Iaian Thompson was born and raised in Fredericksburg Virginia , and joined the Army after high school to support his new new, growing family. During his time in the military he served a Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic, and Recovery Vehicle Operator, deploying to Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2004-2005 and east Ramadi, Iraq in 2006. Because Iaian was not the best mechanic, he spent most of his time focusing on Infantry Common Tasks, and route clearance missions with a combined service, Explosive Ordinance Disposal team. After an arduous and taxing deployment to Ramadi, Iaian became attached to the 101st Airborne Division Band and became the founding member of “NUTS!”, the Division’s infamous rock band, and deployed two more times to Afghanistan. In 2012 Iaian reclassified his MOS to become and Army Musician, and became the First MOS Army Vocalist , first Army Vocal Instructor, and wrote the training doctrine for Army Vocalists while he was an instructor at the Army School of Music, at Joint Base Fort Story/Little Creek, Virginia. After retiring from the Army, Iaian went through some of the toughest times in his life, struggling with his PTSD symptoms, a TBI, and losing his ability to walk without assistance. After nearly a decade without much sleep, and losing his family of seven children, he began spending time in silence, getting back to his roots, and learning about trees, nature, the value of silence, and began going for daily “walks” until he could walk, and eventually jog unassisted. Though he has a significant limp, Iaian is now ambulatory, and understands the plight of the veteran with PTSD at an intensely personal level. He went on to become Founder of the Guild of veteran artisans and owner of Dirty Leg Craftsman Enterprises L.L.C., two organizations helping to encourage veterans in their creative work. Iaian currently resides in Elizabethtown, Kentucky with his wife, Keely, and his four step children.