Legacy, Family, and Perseverance Lead Veteran Back to LSU

With 26 years of service in the U.S. Army, Micah Marchand knows what it means to face battles that don’t end when the uniform comes off. Years of deployments and two fights with cancer pushed his dream of going back to school further away. 

For Marchand, the decision to attend LSU was deeply personal, rooted in legacy, family, and perseverance.

 

“My family has a long history at LSU,” Marchand said. “My father, John Harold Marchand, played football here in the 60s. My brother graduated in the 90s, and my godchildren are alumni.”

In 2000, just one month after graduating from Southeastern, Marchand was training for the Olympics when he collapsed during a run. He had assumed the exhaustion was just part of pushing himself to the limit, but doctors soon discovered the cause was far more serious. He had cancer. They told him that no one else in his condition would have survived more than three months, but because of his strong heart and lungs from years of military training, he did.

“It took about a year and a half to beat, with lots of chemotherapy and radiation. Later, I was diagnosed with ITP, or immune thrombocytopenia, which causes bruises and bleeding. That eventually led to avascular necrosis and caused me to have both hips replaced. Two years after that surgery, I retired, and about eight months later, I was diagnosed with cancer a second time, carcinoma in my lymph nodes.” 

Those experiences tested his endurance, but they also shaped how he defines strength. 

“It is not about toughness,” he said. “It is about refusing to quit.” 

Micah said he always wanted to receive his Master’s from LSU. The final push to enroll came from his son, Eric, who began LSU in 2024. Watching him take that next step inspired Marchand to do the same, this time as a veteran, a father, and a student with a new purpose.

A Thesis on Service and Stigma 

After spending nearly three decades serving and surrounded by those who serve, Marchand knew his purpose: to help others who are struggling. He chose to center his thesis on that mission. 

“I’ve seen firsthand how many soldiers hesitate to seek help because of stigma,” Marchand said. “The fear of being judged or labeled weak can keep people from getting the care they deserve"

That insight became the foundation of his graduate thesis, “Stigmas and Setbacks: The Career Consequences of Mental Health Treatment for Soldiers in Combat Roles.” 

Through his research, he is bringing awareness to the many soldiers who he said are too afraid to speak up about mental health struggles in fear that they will be seen as inadequate or less than their counterparts.

“It’s not about appearing weak,” he explained. “It’s about fear of losing everything you’ve worked for—your career, your benefits, even your soldiers’ trust.” 

At LSU, Marchand has found not only a platform for his research but also a community that supports his growth. He credits the William A. Brookshire Military & Veterans Student Center and faculty in the School of Social Work for providing encouragement and resources throughout his time on campus.  

“The veteran community here feels like family,” he said. “It’s a place where we lift each other up.” 

Outside the classroom, he’s completing an internship with The Water Institute, where he applies his leadership experience to projects that support communities across Louisiana. Balancing school, service, and family life keeps him busy. 

And LSU, with his son, feels full circle for Marchand. Years ago, they took a photo at his son’s first LSU football game when he was seven. Now, they’re both Tigers, each pursuing their own goals and carrying on the family legacy of LSU.  

“He’s reliable,” Eric said. “Even though I tease him for following me around, it’s comforting knowing he’s close if I ever need help. Even when he’s not here, there are good people around us because of him. I’m lucky to have that support instead of doing this alone.” 

The battles may look different now, but Marchand’s sense of purpose remains the same. The fight isn’t overseas, but in classrooms, communities, and policies that shape the future for those who come after him.

“I swore an oath in February 1993,” he said. “There was no expiration date on it.” 
 

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