Everything Auburn Podcast: Wake for Warriors

After returning home from a tour in Afghanistan, retired U.S. Marine Corps pilot David Deep hit the throttle on a new mission — one that started with buying a boat.

“Getting on the water was my way of getting back into normal life,” Deep recalled.

For the Huntsville, Alabama native, watersports became more than just a hobby; it was therapy after 28 years of military service. Deep’s journey began at 18 years old when he enrolled in Auburn’s ROTC program.

“ROTC became my fraternity at Auburn,” he said.

By 1988, Deep had earned his degree in aviation management and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. From there, his career soared — logging over 250 combat flight hours during deployments to Somalia, the Persian Gulf and beyond.

“Honored to do it,” he said. “Met the greatest people you’d ever want to meet.”

Then came Sept. 11, 2001. Deep was back in action, flying Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopters in Afghanistan and supporting troops on the ground. When the dust finally settled, a new calling surfaced for the naval aviator.

After striking up a friendship with a fellow Marine who was a double amputee, Deep sought to share his passion for the water and wondered if someone without lower limbs could learn to wakeboard. The answer wasn’t just yes; it was life changing.

“It wasn’t about being on the water,” Deep said. “It was about the relationship we built. Traumatic experiences change the way you think about everything. Our priorities are totally different. Our outlook is different.”

Retired U.S. Marine Corps pilot and Auburn alumus David Deep (right) founded Wake for Warriors in 2012 – a powerful example of the Auburn spirit at work and living out the Auburn Creed.

Wake for Warriors hosts more than 50 multi-day events across the nation serving more than 600 veterans in over 20 states every year.

Wake for Warriors recently partnered with Auburn’s Adaptive Sports program, hosting Auburn’s Wheelchair Basketball team for a day of wakeboarding at nearby Lake Harding.

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That experience led Deep to start Wake for Warriors (WFW), a nonprofit grassroots movement that’s grown into a nationwide lifeline for injured veterans. Since its founding in 2012, the organization hosts more than 50 multi-day events across more than 20 states, serving over 600 veterans each year.

Through adaptive watersports, they’re not just riding waves — they’re rediscovering camaraderie, confidence and new purpose.

“It’s basically a gateway to connect veterans with each other,” Deep said.

Deep, who retired from the military in 2016, today serves as a first officer on the Airbus A350 with Delta Air Lines. Between international flights, he is hands-on in coordinating WFW events from his home in Salem, Alabama. He relies on a team of dedicated volunteers who lend their boats and their time, offering up their houses and even some delicious southern vittles.

“Breakfast is not a jelly roll or donuts,” Deep joked. “It’s 80-year-old ladies bringing in their custom grits and biscuits that have been blessed.”

Aside from catching waves, WFW retreats break down barriers and build new bonds for those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

“I tell them, ‘Don’ t be afraid to tell your story, because it might help somebody that may be behind you in their journey of healing,’” Deep said. “We’ re just creating an environment where you’re relaxed, you’ re loved and you’re cared about.”

U.S. Air Force veteran Tyler Densford joined Wake for Warriors in 2017 and discovered a new purpose.

Densford isn’t just riding wakeboards—he’s leading. Today, he serves as a Wake for Warriors board member, helping other veterans experience the same life-changing freedom he found.

Densford’s journey to recovery has even taken him to the spotlight. In 2021, Densford threw out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field using an Indego robotic exoskeleton given to him by a family member of the Cubs’s owners.

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Enter U.S. Air Force veteran Tyler Densford.         

The Olive Branch, Mississippi native served in the 155th Air Guard Unit in Memphis. In the summer of 2016, he fell 40 feet from a Blackhawk helicopter during a training mission. The accident paralyzed him from the chest down.

Months later, Densford arrived at a WFW event carrying more than physical scars. He was searching for hope and healing. Alongside his loyal service dog, Able, he discovered a new community who lifted him higher than any wake ever could.

“My life changed because of the impact that Wake for Warriors had on me,” Densford said. “Now I get to share that experience with other people and help them have a better life.”

WFW has extended beyond combat veterans to include first responders and adaptive sports participants. Recently, the group hosted Auburn’s Wheelchair Basketball team for a challenging day of wakeboarding on nearby Lake Harding. And let’s just say, they crushed it.

“They're young, they're energetic and their athleticism just blew me away,” Deep said.

That connection didn’t stop when the boat docked. Days later, WFW volunteers returned the favor by attending an Auburn Wheelchair Basketball game at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

“The Auburn Creed talks about a spirit that is not afraid, and that embodies what we’re trying to do,” Deep said. “If you've had a setback in life, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.”

Thanks to a lineup of generous sponsors, WFW retreats are free for veterans and their families.

“It's an amazing time,” Densford said. “I would encourage people just to get yourself out there, try new things and have a blast with other people on the water.”

And the only requirement for volunteers? A heart for service.

“It doesn’t matter if you know how to drive a boat or if you can make some really banging grits. There are always ways of helping,” Deep said.