John Hamilton

Also, your brain. Gunners like Wilcox and Lozano place their heads just inches from the explosion that propels a missile or rocket from its launch tube. The blast creates a pressure wave strong enough to kill anyone standing directly behind the weapon, and there's growing evidence that repeated exposure to these blast waves can damage the brain. Hi, I'm John. Ah!

Also, your brain. Gunners like Wilcox and Lozano place their heads just inches from the explosion that propels a missile or rocket from its launch tube. The blast creates a pressure wave strong enough to kill anyone standing directly behind the weapon, and there's growing evidence that repeated exposure to these blast waves can damage the brain. Hi, I'm John. Ah!

Wilcox lives in southern Virginia with his wife Cynthia and their dog Leah. His mementos from the military include a single-use launch tube about three feet long.

Wilcox lives in southern Virginia with his wife Cynthia and their dog Leah. His mementos from the military include a single-use launch tube about three feet long.

Wilcox lives in southern Virginia with his wife Cynthia and their dog Leah. His mementos from the military include a single-use launch tube about three feet long.

Wilcox fired lots of anti-tank weapons after joining the Marines in 1992, especially during one training exercise at 29 Palms in the California desert.

Wilcox fired lots of anti-tank weapons after joining the Marines in 1992, especially during one training exercise at 29 Palms in the California desert.

Wilcox fired lots of anti-tank weapons after joining the Marines in 1992, especially during one training exercise at 29 Palms in the California desert.

The headaches began when Wilcox moved from Camp Lejeune to Quantico in Virginia. They kept getting worse even after he left the firing ranges to become a computer systems specialist.

The headaches began when Wilcox moved from Camp Lejeune to Quantico in Virginia. They kept getting worse even after he left the firing ranges to become a computer systems specialist.

The headaches began when Wilcox moved from Camp Lejeune to Quantico in Virginia. They kept getting worse even after he left the firing ranges to become a computer systems specialist.

In 2000, Wilcox moved to the private sector. Despite the headaches, he thrived. Fast forward to 2014. Wilcox and some friends go to Penn State for homecoming. They're watching a band. Wilcox feels a headache coming on.

In 2000, Wilcox moved to the private sector. Despite the headaches, he thrived. Fast forward to 2014. Wilcox and some friends go to Penn State for homecoming. They're watching a band. Wilcox feels a headache coming on.

In 2000, Wilcox moved to the private sector. Despite the headaches, he thrived. Fast forward to 2014. Wilcox and some friends go to Penn State for homecoming. They're watching a band. Wilcox feels a headache coming on.

His brain was bleeding. The cause? A tangle of abnormal blood vessels called an arteriovenous malformation, or AVM. The condition sends high-pressure blood from the arteries directly into fragile veins, which can leak or burst. Wilcox recalls an ambulance ride to a local hospital, then a helicopter ride to the medical center in Hershey.

His brain was bleeding. The cause? A tangle of abnormal blood vessels called an arteriovenous malformation, or AVM. The condition sends high-pressure blood from the arteries directly into fragile veins, which can leak or burst. Wilcox recalls an ambulance ride to a local hospital, then a helicopter ride to the medical center in Hershey.

His brain was bleeding. The cause? A tangle of abnormal blood vessels called an arteriovenous malformation, or AVM. The condition sends high-pressure blood from the arteries directly into fragile veins, which can leak or burst. Wilcox recalls an ambulance ride to a local hospital, then a helicopter ride to the medical center in Hershey.

Emergency surgery removed the AVM and probably saved his life.

Emergency surgery removed the AVM and probably saved his life.

Emergency surgery removed the AVM and probably saved his life.