Homeless teen turns life around after run-in with deputy, Marine recruiter

At just 18 years old, Brian Gilbert found himself homeless and living in the woods in South Carolina. He was struggling to survive, missing school, and sleeping in a tent behind a shopping center in the Midlands region. His situation seemed dire until he was arrested by a South Carolina deputy for stealing food from a supermarket deli.

The night in jail turned out to be a turning point in Gilbert’s life. Lexington County Deputy John Sanders, who booked Gilbert into jail, couldn’t just let the encounter end there. Recognizing that Gilbert’s biggest need was food and a job, Sanders reached out to the local Marine Corps recruiter, Sgt. Brent Latham, for help.

Sgt. Latham wasted no time in meeting with Gilbert. After a brief conversation, Gilbert made the life-changing decision to enlist in the Marine Corps. He saw it as a way to not only get fed and have a place to sleep but also to have a steady income. The decision marked the beginning of a new chapter in Gilbert’s life.

After completing basic training at Parris Island, Gilbert graduated in May and is now stationed at Camp Lejeune training to become a utilities systems technician. Both Deputy Sanders and Sgt. Latham were there to cheer him on during his graduation. Despite being miles away, Gilbert still maintains regular contact with Deputy Sanders, who he describes as a great person to talk to about anything.

The story of Brian Gilbert serves as a beautiful success story of how authorities can make a positive impact on a young person’s life. It only took one phone call from a deputy to a Marine Corps recruiter to change Gilbert’s life from being homeless in the woods to having a full career and a steady salary. It goes to show that a small gesture of kindness and support can truly make a world of difference in someone’s life. Gilbert’s journey is a testament to the power of second chances and the importance of reaching out a helping hand to those in need.