As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we sat down with longtime community member and moderator Lobo3433 to discuss his military service, his experiences during the Gulf War, and the connections he’s built within the Renderosity community over the years.

From Marine to Gulf War Veteran

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your time serving during the Gulf War?

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to join the Marines. It started when my mother’s godson came home from Vietnam on holiday leave. Seeing him in his dress blues, I knew I wanted to be just like him.

I joined the Marines right out of high school. My first deployment was to Beirut following the Marine barracks bombing. Later, I became part of Operation Kuwait Freedom, which became known as the first Gulf War.

Reflecting on America’s 250th Anniversary

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, what does that milestone mean to you personally as a veteran?

The 250th anniversary is a big deal for me on numerous fronts. I’m a big history buff, and the fact that I’m going to be around to see our country reach such a historic milestone is amazing to be part of. From the perspective of a veteran, it really chokes you up.

Imagine being a grandfather and being there for your grandchild’s first steps. Yes, you watch the child stumble, slip, and even fall, but you help by providing a safety net so your grandchild can get back up and keep trying. I use this analogy because, in essence, compared to many nations the United States is still a young country. We will make mistakes, and we are still feeling growing pains, but there is no better place to call home.

What are some things you hope future generations appreciate about the sacrifices made by service members?

I would hope that future generations remember and acknowledge that the freedoms they have to express themselves were not just handed to them. Those freedoms were fought for, defended, and patriots gave their lives for them. No matter what your beliefs are, those sacrifices should forever be acknowledged.

Finding Community Through Creativity

Many members know Lobo3433 through his years of service on the community moderation team, where he has helped artists, shared technical knowledge, and fostered connections across the globe.

Many people know you as part of the community moderation team. How has being part of an online creative community influenced you?

Coming onto the team first as a coordinator and then as a moderator actually gave me more courage to show off my novice artistic side, which has always been difficult for me. It also gave me a chance to share technical knowledge about applications I use, like Blender, which is one of the reasons I really enjoy it.

What has been your favorite part of interacting with the community over the years?

Sharing knowledge and helping others when they hit roadblocks in the applications they use. I’m somewhat of a knowledge hoarder — I have libraries of how-to tutorials and guides all over my PC, and I’m always saving information. From that hoard of info, I’ve been able to share tips and tricks with members to help them create some fantastic art.

Plus, getting to interact with members from all around the world has been rewarding. One of my fondest interactions is with a member whose native language is not English. Over the years, we’ve learned to communicate well enough that he can send me screenshots of his roadblocks, and I’ve been able to help him achieve the outcomes he wanted. We use art to communicate — how fantastic is that?

Lessons Learned Through Service

Has your military experience influenced the way you approach leadership, teamwork, or helping others online?

I think my military experience has helped me help others in one important way: the military teaches you to break down problems into small chunks and find solutions step by step, and eventually that becomes muscle memory.

But it can also be a bit of a roadblock. It can make it hard to ask others for help if they haven’t shared your experiences. Veterans often internally feel that others see them as potential ticking time bombs, so we’re not always approached the same way as everyone else, and that can make us appear standoffish.

One message I would want to share on this 250th anniversary is this: don’t just thank us for our service. Sit down and have a conversation with us. You might make a true lifelong friend.

A Message to the Community

As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, what message would you like to share with the community?

On this 250th anniversary, I’d ask everyone to set down, for that day, the things that make us different as individuals and come together as welcoming, open-armed members of the family that is the United States of America. Celebrate the country’s 250th the same way you would celebrate the birthday of a loved one.