My name is Brandon. I recently completed seven and a half years of active military service in the U.S. Army (airborne infantry), leaving as a Staff Sergeant (SSG) and disabled veteran. Directly following my deployment to Iraq, I bought myself an almost-new (1k miles) 2019 Harley-Davidson XL1200 Roadster.

Before this, every vehicle I ever owned was well over 15 years old. Buying this motorcycle was a huge milestone for me, and it became my primary way to de-stress after coming home.

The Situation & 3-Year Red Tape Battle

Shortly after getting the bike, I PCS'd to Vicenza, Italy, from Fort Bragg, NC. It was stolen while stored in a locked POV storage compound (Vicenza VPC). Reaching this point has required over three years of fighting through administrative red tape.

When property is stolen on a government facility, Soldiers must first file a property loss claim through government channels (Army/Navy) and await an official determination. I spent years waiting through 6-to-12-month review cycles, denials, and appeals. The final Navy appeal determination was critical: it officially established that the federal government was not responsible for the loss because the third-party contractor was in physical possession of the vehicle.

To make matters more challenging, I am navigating my transition out of the Army with existing debt while dealing with ongoing health problems, most notably a back injury I suffered in Iraq. I am still actively making monthly payments on a motorcycle that was stolen three years ago while under contractor watch. I am currently unemployed and relying on disability payments as I handle this legal process.

Legal Action & Why I Am Raising Funds

The defense contractor managing the compound (International Auto Logistics) has repeatedly refused to take responsibility. However, an official Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) administrative appeal (File No. J250422) formally determined that federal liability was denied specifically because the vehicle was "secured in a third party's possession" at the time of the theft.

With military administrative options exhausted, I am filing a civil lawsuit in Glynn County State Court to compel the contractor to pay full market value and loss-of-use damages. In my formal pre-litigation demand letter to the contractor, I claimed $47,409.04 in total losses, offering to settle for $38,000.00 if paid within 30 days. The contractor is denying responsibility.

I am raising funds to cover immediate out-of-pocket litigation expenses: Court e-filing fees and Sheriff service of process costs in Georgia (where the contractor is headquartered) Administrative legal expenses to build and serve discovery requests Travel and logistics expenses related to the case

How You Can Help

Any contribution directly supports my ability to pursue full legal accountability in court. If you aren't able to donate, sharing this link across military networks, veteran communities, and motorcycle groups makes a huge difference in bringing visibility to contractor accountability for service members' property.

I have full legal documentation available, including military claim denials, contractor correspondence, official police reports, proof of ongoing vehicle payments, and the Navy JAG adjudication.

Beyond covering immediate court costs and legal fees, my ultimate goal is to put this three-year fight behind me, replace my stolen Harley with the same year/model, and regain the peace of mind riding gave me after my deployment.

I have never set up anything like this before—I am usually the person donating. Any contribution or share helps immensely. My goal is to get this behind me, secure fair compensation, and get back to riding one day again.