Nathan Handrich

Hi, my name is Nathan Handrich. I’m 27 years old and from a small town in Northern Michigan. I am the oldest of three siblings, with two younger sisters. I graduated from Fairview Area Schools in 2017.

I don’t come from a military family, but serving has always been something I wanted to do since I was a kid. At 17, I went to MEPS and committed to joining the United States Marine Corps after graduation. I wanted to be part of the toughest branch there was—and for me, that meant becoming a Marine.

I enlisted in August 2017 and served until July 2021, completing four years as an Infantry Marine.

In my opinion, every man should experience military service. It was eye-opening and gave me a deep appreciation for how fortunate we are to live in the United States. Beyond that, the people you meet become lifelong brothers. During my service, I formed bonds with men I would do anything for. I also lost a few along the way to accidents and other circumstances—something you never forget. You carry their memory with you forever.

If I were asked whether I would do it all over again, my answer would be 100% yes—every single time.

While serving, I married my wife in 2020. We welcomed our first son in 2023 and our second son in 2025. Today, I work in construction alongside a fellow Marine Corps veteran.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, hunting, and fishing. I’ve also started doing taxidermy, which has become a passion of mine.