Some stories of loss end in silence—this one turned into a battle cry for healing. In this episode of The TBD Fit Podcast, Dr. Daniel Chille talks with Debbie Lee, the first Gold Star mom to visit the combat zone where her son served, about the day she learned her son, Navy SEAL Marc Alan Lee, was killed in Iraq. She shares Marc’s final acts of courage under fire, how his sacrifice became the spark for America’s Mighty Warriors, and what it’s like to carry both the deepest pain and the greatest pride as a mother whose child died to save his teammates. She opens up about losing her husband to suicide years earlier, why the death of a child is a completely different level of grief, and how she refused to let her story end in bitterness.
Debbie also walks through the practices that helped her survive those first brutal months: her daily ‘GPS’ of gratitude, physical movement, and serving others, one tiny step at a time. She explains how America’s Mighty Warriors grew from showing up for one grieving family to running Helping Heroes Heal, a year-long program that invests in veterans with combat-related post-traumatic stress and brain injuries. From strict lifestyle commitments to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, family retreats, emotional resolution work, and personalized hormone and supplement support, she shares what she’s seen transform lives—and why service, accountability, and small acts of kindness can ripple farther than we imagine.
Debbie Lee is the founder and CEO of America’s Mighty Warriors, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting active-duty service members, veterans, and Gold Star families. Her mission was born out of profound personal loss: her son, Navy SEAL Marc Alan Lee, was the first SEAL killed in action in Iraq. His final acts of courage in Ramadi, stepping into the line of fire again and again to protect his teammates, became the foundation for her life’s work.
Known affectionately as ‘Momma Lee,’ she has spent years visiting bases, hospitals, and even combat zones to encourage and advocate for those who serve. Through America’s Mighty Warriors and its Helping Heroes Heal Program, she helps provide veterans with access to therapies like hyperbaric oxygen, emotional support, family retreats, and personalized care. Debbie’s story is one of unwavering faith, resilience, and a powerful belief that gratitude, discipline, and service can transform even the deepest grief into hope for others.
Debbie Lee
Website: americasmightywarriors.org
Instagram: instagram.com/debbieleeamw
Facebook: facebook.com/americasmightywarriors
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/debbie-lee-61b96311
Learn More About America’s Mighty Warriors
Explore the official brochure for America’s Mighty Warriors, the nonprofit founded by Debbie Lee to honor her son, Navy SEAL Marc Alan Lee. Inside, you’ll find details on their Helping Heroes Heal program, Gold Star family support, advocacy work, and how Marc’s final letter home continues to inspire acts of kindness and healing.🔗 Download the AMW Brochure
Connect with Dr. Chille
Connect with the Host
Website: https://www.tbdfit.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbdfit/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TotalBodyDiagnostics
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TotalBodyDiagnostics
Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/dchille/drchillediscoverycall?month=2025-10
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MUSIC CREDITS
Captured in Time - Instrumental version created by feinsmecker
Artlist Song License Certificate: Link
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Produced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast