FEATURETTE: “I Got Your Six:” GY671 and the Power of Brotherhood in Guam

In the heart of the Pacific, where island pride and patriotism run deep, a group of veterans in Guam has forged a new kind of unit—not with weapons or war plans, but with compassion, connection, and healing. GY671 isn’t your typical veteran organization. It’s a grassroots support network that has become a lifeline for many, especially those quietly struggling with the invisible wounds of service.

GY671 officially launched in December 2019. It began with a small group of veterans who saw too many of their brothers and sisters falling through the cracks of the VA system. The name itself is rich with meaning: "GY" stands for "Got Your Six," a familiar military phrase that means "I've got your back," and "671" is Guam's area code. Together, it becomes a message of solidarity: "Hey Guam, I got your six."

From its humble beginnings, GY671 has grown into something far more profound than just a support group. It has become a movement—a community of veterans from all branches and backgrounds who come together to talk, eat, and heal.

Roy T. Gamboa, one of the founding members explained, "For me personally, it feels like another home. It’s a place where I belong. It reminds me of my service and the bonds I created with my fellow Marines. That camaraderie—it never goes away."

GY671 meets weekly on Wednesday nights at 7 PM at a location affectionately known as "The Hooch" in Tumon, just above the Hilton. Veterans gather in a circle, share stories over food, and engage in what they call "Battle Buddy Talk." No lectures, no ranks—just honest conversations among people who understand. Family members are welcome too. The goal is simple: connection and healing.

What sets GY671 apart is its "no wrong door" approach. Any veteran who walks through their door will be helped. If they don't have the resources on hand, they'll find them. And unlike many bureaucratic institutions, GY671 leads with empathy, not paperwork. Whether it's helping someone with PTSD, navigating the VA system, or simply providing a safe place to talk, the focus is always on meeting veterans where they are.

One member shared his experience transitioning from military to civilian life: "It wasn't tough at first, until I realized years later that I had been struggling with PTSD all along. I didn’t understand what was happening in my mind. Taking off the uniform didn’t mean I left the mindset. It took about four to five years to start feeling normal again."

Another challenge many veterans face is accessing the benefits they’ve earned. "When I got out in 2008, I didn’t even know I could get medical coverage through the Seabock. I paid for insurance for years unnecessarily. There was no one to tell me otherwise. That’s part of why we started this group—so others don’t get left behind."

What makes the greatest impact, according to members, are the success stories. Watching a fellow veteran overcome addiction, PTSD, or suicidal ideation and emerge stronger is what keeps this community going. "That’s the healing," one member said. "Not just getting better ourselves, but helping someone else break through."

COVID-19 presented another major hurdle. With lockdowns and distancing protocols, maintaining contact was difficult. But it also underscored how essential GY671 is. "We veterans already struggle with isolation. Add a pandemic on top of that, and the risk doubles. That’s why this group matters. It tells you: You’re not alone."

Many veterans in GY671 admit that it took time to accept they needed help, and even longer to ask for it. One member recalled his first session with a VA therapist. "I asked if they were a veteran. When they said no, I immediately felt like they wouldn’t understand. That’s why peer support is so powerful. Veterans trust veterans."

The group recognizes that healing isn’t always linear, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some, it’s being able to talk openly for the first time. For others, it’s maintaining sobriety, holding a job, or simply showing up to a meeting.

When asked what civilians most often misunderstand about veterans' mental health, one member responded: "They don’t realize how different our realities are. We enter service young, we live by a different code, and then we're expected to just switch it off. Civilians often don’t know what questions to ask, and veterans often don’t know how to answer. That’s why we need groups like GY671."

Gamboa’s advice to any veteran still struggling: "You're not alone. You don't have to go through this by yourself. Reach out. Even if you think you don’t deserve help. Even if you think no one will understand. We do."

The group is also proactive about involving families. A spouse coordinator helps ensure that partners and children are not left out of the healing process. After all, trauma doesn’t stay neatly inside a single person—it affects households.

When asked what healing means now, one member paused thoughtfully before saying: "Healing is seeing others come out of the darkness. It’s about watching someone who was lost start to find their way back. If we can help someone get there, even just one person, then this is all worth it."

Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from GY671 is the importance of telling your story. "If we don’t share, we can’t connect. If we can’t connect, we can’t heal. There are veterans out there thinking they’re the only one going through it. But they’re not. And they need to know that."

GY671 meets every Wednesday at 7 PM at The Hooch in Tumon and is open to all veterans and their families.

​You can also visit their main office on the third floor of the Bell Tower in Hagåtña, right across from the 76 gas station.