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Shelter to Soldier - Purple Heart Recipient
Shelter to Soldier Success Story Highlights Accomplished Female Veteran Purple Heart Recipient
By Eva Stimson
Kristine M. Wunder, Major, US Army, (MS, CHST, LEED BD + C, CESSWI, QSP, STSC) dedicated 21 years to the US Army, beginning in 1985 as an E1 (Military Police) stationed in Honduras and served as a combat MP specializing in Processing Prisoners. Kristine transitioned her Military Occupational Specialty to become a Helicopter Mechanic/Repairer, crew chief and door gunner. Kristine was then promoted to the rank of E-6 Staff Sergeant.
During her enlisted career, Kristine obtained an AA degree from Golden West College and a BS from California State University Long Beach in Engineering. Upon completion of her BS, Kristine was accepted in the Officer Candidate School (OCS) program and graduated in the top of her OCS class. Kristine was in the Aviation branch and attended flight training at Ft. Rucker in Alabama. She was rated to fly aircraft in the UH-1, OH-58, TH-67 and in UH-60, then in 2003 Kristine was deployed to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as a UH-60 Pilot and Battalion Staff Officer.
Kristine served four tours in support of OIF at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Speicher, Iraq, where she was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Air Medal. While there, she was promoted to the rank of Major (O4) and served as the Battalion S4, XO and CO. Kristine retired in 2007 as a Major in Army Aviation (UH-60 Pilot).
During her tenure in the US Army, Kristine experienced extreme trauma that detrimentally affected her work capabilities while transitioning into civilian life after retirement from the military. She reached out to Shelter to Soldier (STS) who was able to pair her with a dual psychiatric and mobility service dog (Dutch Shepherd mix) named Scout, and they graduated together through the STS program in May of 2021. Scout was fully trained by STS to accompany Kristine in the field on the construction site at the San Diego International Airport Terminal One (T1) project where Kristine currently serves as the Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Arrive Alliance (Turner-Flatiron Joint Venture). “Scout has been fully trained by STS to go out in the field [with me] on the construction site at the airport T1 project. [He] is my lifesaver and enhances my life and career. Scout has enabled me to travel to other destinations such as Alaska, Oklahoma, San Francisco and Arizona, as well as enjoy Disneyland.”
Kristine earned her Masters of Science in Engineering Construction Management in June 2016 from the New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego, CA. She is the proud Mother of two children; her daughter attends San Francisco State University and her son is deployed with the US Army.
She has served as a Commissioner to the Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission and was selected as the 2014 Chula Vista Veterans of the Year, 2014-2015 Congressional District 51 Veteran of the Year, and a finalist for the 2014 and 2015 San Diego County Veteran of the Year. Kristine is a lifetime member of the VFW, American Legion, and honorary member of the Marine Corp League Detachment.
Kristine is grateful to STS for helping her achieve her post-military career aspirations. She elaborates, “Shelter to Soldier was introduced to me from a fellow comrade who was in the process of training with his service animal at a WWP [Wounded Warrior Project] event. He inspired me and gave me the courage to submit an application. This in itself was a monumental feat for me at the time. I was welcomed by the entire STS team and quickly became part of the STS family.”
San Diego
Veteran Resources & Organizations
Navigating the resources available to veterans can be confusing, but San Diego Veterans Magazine believes no veteran should have to go it alone.
Photo’s by Monica Hoover Photography & Shelter to Soldier
At San Diego Veterans Magazine you can find Veteran organizations and private nonprofits with resources for veterans that can help ease the process of attaining earned benefits, coping with the lasting effects of service-connected injuries and finding programs and services that meet your specific needs.
Shelter to Soldier is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that adopts dogs from local shelters and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post9/11 combat veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or other psychological injuries.
To learn more about veteran-support services provided by STS visit our website at www.sheltertosoldier.org call 760-870-5338
San Diego Veteran Resources & Organizations available at:
A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans
