13 minutes | Sunday, 1 February 2026
On this Warrior Wednesday with Chad Ray, we honor the service and leadership of Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Justin Mayes, a 21-year U.S. Army veteran whose career was shaped by duty, adaptability, and people-first leadership. Raised in Wichita Falls, Texas, Justin’s path to service began in high school as he watched the events of 9/11 unfold, eventually leading him to enlist while in college. What started as a short-term plan quickly became a career marked by rapid deployments, global service, and constant movement. Justin served as a reservist, deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, worked at Walter Reed, and later transitioned into the Active Guard Reserve program. His longest and favorite assignment was with the 412th Theater Engineer Command in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where strong teamwork and camaraderie carried his unit through the challenges of COVID. Justin retired out of Fort Hood with the 120th Infantry Brigade, helping certify Guard and Reserve units for overseas deployments. Now serving the community through the City of Abilene’s Human Resources Department, Justin continues his mission by supporting veteran hiring and workforce development—proof that service doesn’t end with the uniform.