Michael Waisner is a Marine reserve, and when he isn't working at Milton's, he like to play with his dogs.

“My parents instilled a strong work and service ethic in me,” says Marine reservist Sgt. Michael (Mick) Waisner, 25.

He’s already completed tours of duty in Iraq and Chile, and has worked as a server at Milton’s in downtown Lawrence for three years.

Waisner enjoyed his Lawrence childhood.

“I loved being outdoors playing sports or running around in the creek getting muddy,” he says.

“I helped in my dad’s (local) electrical business, and started working in a grocery store when I was 14. I dreamed of becoming a police or fire officer when I grew up.”

He graduated from Lawrence High School in 2002, attended Washburn University to study criminal justice and followed his brother into the U.S. Marine Reserve Corps in 2003.

“I wanted to serve my country,” Waisner explains. “I thought it would give me the tools to be more disciplined and successful in my life, and help me pay for school.”

When he completed basic training at the Marine Corp Reserve Depot in San Diego and infantry training at Camp Pendleton, he returned to Lawrence and enrolled at Kansas University to study sociology. He was called to active duty in 2005 and assigned to serve in the newly formed 2nd Military Police battalion as a provisional M.P. He spent two months at Camp Lejeune, N.C., the Marine Expeditions Forces in Readiness base, being prepared to serve in Ramadi, Iraq.

He admits to feeling some anxiety about his deployment.

“It’s mostly the fear of the unknown, but the Marine Corp is the greatest fraternity in the world,” he explains. “You soon get to know the people you serve with. They have amazing strength and courage, and you know everyone is looking out for one another.”

His unit conducted convoy operations and security patrols throughout Iraq and spent most of the time on the move. He witnessed several colleagues suffer severe injuries, but he’s grateful there were no deaths in his unit during their tour of duty.

He admits his outlook in life has changed as a result of his experiences in Iraq.

“I’ve learned to appreciate the seemingly small things in life,” he explains.

“I can get up in the morning, have a shower, clean my teeth and jump into the car and go to the store. After spending time sleeping in trucks and not having basic amenities, I appreciate the value of simple routines. I love spending time outdoors with my two dogs — Mars and Ares.”

He’s since served on the U.S.S. Pearl Harbor, completed a tour in Chile as part of the “Partnership of the Americas” initiative and knows he may be deployed to Afghanistan in the near future.

Meanwhile, Waisner enjoys working in Milton’s and saving money toward completion of his college education.

“It’s important for me not to be in debt and to work hard for what I want,” he says. “I enjoy being with great co-workers in a place that serves great coffee and food. The job can have its challenges but I’m grateful to be able to do it and enjoy serving some wonderful people.”