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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Marshall Nerios, 628th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, poses for an environmental portrait at Joint Base Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, Sept. 2, 2026. Nerios, a Miami, Florida, native, joined the Air Force Sept. 6, 2022, and was diagnosed with Stage 2 testicular cancer roughly a year into his military service. After undergoing surgery to remove the tumor and experiencing recurring infections and complications during his recovery, Nerios received a medical waiver to deploy to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, in October 2024. During the deployment, he completed four rounds of antibiotics and faced the possibility of being sent to Germany for emergency surgery, but chose to remain in Kuwait because he wanted to prove to himself that his physical struggles would not define what he was capable of accomplishing.
“I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it,” Nerios said. “That mentally, I was stronger than what my body was going through.”
Despite the physical challenges he faced throughout the deployment, Nerios completed the mission and returned home, carrying with him a deeper understanding of his own resilience and the importance of the people who supported him.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christian Silvera)
| Date Taken: | 09.03.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2026 19:15 |
| Photo ID: | 9933240 |
| VIRIN: | 260902-F-XY111-1229 |
| Resolution: | 3979x4974 |
| Size: | 3.13 MB |
| Location: | CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Still Standing [Image 3 of 3], by SSgt Christian Silvera, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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