We have shared with you the story of Scott Helvenston. He has undoubtedly earned the admiration and respect of a lot of people, and has inspired many with his courage and heroism. This includes one of his friends, former Navy SEAL Christopher Berman.

The world bore witness to the dangers that abound in the streets of Iraq with the images of Scott Helvenston’s and that of another Blackwater colleague’s tragic demise after their vehicle was ambushed in Fallujah in 2004. This incident also led to increased conflict between the US and Iraq.

These atrocities enkindled a sense of responsibility in Berman, and later that same year, he established his company, Granite Tactical Vehicles, in memory of his friend Scott. He hoped to build a better-quality armored vehicle to help ensure that no one else will suffer what Scott went through.

When Berman was starting out, he manually worked on a frame of a Ford pick-up and reinforced it with scrap metal. Today, Granite Tactical Vehicles is a multi-million dollar venture based in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina.

Running the business can be a challenge, especially since Berman’s family is settled in the West Coast and he has to commute. Everything is worth it, though, once he feels the fruits of his labors, such as receiving a grateful phone call from someone who survived an IED attack because he was in a Granite vehicle.

Granite’s client base includes private security contractors serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as police SWAT Teams. Berman also hopes one day to work directly with the US Department of Defense. Currently, his armored version of the HumVee is catching the eye of the Marine Corps.

Christopher Berman feels like he is getting the best of both worlds. He has found a way to pay tribute to a friend, save lives, and still make a decent living out of it.