08/27/2026
Ask Catherine Czanowski about her 24 years of service as a U.S. Navy Chief, and she will immediately point the spotlight elsewhere.
She’ll talk about her husband, David, a U.S. Army Veteran who kept the home front steady through her deployments to Iraq and Diego Garcia. She’ll talk about her colleagues at the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP). And, most of all, she’ll talk about the young service members struggling through addiction and PTSD.
"Those are the heroes to me," Catherine says. "The men and women who find their way out of the darkness, reclaim their lives, and return to their families."
After treating wounded Marines on the tarmac during the Battle of Ramadi, Catherine retired from active duty only to step back into the fight as a civilian counselor for the Department of Defense. Her mission today is simple: walking alongside service members during their darkest moments.
While David proudly counted "25 medals" on her uniform rack when nominating her, a sweet detail Catherine humbly clarifies includes both ribbons and medals; she never served for recognition. But for a family that built its bond over windy nights tent-camping in the Outer Banks, camping has always been their sanctuary.
Today, Camping World is honored to name Catherine Czanowski our Hero of the Month, gifting her and David a brand-new RV to explore the country they have both given so much to protect.
Swipe through to read their story in their own words.
Know a hero in your community? Nominate them → rv.campingworld.com/hero-program
