Today our walk was dedicated in honor of :
🇺🇸 TODAY’S WALK — HONORING NAVY VETERAN SUSAN CAROL RATLIFF 🇺🇸
❤️🤍💙 Forever Remembered. Never Forgotten.
Today, it was a great honor to walk 6.96 miles in honor of Navy Veteran Susan Carol Ratliff, age 59, of Athens, Tennessee, who passed away on September 17, 2026.
Susan, known by many as “Doc” or “TikTok Doc,” was much more than a Navy veteran. She was a woman who dedicated her life to serving others, both in and out of uniform.
🇺🇸 HER SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY
Susan served in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman (HM3) from 1987 to 1999, including during Operation Desert Storm. As a Navy Corpsman, she served in a role dedicated to caring for others. When her military service ended, her mission to help people continued.
She supported fellow veterans struggling with PTSD and depression, helped disabled individuals access transportation, and worked to make a difference in the lives of people who needed someone in their corner.
🎨 A FENCE BUILT FROM LOVE, HONOR, AND REMEMBRANCE
One of Susan’s most remarkable projects was a nearly 200-foot fence outside her home in Athens, Tennessee. Over three years, she transformed it into a memorial honoring veterans, military service members, and first responders.
Each painted tribute told a story. The fence included powerful reminders of military sacrifice, battlefield crosses, and the number 22, representing the daily toll of veteran suicide.
What an incredible way to bring awareness to the struggles our veterans face and remind people that those who serve us should never be forgotten.
Susan was also a published poet, an animal lover, and a person who continually looked for ways to help others. Her service didn’t end when she left the Navy. She carried that spirit with her throughout her life.
💙 A PERSONAL CONNECTION THAT MADE TODAY’S WALK SO SPECIAL
The last time I spoke with Susan was back in August. During our conversation, I mentioned that maybe one day I would walk to Athens, Tennessee, to visit her and see that incredible painted fence for myself.
I never imagined that I would lose her before that day could come.
I was heartbroken when I learned that Susan had passed away. Today, I wanted to do what I could to honor her life, her service, and the difference she made in this world.
During our walk, I played the song Susan wrote for me, “I Walk for the 22.” Hearing her words and music as we walked in her honor made this day even more meaningful. Though she was no longer walking beside us, a piece of her was with us every step of the way.
🚶♂️ TODAY’S WALK
We walked by Holiday Hills Lake before making a special stop at CCHS to see the Navy Blue Angels jet. From there, we continued past Crossville Medical Group and made our way downtown to Veterans Memorial Park.
At the park, we stopped to read the names of our Fallen Brothers on the Memorial Wall, taking a moment to remember those who gave so much for our freedom.
We then continued walking south, turned at the bakery, and headed back toward home.
Along the way, we received 146 HONKS! 📣
To everyone who honked, waved, or saluted as we passed, THANK YOU! You have no idea how much those gestures mean. Every honk reminds us that people care, that our veterans are appreciated, and that the mission of honoring our heroes continues to reach others.
A special thank-you to Fallen Hero CPL Timothy Sneden for joining us and helping honor Susan today. Having you alongside us made this walk even more special.
❤️ SUSAN, YOUR STORY DOES NOT END HERE.
Your years of service, your compassion for fellow veterans, your beautiful painted fence, your poetry, and the lives you touched will continue to tell your story.
I still hope that one day I will make that walk to Athens and stand before the fence you spent three years creating. Until then, I hope today’s walk helps carry your message forward.
We may not be able to bring you back, Doc, but we can keep talking about you. We can keep sharing your story. And we can keep reminding the world that our veterans matter, that their struggles matter, and that they should never have to feel forgotten.
Navy Veteran Susan Carol Ratliff — “TikTok Doc” — you will NEVER be forgotten! 🇺🇸
Rest easy, Shipmate. Thank you for your service, your kindness, and the legacy you leave behind.
⚓ Fair winds and following seas.
#iWalk4Them #SusanCarolRatliff #TikTokDoc #NavyVeteran #HM3 #OperationDesertStorm #VeteranSuicideAwareness #PTSDAwareness #HonorOurHeroes #NeverForgotten #IWalkForThe22
