Hello, My name is Debora,

The following is the original Gofundme post asking to support this family in crises.

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We found out Saturday, August 16, 2025, that our family memeber, Marine Soldier Donny Grigsby, was killed in an accident just a few miles from his home. In our journey yesterday and today, we were informed that because Donny never drew assistance from the VA for his injuries or illnesses, there is no help for his wife and his 6 children left behind, funeral costs, bills that will not stop coming in, mortgage for the home, food, new things need for the new school year starting in a few short days, etc.

I am starting this fundraising to support family with these expenses.

Unfortunately what many are unaware of is although Donny is eligible to be placed in the National Cemetery, He cannot have a service viewing for family then be taken to the crematorium and then brought back for burial in a niche or ground.

Through this horrible journey, we have been informed that although Donny had tri-care to help with procedures, tri-care is not a benefit necessary for spouses and their children to receive any benefits after the Veteran passes on from this life. This means to honor the Veteran and their family, that viewing services is the responsibility of the family.

I believe the Veterans and their families should be FULLY informed as to what is needed for the Veterans family to actually be eligible for benefits after death.

The following is a statement from his beautiful wife, Tiffany:

That morning, we got up, like any other day. He made me my coffee and brought it to me in bed. He got me my medicine for the morning. He gave me a kiss and said he was going to go because he didn't want to be gone all afternoon. (minutes later, he drew his last breath.) He was always taking care of me and my kids. He never called them his stepkids; he was there for whatever they needed—they are HIS kids.

In the last year, he survived a heart attack, pneumonia, and having his leg amputated. He was doing cardiac rehab and trying to get back to work. In just 3 months, he lost his leg, got the prosthetic, and was walking WITHOUT any assistive devices. When they x-rayed his leg after removing it—something I learned they do for insurance purposes—they could see 34 breaks. 34 broken bones he had been walking on EVERY DAY! He was working towards getting his health back in order. And not just his physical health, his mental health as well.

My husband was a combat veteran in the United States Marine Corps. He served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He suffered from PTSD, but he wasn't letting that control his life. He had the greatest sense of humor. He could make a joke out of anything.

This man would push through. If I needed something or one of our kids needed something, he made it happen. Regardless of how much pain he was in, he dropped everything to make sure that we got what we needed.

End quote

I say he truly was a Marine and a gentleman.

UPDATE;

Sadly his services and crematorium cost the family $5800.00 which exceeds the amount collected this far and still leaves them with daily and monthly costs that will be hard to pay for some time to come.

I am asking, PLEASE share this to your social media, with friends and your church to help with these expenses ❤️

All donations received will be used for things the VA will not cover and the non-stop expenses stated because this family is not allowed benefits.

We thank you for each and every penny and especially thank you for all prayers.

We welcome all shares of this fundraising

❤️

UPDATE

Sadly, today we found out that Donny actually was not a soldier.

We were informed today that Donny actually did not get on the plane that faithful day.

Donny told everyone he had served when he had not. We do not understand why he chose to tell his family and friends these things and now we will never know why until we stand before our heavenly father.

This family is now far beyond being devastated.

I do not have the words or ability to express the devastation and disillusionment we dacing us while handling the grief of losing someone we loved and thought we knew for many years.

We have contacted Gofundme and have been instructed to update this situation and leave it to you all, our donors and supporters to decide qhat you qould like to do with your generosity for our family.

We are asking that everyone please understand that NONE of Donny's family was aware and that we by no means set out to deceive anyone... We truly believed who Donny portrayed himself to be.

With this, we are asking that anyone donor/supporter who wishes to receive a refund of their generous gifts of support, please contact me. You may also contact Gofundme directly.

I will post an updated email where you can message me to ask for the refund if you chooseto do so.

Please remember that his wife, Tiffany, the children and the remaining family members was unaware that he was never in the military.

He had many military items that we are now being told was forged.

Please accept our apologies. We truly had every reason to believe everything he said.

Tiffany and the children are still suffering and still need support.

Dealing with his sudden death is exceptionally hard but finding out that he was not whom he said he was for all these years and having to figure out a way to navigate such deception, has made us all deeply hurt and confused and now must learn to come to terms with more than just the death of the man we all believed we knew.

We always strive to follow our father above and be truthful. We are sorry to all of you whom stepped up and gave your love and support. We can truly understandthe deceptionyou feel.

Again an updated email will follow on Monday.

If you wish to still support Tiffany and the children, then you need to do nothing, but if you would like a refund, we truly understand and will have Gofundme process it according to tgeir procedures.

Please remember Tiffany and the children are victims in this tragedy and Tiffany is beside her self trying to come to the realization that she only knew a part of who her husband was.

Please have understanding, kindness and soft words... as in the end, She is still a widow and needs help.

Even though we do not know how to navigate through all disillusionment of finding out we actually never knew Donny at all.

We truly apologize.

❤️