Written by Karen Huffman
Nicholas Bertucci is no stranger to military, especially the United States Navy, as his great-grandfather, grandfather, father and numerous uncles all served honorably.
Bertucci would hear things growing up from his father like, “Nicky those were the best years of my life.” or “If I could go back and do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat, my son.”
Bertucci told himself that this was something he knew he had to do in order to keep the military aspect of life alive and thriving within his family.
His grandfather and father were both Navy Sailor Petty Officers serving in two different wars, Vietnam and World War II, and Bertucci followed suit serving time in Afghanistan.
Bertucci tells the story of his family, and how following “intense signals” led him down the path to a military life in his book, Rolling through Afghanistan.
Bertucci continued following those signals, and made the decision to enlist in the Navy after a recruiter ordered from him while working at a Subway in the food court of a mall while still in high school.
Bertucci recalled, “It was always hectic there and I hated it, but in the middle of all the craziness, a Navy recruiter approached to order.”
Bertucci knew it was a sign, and he needed to follow it, and he told the recruiter, “give me your business card, sign me up, I am joining.”
After telling his family and reassuring his mother that he would finish college, he spoke with his best friend James who gave him another sign.
“James must have known that I needed guidance,” he recalled. “He told to make sure and tell them that I wanted to be a Corpsman,and that ended up being a game changer.”
After researching what that meant, Bertucci realized that he would end up working as a Marine within the Navy, and was on his way to becoming a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman in the United States Navy.
Basically, Bertucci would be the medical personnel responsible for providing immediate medical care to garrison and forward-deployed Marines.
Boot camp, training and Corpsman school all happened next, and before long he was flown to Field Medical School.
Training was intense, according to Bertucci, but he was learning the basics of combat medicine and gaining knowledge about the Marine Corps as well.
After all the training was completed, Bertucci was attached to the 1st Marine Division Light Armored Recon, and was quickly deployed to Iraq.
“My heart dropped, this was the real deal,” Bertucci recalled. “I was now pondering how I was going to die in battle. I had so many questions, concerns, but not much time to process it all.”
Breaking this news to his family wasn’t easy, and he remembered calling his parents, but only wanted to talk to his father.
“I knew if I told my mom, she would have fell over her chair, and I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for that,” he said. “When I broke the news to my father, I could tell he was nervous, and he became my hero right then and there when he told me that I would be fine, I was strong and I was great. He told me to listen to my Marines and learn all I could. He said, ‘keep your head low, Sailor, you will come home safe’.”
Bertucci did just that, and went on to work in Iraq and Afghanistan, as a combat medic, and through this, followed more signs and signals to realize how he would function as a civilian after his military time was over.
After leaving the military, getting married and traveling the United States in a van, maintaining a successful Youtube channel about their travels, a divorce and dealing with PTSD, Bertucci landed in Arkansas.
He knew that helping others is what he was meant to do, especially helping veterans when they returned back to civilian life.
His own issues with having a “normal life” was something he had to overcome, and after spending eight years in the U.S. Navy, Bertucci decided that his first step was to realize that becoming a Naval Officer was no longer in his sights.
Bertucci‘s father helped him to file for disability compensation with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“At first I was hesitant,” he stated. “I felt that I didn’t deserve it, and admitting to pain or weakness isn’t easy either.”
Again, the signs were there for Bertucci when he started this chapter in his life. With the compensation from the VA, he was able to travel around the country and while doing so, he would visit his fellow and former Marines to check in on how they were doing. The trip wouldn’t have been complete without his chocolate lab, Toby.
“Toby endured every mile with me,” he said. “He is still with me today, following along everywhere I go.”
Known as ‘Doc’ to them, he decided to throw in some mentoring and urged them to seek help whether mentally or financially through the VA on his own accord.
“I would help them get on the right track to claim their military rights, and also have a chance to catch up and see them again,” he said.
Once Bertucci finished up his tour of seeing everyone he could see, he landed in Arkansas on a beautiful piece of land where it was just, quiet.
Bertucci also found a job working for the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs as a Veterans Service Officer.
“It was another dream come true for me,” he said. “My desire to aide and assist other veterans who struggled like I did, made me want to live to serve them.”
Not only did he help veterans with financial and metal assistance, Bertucci would also started working with the Arkansas Wounded Warriors Program and would conduct outdoor excursions. He was able to relate to other combat veterans knowing that they all shared similar struggles.
From working outdoors, and having land to keep him busy, Bertucci has created a paradise in the woods for anyone and everyone to enjoy.
Bertucci‘s Country Cabin is located deep in the woods in Willifordand has everything from fishing, hunting, ATV riding or just sitting in front of the pond he created himself.
“I wanted a place for veterans to get away from it all and enjoy the sounds of nature,” he stated. “This place has kept me busy and keeps out the negative thoughts brought on by my military past.”
Bertucci has put his hand on every aspect of the resort, and wants everyone to enjoy the peace and tranquility he has created.
“I have found that creating this place has saved me,” he said. “It’s what keeps me going everyday, and I refuse to give in for the sake of negativity, and I want to be here for those who need me. I want to share what I initially created for myself to others who can be helped and healed by nature. The way to win the war within is to become something better.”
Bertucci will continue to add more fun to his resort, and if you would like to visit head to https://www.arcountrycabins.com/
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current membership chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.