On this day we honor the memory of Steven DeLuzio w/Surviving Son: Scott DeLuzio

Scott DeLuzio is the author of SURVIVING SON: An Afghanistan War Veteran Reveals His Nightmare of Becoming a Gold Star Brother. He owns an e-commerce software development business and is an Army veteran, having served six years with the Army National Guard, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2010. Scott’s brother, Steven, was also deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. Unfortunately, Steven was killed in action on August 22, 2010. After returning home, Scott struggled with PTSD and the loss of his only sibling. Scott started Drive On Podcast to connect with current and prior service members. He interviews veterans and civilians to discuss personal triumphs, life experiences, resources, and emotional hardships to give hope and strength to the military community. Scott lives in Surprise, Arizona, with his wife, Vicki DeLuzio, and their three children.
Surviving Son is a compelling true story that provides the reader with an insight into the life of a combat infantryman who fought in Afghanistan at the same time as his younger brother, Steven, who was killed in action just miles away. Scott takes the reader on a journey through his upper-middle-class childhood to his call to service after 9/11. With college degrees and a bright future ahead of them, they left the safety of suburban life to fight on the front lines in Afghanistan. When Scott was asked why he would do this, he responded, “Why not me?”
The story provides many details that give the reader a clear picture of what it was like to fight for their country in a hostile war zone. Scott explains with raw emotion how he learned of his brother’s death, and minutes later, he was engaged in combat with the Taliban, the same group responsible for his brother’s death. He vividly reveals how he continued to struggle with PTSD from the stresses of combat, the loss of his only sibling, and the transition to civilian life. SGT Steven Joseph DeLuzio, 25, of South Glastonbury, CT, died in battle on Sunday August 22, 2010 in Paktia Province, Afghanistan while serving with the Vermont National Guard. Steven was born on February 25, 1985 in Hartford, CT. He was the beloved son of Mark C. and Diane (Lysik) DeLuzio of South Glastonbury where he lived most of his life. Steven graduated from Glastonbury High School in 2003 and was president of his freshman class. He attended Hofstra University in New York, Norwich University in Vermont and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Hartford in 2009 with a degree in accounting. Before his deployment to Afghanistan, he was employed as an accountant at the CPA firm JH Cohn in Glastonbury. Steven belonged to the Co. A-3/172 Infantry 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (MTN) in Jericho, Vermont. This was Steven's second tour of duty as he was deployed in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006 earning the Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Commendation Medal, and the Navy Unit Citation from that deployment. For his service in Afghanistan, Steven was also awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, NATO Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Army Good Conduct Medal.