A Fallen Hero: The Tragic Story of Scottie Williams

Scottie Williams, a 28-year-old Army veteran who had overcome the invisible wounds of war, died suddenly moments after completing the Silver Strand Veterans Day Half Marathon in San Diego. The vibrant young man, who had built a peaceful life by the ocean after struggling with PTSD, collapsed near a water station just after crossing the finish line. Despite medical personnel performing CPR for an hour and a half, they couldn’t revive him. Just two days before this tragedy, Williams had shared a secret with his mother during their final FaceTime call – he planned to “secret marry” his girlfriend, Bree Rivera, who had been waiting for him at the race when he collapsed. His mother, Katherine Yglesias-Herrera, still struggles to understand how her healthy, athletic son who had completed several half-marathons before could die so unexpectedly. An autopsy has been completed, but the family won’t know the results for months, leaving them with questions rather than closure.

Williams had been thriving in San Diego, finally finding peace after his military service. He had recently moved into a new apartment with his girlfriend, showed off his plants and home gym to his mother during their last call, and was working on building an urn for his father who had passed away from cirrhosis just months earlier in August. “Right now in his life, he was the happiest,” his mother recalled. “He had his new little apartment by the beach… perfect little girlfriend, smiling, happy.” The young veteran had found joy in the simple pleasures of everyday life, embracing nature and outdoor activities. His body was escorted home to Ridgecrest, California, by police and local veterans, with residents lining the streets waving American flags in a moving tribute to their fallen hometown hero. The community has rallied around the family, who is now raising funds for Williams’ funeral through GoFundMe.

Military service ran deep in Williams’ blood. He enlisted in the Army at just 17, immediately after graduating from Burroughs High School in 2015, fulfilling a dream he’d held since third grade. His mother and grandfather had also served – she in the Air Force and her father in the Army. As a child, Williams loved the outdoors, playing with creatures that might make other children squirm: “He loved camping, playing outside, playing in dirt, playing with spiders, playing with lizards, playing with snakes,” his mother recalled fondly. During his service, Williams worked as a transport driver in Korea and Syria, responsible for moving equipment and troops in massive military vehicles. But when he returned from Syria, his mother noticed a profound change in her son – he wasn’t the same carefree young man who had left.

The psychological toll of war had left its mark on Williams. Though he rarely spoke about his experiences, his mother would sometimes find him crying, unable to explain his emotions. One particularly telling moment came after his return when a simple trip to Walmart overwhelmed him. “He came home and he was super like breathing heavy, taking deep breaths,” she remembered. “He said that he felt like everybody was staring at him.” Eventually, the Department of Veterans Affairs rated him 80% disabled for PTSD. Initially resistant to therapy and refusing medication, Williams ultimately found his own path toward healing. “He pretty much knew what he needed to do to heal himself,” his mother said proudly. “Actually did a pretty great job doing this.” His journey toward recovery would lead him to discover a new life that brought him peace and purpose.

After leaving the Army, Williams embarked on a journey of self-discovery and healing. He built a camper on the back of his truck and lived in it while working at a ski resort in Mammoth Lakes, California. This nomadic lifestyle allowed him to shower at the gym, work the ski lift, and spend his days embracing the therapeutic power of nature. But it was his move to San Diego that truly transformed his life. “San Diego was the best thing that he ever did because he just healed himself slowly,” his mother explained. The ocean city became his sanctuary, where he found joy in running marathons and building a new life. Most importantly, it was there that he met Bree Rivera, the woman who would become his partner and brightest source of happiness. Their relationship had recently deepened as they moved into a larger apartment together, and Williams had confided in his mother about his plans to marry Rivera, wanting to take care of her and ensure she didn’t struggle financially.

As Ridgecrest prepares to say goodbye to their hometown hero at his funeral next weekend, Yglesias-Herrera struggles to articulate what made her son so special. “He was amazing,” she said through tears. “One of the best people I know.” Though she loves all her children equally, she acknowledged that Williams was “something more.” His story is one of resilience – a young man who faced the horrors of war, battled the demons of PTSD, and found his way back to joy and purpose. In his short 28 years, Scottie Williams embodied the journey of many veterans: from innocent childhood dreams of service, through the crucible of war, to the challenging path of healing and rebuilding. Though his life was cut tragically short at the moment when everything seemed brightest, his legacy of perseverance, kindness, and quiet strength lives on in the hearts of those who loved him and the community that honors him.