A GOVX EXCLUSIVE
STACK UP Founder Stephen “Shanghai Six” Machuga
on the Mission to Combat Veteran Suicide Through Gaming
For a multi-billion-dollar global industry, gaming has sky rocketed its way into the cultural zeitgeist over the last half century. What once was an activity heavily marketed to the younger generations, has now become a full-fledged entertainment monster, keeping Americans of all ages racking up the hours behind a controller and a headset. As it relates to the military community, gaming has become a pastime, a passion, a conduit for connection, and perhaps most importantly a resource that can save lives.
For Stephen “Shanghai Six” Machuga, founder of STACK UP and former Army Infantry/Military Intelligence Officer and Airborne Ranger, he’s dedicated the last decade of his life to uniting those who serve and their civilian supporters through a shared appreciation for gaming.
LEVEL ONE: SHAPED BY SERVICE AND SIDE SCROLLERS
Like so many of us of a certain age, video games have been a constant for Machuga.
“Games have always been my release. It was the thing I did at every stage of my life,” said Machuga. “When I was deployed overseas in Iraq and Kosovo, I’d get back at the end of the night from patrol, debrief, and then go off into my own little space with my Game Boy Advance. It got me through my time away from everything I knew.”
When he got back stateside in 2009 and segued out of service, Machuga’s journey into the gaming world began to accelerate as he contributed to video game blogs and began making connections within the industry. Soon after, he started to brainstorm ways to leverage his military experience and growing influence in the gaming world to make a difference.
“I reached out to see I could get a console donated to a station overseas,” explained Machuga. “These guys were bored, and since this was a little closer in time to 9/11 and we were still in the process of hunting down Osama Bin Laden, drumming up support for the troops wasn’t much of a question. This simple action was an answer with an exclamation point behind it."
LEVEL TWO: THE MAKINGS OF A MISSION
As a lifelong gamer, Machuga has accumulated a massive assortment of consoles, accessories and games in his basement. As he surveyed his collection, he knew that he could make an even greater impact by sending a bulk delivery of some of his unused gear.
“I boxed a bunch of it up and sent it over to my guy overseas,” said Machuga. “Soon after, he shared these amazing pictures of guys jamming out in a Guitar Hero competition. I was like, okay, this is awesome. I sent the gallery over to the crew at Activision and everybody suddenly wanted to get involved. Before too long we were thinking of ways to get more gear to more guys -- like the 326th Maintenance Battalion and the 41st Field Artillery Brigade. Once that happened, I knew we had something.”
LEVEL THREE: BEHIND THE NAME
For those not in the know, the term ‘stack up’ has a special meaning that made it an immediate fit for what Machuga and team were attempting to accomplish.
“So, stack up is short for stacking up,” clarified Machuga. “If you’ve ever watched a police procedural where a SWAT team is about to kick in a door – that's a stack. It’s where guys will line up and get ready to take the door down. For charity purposes, it’s a bunch of people with a shared goal to do something good. In this case, it’s us.”
LEVEL FOUR: LEADING THE WAY
Although STACK UP started out by shipping Xboxes and PlayStations overseas, Machuga has shifted the focus of the organization to support U.S. and Allied veterans here in the states.
“Obviously, things are hard right now in the current landscape,” explained Machuga. “So, we’re trying to help out as much as we can. Keeping veterans involved in the gaming community has meant putting an increased emphasis on mental health support. It’s grown. And even though that wasn’t the initial aspiration, the response we’ve gotten as far as boosting morale and putting a smile on the faces of those who are really going through it has been overwhelmingly positive."
LEVEL FIVE: KEEPING UP THE FIGHT
Recent reports show veteran suicide rates continuing to decline from their 2020 levels, thanks to strengthened prevention efforts and the effort put and resources made available by valuable foundations such as STACK UP.
“We lost a guy not too long ago, and it was hard on everyone,” said Machuga. “Soon after we had a Halo tournament, and it helped to lift the spirits of those who played. This is why we’ve built a suicide prevention team online through our Discord chat. It started organically, just a bunch of guys playing together and over time we had players open up about their suicidal ideations. So, we created a space for help. Not everyone has $200 for an hour of therapy. It’s not an option. But having volunteers to be there for them has made all the difference. They go through training with Psych Armor, a mental support organization. We reach them where they are, through gaming."
LEVEL SIX: ENTER THE FOUR PILLARS
The foundation of STACK UP is built off four core pillar programs. They are at the heart of everything they do, and they offer a way to get involved and give back.
SUPPLY CRATES: Video game care packages full of the latest games, gear, and consoles sent to deployed units and veterans in need.
AIR ASSAULTS: All-expenses-paid trips to bring deserving veterans to gaming and geek culture events.
“We’ve done the San Diego Comic-Con, the Penny Arcade Expo, Call of Duty and Sledgehammer studio tours and more,” added Machuga.
THE STACKS: Volunteer teams engaged in veteran outreach and community betterment projects in their local areas.
OVERWATCH StOP: Peer-to-peer mental health support for veterans and civilians alike, provided through the organization's online community.
“Our fifth unofficial program is called Phalanx House, and it’s out here in LA,” said Machuga. “That’s our headquarters. It’s a mansion that we’ve retrofitted into gaming, like an adult tree fort. We’re working with the community to bring post-homeless veterans through the doors and give them a place to hang out on the weekends, get their laundry done, get some food, plays some games, and sleep in a safe and warm place.”
LEVEL SEVEN: SHARE THE STORIES
Over the years, STACK UP has provided vital assistance to thousands of veterans. For Machuga, the stories continue to stand out.
“Pre-pandemic, we sent an Xbox out to guy here in the states,” recalled Machuga. “He was just looking to play Minecraft with his family and bring them closer together. We got him the Xbox and didn’t think much about it. Six months later, we got some photos back and a letter. His son had extreme Tourette’s Syndrome, was on a lot of medication, and the game provided a way for them to bond that hadn’t been there before."
FINAL LEVEL: ANSWERING THE CALL
For those moved to help or perhaps have experienced the mental health benefits of gaming, getting involved with Stack Up is simple.
“If you’re interested in any of our programs, or know someone who might, there’s plenty of ways to help,” said Machuga. “Whether it’s donating money or time, we can always use more assistance and volunteers. I encourage everyone to check out our site and become a part of our official Discord channel.”