How a Decorated Marine Continues His Military Service in an Unlikely Way

Upon his return from the Vietnam War, Bob Parsons battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for decades—and while doing so, grew a small software business operating out of his basement into the powerhouse internet domain registrar and web hosting company GoDaddy. From humble beginnings to becoming an entrepreneurial billionaire, nothing came easy for Bob. He talks openly about his mental health struggles following the war, and how, by 2018, just a mention of the war could trigger him to cry. Time was not healing his wounds. As Bob recalls, “I couldn’t handle it. The longer time went on, the worse it got for me.” Around this time, he read the New York Times best-selling book How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan and a glimmer of hope appeared for him. Bob developed an interest in the scientific use of psychedelics to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.

“My own battle with PTSD lasted for decades,” says Bob, United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “It was psychedelic-assisted therapy that finally brought me home after all those years, and even with the FDA’s recent decision, we’re digging in and funding more research because I have all the evidence I need—I know it works.”

Bob is referring to the 2024 decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withhold approval for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. While it would not be surprising if donors shied away from supporting this nascent scientific field, Bob and his wife Renee, who helped establish Mount Sinai’s psychedelic psychotherapy research center in 2021, recently made a second foundational gift of $5 million.

“We are hopeful that the innovative research and training being done at Mount Sinai will go on to transform the lives of veterans and others who endure debilitating mental health conditions,” says Renee. “Bob and I know firsthand the detrimental impacts of PTSD—not only on the individual but on the entire family. We remain committed to battling the stigma surrounding mental health and shining a light on such promising treatments.”

Bob and Renee have focused some of that light here at Mount Sinai. Under the direction of internationally acclaimed researcher Rachel Yehuda, PhD, the Center has expanded and moved to a new location, increasing capacity for therapy, research, and therapist training, with a primary focus on veterans. It is now being renamed The Parsons Research Center for Psychedelic Healing to acknowledge the couple’s deep commitment to improving the lives of veterans and others struggling with PTSD.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 17 veterans die by suicide each day on average. “New treatment options are desperately needed for the millions of people, both civilians and veterans, who have mood and anxiety disorders such as PTSD and major depression,” says Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System.

Adds Dr. Yehuda: “This is an existential moment for the field of psychedelic research in mental health, and The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is shining a light on a path forward. With their vision and commitment, and the continued generosity of our donors, we will meet the needs of the moment.”

In his recently published memoir, Fire in the Hole! Bob shares how he turned his hardships into motivation, from his mother’s mental illness to his harrowing yet transformative experience in Vietnam. A poignant and humorous storyteller, Bob reminds us that true wealth is not solely measured in financial terms but in the kindness and generosity we share with others. He discusses his healing process and his decision to donate funds aimed at impacting PTSD. For Bob and other veterans, sharing their stories is a continuation of their military service, fulfilling the promise of the soldier’s creed: I will never leave a fallen comrade.

His journey is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the importance of giving back.