Infinity Rehab has many therapists who are veterans! We are taking a moment on Veterans Day to highlight a few of them and thank them for their service.
Jacob LaBarge, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Home Office
Jacob was in the United States Coast Guard for 8 years (2005-2013). He was stationed in Virginia Beach (all patrols were to the Caribbean), Puerto Rico, and Seattle. Virginia Beach and Puerto Rico were all law enforcement duties in the Caribbean pretty much, and Seattle was a cushy desk job. He was an E-5 when his enlistment ended.
One of Jacob’s most “proud-to-be-an-American” moments of being in the Coast Guard was being part of the rescue/cleanup crew for New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, which occurred soon after he enlisted.
Jacob lives in Oregon City, OR with his two daughters, ages 7 and 4.
Cindiman Pinneke, PT and Outpatient Clinic Director, Sunshine Gardens, Durango, Colorado
Cindiman Pinneke enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1989 under the Simultaneous Membership Program after receiving one of two scholarships for the State of Minnesota. She served for two years in the 204th Medical Battalion, which was one of the last MASH units. Upon graduating from the College of Saint Benedict, she was commissioned into the Medical Service Corp. Second Lieutenant Pinneke moved to Des Moines, Iowa for PT school and was transferred to the 34th Rear Area Operations Center (RAOC) / 185th Rear Tactical Operations Center (RTOC). Cindiman served for 10 years before retiring as First Lieutenant from the military. One of her greatest joys was the opportunity to work at Gorgas Army Medical center in Panama treating civilian’s post operation “Just Cause.” She has worked for Infinity Rehab for the last 9 and one-half years.
Kirstyn Murphy, OT, Laurelhurst Village, Portland, Oregon
Kirstyn Murphy (“Murphy”) was a Second Class Petty Officer with the United States Navy. She was an Aviation Boatswains Mate Equipmentmen (ABE), sometimes referred to as Aviation Boatswains Mate Equipment Mates. This involved the launch and recovery of aircraft on the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), as well as perform any and all maintenance associated with catapults and arresting gear equipment.
Murphy studied for OT at West Virginia University until 2021, when she graduated and travelled with her husband and dog to Oregon. Later that year, she joined Infinity Rehab. Not too long later, she applied to the DOR-it Program, and has since been DOR at her current building. Here, she enjoys bringing patients together for groups either by crafting adorable masterpieces of art or elevating their heartrates! She strives to make therapy fun and enjoyable for the patients and therapists in order to maximize participation and output from skilled, therapeutic interventions.
Austin Hansen, IT Support and Asset Coordinator, Home Office
Austin Hansen enlisted in the US Navy. He served four years active duty as an MM2 (SW/AW) Hansen. He also served in the US Navy’s engineering department as a Cryogenics Work Center Supervisor, as well as a member of their firefighting team.
Austin looks on his work in the military as only second to fatherhood. “It is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I’ve had in my life. I owe a lot of what shaped me into who I am today to my time in the military.”
One of Austin’s favorite quotes is: “If you know The Way broadly, you will see it in all things.” – Miyamoto Musashi
Neil Namnama, COTA, The Pearl at Kruse Way
United States Army-Active Duty, Sergeant First Class/E7, 15 years, Nov. 1993 to May 2008
Medically Retired, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star Recipient
M1A1 & M1A2 Tank Crew Men. Job Duties included Loader (loading 120mm rounds to main gun), Driver, Gunner, Tank Commander, and Platoon Sergeant.
Two tours in Iraq 2003-2004, 2005-2006, two tours in Afghanistan 2001-2002, 2007-2008; various special assignments and tours in South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Japan, and Kuwait.
“I would like to give thanks to all my fellow Veterans, men and women, who served, fought, sacrificed, and gave their life valiantly to protect our great country. Your braveries are not myths but true legends for generations to come.”
Jeff Brooks, PT, Rockwood South Hill and Rockwood Hawthorne, Spokane Valley, Washington
Jeff served in the Navy for six years from 1985-1991. He spent the first two years in Navy Nuclear Power School. Graduating second in his class, he was then assigned to the USS Richard B Russell, SSN-687, a special projects submarine home ported at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in northern California. During his time, he completed four surveillance missions in the far western Pacific Ocean while performing a job as a reactor plant operator. He achieved the rank of MM1 (SS) and was honored, as were many of his shipmates, with four Presidential Citations for their effort during the Cold War era that kept our nation safe and secure. Jeff is ever grateful for the opportunity to serve his country and is proud of the work his team did.
Jeff notes, “Looking back at my time on the boat, I can say with certainty that serving for those years was the catalyst for who I am today. Currently I am the lead OP PT here at Rockwood South Hill in Spokane, WA. The focus of my practice is pain management and assisting my clients return to their life better than I found them through the application of Fascial Strain Counterstrain and Pilates.”
Outside of therapy life, Jeff is currently the secretary for the Inland NW chapter of the Porsche Club of America and participate in all sorts of fun car events with his wife and kids.
TJ Yellow, PT, Missouri Slope
TJ served four years in the United States Army. He was injured in combat in Iraq and then medically retired.
