My name is Erica Brophy; I am a Gold Star Wife and mother of two young children.  My life turned upside down on December 6, 2018 in Iwakuni, Japan.  My husband, USMC Major James Michael Brophy, was killed along with five other Marines when an F-18 collided with a C-130 during a pre-dawn training mission off the coast of Japan. 

In the wake of the unexpected and unimaginably painful loss of my husband, I had to make some important decisions and found it challenging to navigate through this process with the lack of resources readily available.  The resources I eventually connected with were life-after-loss changing for me, and I want to ensure it’s easier for everyone who experiences a tragedy like this to connect with the right kind of support at the right time.

​Although this is a group I never imagined I would be a part of, I can truly say I am so appreciative of all the organizations and the support network out there.  My hope for this website is that it will offer clarity and a more direct path to the resources you seek.  I am not an expert at this, but I can provide some insight from my own experience, guidance through blog posts, and centralized resources that are here to support military families who have lost a loved one.

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Much love and gratitude,

Erica