ARANSAS PASS, Texas — This month, Smoke on the Water returns to Aransas Pass for its third year, blending barbecue, bands, and community, all in support of a deeper cause.

Behind the smoke and celebration is Marine Corps veteran Douglas Gresenz, founder of the Redford Ranch Foundation, whose journey from combat to crisis to healing is at the heart of it all.

From Service to Struggle

Gresenz’s story begins in 2006, when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, following in the footsteps of his father. A year later, he deployed to Haqlaniyah, Iraq, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Like many veterans, his toughest battles came after returning home.

In 2013, Gresenz lost his best friend and Marine Corps brother, LCpl Christopher Harlan, to suicide, a turning point that would shape

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