to over 70,000 veterans and family members served. The need continues to grow as more American veterans and their families require medical treatment. With the more recent military actions, such as Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the ongoing military service, the Guest House will be needed for years to come. The non-profit, 501c3 organization’s dream is to have a Veterans Guest House in every state across America.

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Community Treasure Chest