Enlisting in the Marine Corps in 2009, Patrick “Pat” Duva was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines. While deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010, Pat was exposed to airborne toxins stemming from burn pits. After his EAS in 2013, Pat went on to major in history, studying and graduating from Monmouth College, but suffered from chronic back pain and headaches. Initially dismissed by the VA, it wasn’t until his vision began to degrade (blurred/Double Vision) that an eye doctor ordered an MRI and discovered Pat had two tumors on his brain and one on his spine. In June of 2019, Pat was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer. Following an aggressive battle with radiation and chemo therapy, 18 months later on November 5th, 2020 Pat passed away surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Pat is but one of an alarming rate of veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with illnesses caused by airborne toxins. Of the 4.2 Million service members who have volunteered following 9/11, 5,443 have died in combat; 1,554 have died during military service; but most alarming is that 100,580+ service members have died after military service - 92% of which have reported exposure to toxins from burn pits. Pat’s Purpose was formed to provide resources to assist veterans who may have similar experiences to Pats’

100% of proceeds from sales of ‘Pat’ are donated to Pat’s Purpose, a 501(3)(c) supporting veterans who are battling illness caused by exposures to toxins in foreign wars - in honor of Marine Corporal Patrick J. Duva.