03/06/2026
Today marks five years since SFC Carmen Joseph “CJ” DePaulo III passed away. He was only 36 years old.
CJ was many things: a husband, a father, and a Special Forces Medical Sergeant who dedicated his life to taking care of others.
He enlisted in the Army in 2011 and chose one of the hardest paths available, earning his Green Beret. By 2014, he was assigned to 3rd SFG(A), ODA 3314, serving alongside a tight-knit team committed to missions few people ever see.
In support of counterterrorism operations in Africa, CJ deployed to Chad in 2017 and Niger in 2018. Those environments came with their own unique challenges: rural operating conditions, unsanitary water sources, extreme particulate exposure, uranium mining regions, and a host of gastrointestinal pathogens that service members routinely encountered.
But after returning home, CJ began to feel that something wasn’t right.
He and his wife Abigail pushed for answers. Eventually they received a diagnosis no one expected... ... For a young, healthy SOF medic with no family history, it was shocking.
On March 6, 2021, CJ passed away with his wife and two daughters at his side. But CJ’s story did not end there.
Over the years since his passing, we’ve had many of his teammates reach out. Some simply wanted to share memories of him. Others asked for screening, medical guidance, or help navigating health concerns.
Several of those teammates discovered early cancers or serious medical conditions after deciding to get checked, often because they remembered CJ’s story and chose not to ignore when something felt off.
So today, we remember CJ, but we also honor him the way he would have wanted: By taking care of ourselves and the people beside us.
If something feels off, get checked.
If you’ve been putting off screening, schedule it.
If you have teammates who never go to the doctor, encourage them to go.
Early detection saves lives.
CJ dedicated his life to protecting others. The best way we can carry that forward is by putting our health first and looking out for one another, just like he did.
For more information about colon cancer symptoms, screenings, and military-related risks, check out: https://www.hunterseven.org/blog/coloncancer
