"Special Operations Warrior Foundation was founded after my father Joel C. Mayo was killed during Operation Eagle Claw in 1980 in Tehran, Iran. This organization has stepped up to help provide assistance for post secondary education for myself and other children of members of the United States Military who have been killed in action. This organization strives to aid as many of these students as possible. It is important for organizations such as this to be able to honor the memory of the parent that has been taken from the student, and take away the concern for college education. "

Graduate and son of Joel C. Mayo,
who was killed during Operation Eagle Claw in 1980 in Tehran, IranDoug first went to college in 1988 but ultimately decided to postpone his education to focus on his new wife and family. In 2014, Doug made the decision to return to school to get his degree in Nursing. Funded by SOWF, Doug graduated in 2017. He is now finishing his MS in Nursing and will soon be joining the many healthcare professionals on the frontline fighting the current health crisis.