A once-homeless Georgia veteran rises through ranks, becoming general manager of Planet Fitness

From tragedy to triumph, a Bulloch County veteran is sharing his journey of being homeless to becoming the general manager of a Planet Fitness in Statesboro.

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According to WJCL-TV, D’Angelo Shaw served 12 years in the U.S. Army, holding the title of staff sergeant.

His transition to civilian life, however, “wasn’t as smooth as possible,” Shaw told WJCL.

Two years after Shaw came home, he began to struggle with homelessness and depression.

“It was a strong impact, but it didn’t break me,” Shaw told WJCL.

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WJCL reported that Shaw became medically retired in 2017 and faced the hardship of transitioning back to civilian life.

“It was mentally breaking me down,” Shaw told WJCL. “I did multiple jobs, from working at chicken factories to working at Walmart — lumber mills, things like that. Things that I didn’t have a passion for.”

He began working out multiple times a day. Eventually, a Georgia Planet Fitness general manager offered Shaw a job. It didn’t take him long to work his way up to general manager at the Statesboro location, WJCL reported.

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He told WJCL that he credits his military work ethic and discipline with helping him climb the ranks.

“The things that I’ve accomplished in my life would not be accomplished without me doing it (Army), and it did leave an everlasting imprint on my life,” Shaw said.

According to WJCL, Shaw is currently working to earn his MBA.

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