(TEXAS) – On Veterans Day this year and every day, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. (Munsch Hardt) is proud to honor the bravery and dedication of our nation's veterans, which includes many veterans within the Firm. Munsch Hardt celebrates the contributions of its attorneys who bring unique experience and insight to their law practice because of their years of active duty with the U.S. Armed Services.

Such veterans include Munsch Hardt’s CEO, Phil Appenzeller. After completing Judge Advocate General (JAG) school, Appenzeller was selected to go through airborne school. He was assigned to and served at Fort Benning in Georgia (now known as Fort Moore), “home of the infantry.” Appenzeller is on the board of the Folds of Honor North Texas Chapter, which raises money for family members of veterans who have either lost their lives or been injured in our country's service. Nationally, Folds of Honor awarded more than $20 million in scholarships last year alone.

“I take great pride in being a veteran,” Appenzeller said. “While in the military, judges looked at the courtroom as a learning experience and would often address us in their chambers on what we were doing right and what we were doing wrong. I was humbled by the experience, but I learned so much from it. I learned discipline, respect for authority and congeniality with opposing counsel.”

Justin Ratley, a Shareholder in Munsch Hardt’s Houston office, is a third-generation military member and currently has two sons in the military. He personally uses Veteran’s Day as an opportunity to honor his relatives who have served. Ratley served 12 years in active-duty military, starting in military intelligence as a Korean Linguist. Halfway through his service, he was recruited to work with the Army Criminal Investigation Division, helping with federal felony investigations. After retiring in 2011, he entered law school.

“My background in intelligence helps with investigations and analyzing data, especially from a litigation standpoint,” Ratley said. “Most veterans come into the practice of law with a different perspective and the more perspectives in the legal field the better.”

Fred Wahrlich was an enlisted soldier in the army before he attended law school. He was first assigned to an Infantry Battalion in Germany as their law clerk and was required to do everything the regular infantry soldiers did, in addition to serving as the liaison between the JAG Office and the Battalion commander. Thereafter, he was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas where he served as a Division law clerk serving as the liaison between the JAG Office and Division Commander. Now a Shareholder in Munsch Hardt’s Houston office, Wahrlich says his experience brought a disciplined focus to his legal practice and helped him develop a strong work ethic.

“The military structure helped me learn teamwork and communication with superior officers, who taught me to assert myself and my opinions/thoughts on the issues,” Wahrlich said. “Veterans Day is a day to remember soldiers who have taken time from their lives, family and careers to serve our country.”