Music has always played an important role in Sal Gonzalez’s life. He grew up in the impoverished neighborhood of East Los Angeles, and as a teenager, music kept him out of trouble. So did his decision to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. “That tragedy inspired me to join the military,” says Sal. “The fact that I come from a family of immigrants also made me want to join. I wanted to give back for all this country has given us.” Sal enlisted in the infantry and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. In 2004, he was a machine gunner in Ramadi, Iraq, when his truck was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED). The blast left Sal with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ultimately caused him to lose his left leg below the knee. “Losing a leg is tough,” says Sal. “But the invisible wounds — PTSD and the brain injury — were even tougher.”

While he was still in a Maryland hospital, Sal received a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) backpack full of comfort items and a promise that if he needed anything, WWP would be there to help. That gesture meant a lot to Sal, and once he got out of the hospital, he decided to get more involved. One of his first events with WWP was a multi- day mental health workshop called Project Odyssey® — and it changed his life. Despite his injury, he was able to rock climb with the group; and it proved he could still do anything he set his mind to.

“Wounded Warrior Project helped change my whole mentality,” says Sal. “Instead of feeling sorry for myself and letting the loss of my fellow marines consume me, I wanted to thrive. Iwanted to live a happy, important, impactful life in memory of the warriors who didn’t make it home.”

With WWP by his side, Sal set out to help as many warriors as possible by sharing his experience and encouraging them to seek help. He also continued playing music — not only to process his own emotions and continue his recovery, but also to inspire other injured veterans to continue living their lives.

“Having music as a tool for my recovery, I was able to let go of a lot of pain,” says Sal. “It kept me going. It’s my life. It’s who I am, and I want to show other warriors that it’s possible to follow your dreams and be normal.”

Sal remains grounded in his passion to help other warriors, even as his music career hits new highs. His first EP, “Heroes,” was released in 2020, he debuted at the Grand Ole’ Opry in 2024, and he’s currently on the verge of releasing his first full-length album. While many musicians strive to become famous, Sal is happy with his life right now.

“I get to play music for a living,” says Sal. “I’m able to support my awesome wife and kids by doing something I love. For most musicians, that’s living the dream.”