Rocky Caylor Helps Area Veterans

Early in 2017, Ever Saenz had no idea how his life’s trajectory would be helped by Rocky Caylor, now a candidate for Naperville Mayor. Saenz, a Master Sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserves, recalls the time, “I was just back from deployment.” By that summer, Saenz was starting a new career in a different field.

Saenz joined the United States Marine Corps in 1994, and served 4 years on active duty. In 1998, he left active duty to continue serving in the Marine Reserves. Over the years, Saenz has been deployed abroad four times, including to Iraq (2004), Africa, South Korea, and, most recently, Central America. Back home as a reservist, he had a non-military career in the Northwest Suburbs.

In January 2017, Saenz had returned from a year of deployment in Central America and was out-processing at Camp Lejeune. “They told me about Marines for Life,” Saenz recalled. The Marine for Life Network helps Marines and their families adapt to the civilian world.

Following his return home, Saenz retired in April 2017 from his previous career, and was looking for something new and rewarding. “I talked to the Marine for Life program, and they put me in touch with Rocky. They said, ‘he helps vets with job placement.’”

“Rocky met me for breakfast in the Northwest suburbs, far from his work in Joliet. He was so willing to help out. He asked me about my background, and learned that I had worked in different areas while in the military.” Based on that, Rocky and Saenz discussed changing to a new career, one that Saenz found exciting.

“Rocky called around to his contacts in the field, and found a match for me.” Soon after that, Saenz had an interview and a new career. And Rocky’s help didn’t end there. “Rocky continues to call and check up on me.”

Rocky’s Years in the Marines

Rocky Caylor’s dedication to service began with his own service in the Marine Corps. After graduating from high school in Castleton, Indiana, Rocky followed his grandfather’s service in the Army and father’s in the Navy by joining the Marines.

Rocky’s honorable service in the Marines began with the 1st Battalion 9th Marines, and continued with the Marine Barracks, Washington D.C., the elite post known as “8th and I”. Rocky served 3 years in D.C., where his responsibilities included ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, cordons at the White House, and assisting the Secret Service with security. In his final year in the Marines, Rocky served as instructor with the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa’s Northern Training Area.

Service to Vets

Years after his active duty in the Marines, Rocky continues to give back to veterans, through the Marine for Life Network and many other programs.

Rob Sprague, a retired Marine Corps officer and Naperville resident, also met Rocky through Marines for LIfe. “Rocky is always there to help people, no matter the age or situation,” Sprague recently emphasized. “There is nothing in it for Rocky. He just likes to help people.”

In 2012, Rocky received a letter of appreciation from Major Matt Tune, for his “incredible service and dedication to our Marine Corps Veterans.” Tune, now retired from active duty, recently said, "I've known Rocky for over ten years and I don't know any other person in Chicagoland that has done more to assist our veterans than he has… He’s the selfless type of leader that puts the interests of others before his own.”

In 2013, Rocky was awarded the “Director’s Award” from the Illinois State Crime Commission for his service to veterans, an award that Rocky has said he cherishes.

Which brings us back to MSgt Ever Saenz, USMCR. Asked the one thing about Rocky that stays with him, Saenz said, “what Rocky promises, he follows through with. Rocky told me that he’d find me a new career. That’s what he did.”

To read MSgt Saenz’s and Matt Tune’s statements about Rocky, see Rocky’s campaign website at https://www.rockyformayor.com/supporters/.