John Cooper, Jr. served in the United States Army for six years, achieving the rank of Sergeant. His service spanned from 2015 to 2021 as a sniper with the 25th Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade, Reconnaissance Commandos (Recondo), and the 10th Mountain Division, 1st Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment. During his military career, he completed a combat tour in Afghanistan as a Sniper Section Leader.
Throughout his service, Mr. Cooper received several accolades for his dedication and bravery. These included the National Defense Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Award. He held various leadership roles such as Senior Sniper, Anti-Armor Section Leader, Headquarters Platoon Sergeant, QRF Squad Leader, and Sniper Section Leader.
In addition to his military career, Mr. Cooper is an ordained Baptist Pastor who studied at Liberty University to earn a Master of Divinity with a focus on Organizational Leadership. While serving in the Army, he also engaged in ministry work across New York, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Afghanistan.
Currently residing in Niagara Falls with his family, Mr. Cooper is an advocate for veterans facing challenges like addiction and homelessness. He leads Niagara Gospel Mission as its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. The nonprofit organization provides services such as a soup kitchen, free clothing distribution, code blue sheltering during extreme weather conditions, transitional housing solutions for struggling veterans.
To support homeless veterans further financially through Niagara Gospel Mission initiatives like “Rucking for Rescue,” Mr. Cooper raised over $16 thousand by marching more than two hundred miles carrying an old Army bag filled with supplies on his back—raising awareness about homelessness issues faced by many individuals today.
Mr.Cooper also hosts “The Godly Grunts,” which includes both podcast episodes alongside website content aimed at discussing topics affecting combat soldiers while strengthening their faith through exploring correlations between physical battlefields experienced firsthand versus spiritual ones encountered daily within life’s journey itself.
