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Where There is a Will, There is a Way

My name is Arthur Mills. I’m an active duty Army Warrant Officer – but for only a few more days. I’m being medically retired due to service-connected injuries (90 percent VA disability). I wish I can serve another 21 years but my body has different plans.

When I was medivaced from Afghanistan, I thought my primary career (Soldier) and my secondary career (novelist) were over. Through time, I partially recovered but not enough to remain in the Army. Nerve damage, acephalgic migraines with persistent visual and audial disturbances, neck and back pain were too much to bear.
However, I use speech recognition software to “write” my books that feature strong anti-bully and suicide awareness themes. I may not be able to serve my country with guns any longer, but I can still serve my country with my writing.

However, I'm not out of the woods yet. Civilian medical bills and late mortgage payments have piled out. I received my final foreclosure notice a few days ago. Now my family and I will be the next statistic! If I can beat four combat tours and an onslaught of medical issues, I can beat the statistics as well.

Just comes to show, where there is a will, there is a way.

Arthur Mills
Lacey, WA

no support in my neighborhood Glendale Sunburst Farms arizona

My son in law was killed by IED on December 23, 2006 my daughter and grandchild were visiting our house the night it happened, the head of our HOA William Scott, our immediate neighbor Arnold Mondragon, and other neighbor Robin Bell and her foster children instead of showing support of our family they came by and laughed and called kikes, and made fun of our family, yet they claim to be Veterans themselves although record search by veterans group shows not DD 214 on either male members and the irony of it all Bell family supports wounded warrior program. My husband served twenty eight years airforce, I served four years army, my daughter served seven years. My father served WW11, my cousin Robert Shumaker served 7 years POW Hanoi Hilton with John McCain but in our neighborhood they have no respect at all for real military service. I am a nurse at the VA in phoenix Arizona and am still taking care of my own.

annette lennon
glendale, AZ

Got the tshirt

I served in an aeromed unit during Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. You know that you are in a war zone when missiles rain down and there is nowhere to bunker. You get used to the notion that over half the crews won't be there in the next few weeks. Deal with it and move on.
Had to send crews into harms' way in Freedom from Kuwait. the wait to see these crews return was bad.
The Hadji store on base sold t-shirts so I bought one. Got others from the CMC and my home unit.
Hot in July and August is understatement. 125 wetbulb for weeks, 95 at night.
Tailswaps from 130's to 17's in the middle of the night. Rousting crews for urgent missions to Mosul or Baghdad after the UN embassy bombing; all part and parcel of the daily-daily.
You train to enter such times and try to emerge sane and whole. Pretend that all is the same as before. File it away.

Anonymous
Hagerstown, MD

ONCE A HOMELESS VET

MY NAME IS DOMINGO BERMODES ITS BEEN 45 YEARS SINCE I WAS IN THE USCG, ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN OUR ECOMANY TO A FLOP. I BECAME A HOMLESS VET. LIVING IN SHELTERS AND MISSIONS , WATCHING THE SUFFERING OF MANY PEOPLE. NOT UNTIL I BECAME A RECIPEINT OF HUDVASH NOW TODAY WITH SECTION 8 FOR VETS I LIVE IN A DECENT PLACE . NOT SHOWERING LIKE I WAS IN JAIL. I MAKE WHAT I WANT TO EAT AND THIS IS A BLESSING, AND WITH MY HOUSING TAKE CARE OF TODAY I RUN ONE OF BIGGEST FOOD GIVEAWAY IN CENTERAL CALIFORINA CALLED BREAD OF LIFE. AND THIS STORY IS FOR THE VET WHO LOSES HOPE, DONT LOSE HOPE AND KEEP YOUR FAITH , BELIVIE THERES A OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU . THANK YOU

DOMINGO BERMODES
STOCKTON, CA

neva had a chance

from 17-43 i tried to enlist,got a criminal record,no matter how the laws had changed i just missed out every time,lotsa storied from the grandpa's and other fam. members,but i never felt right ,not being able to fight,i did just want to thank each of you w/ all my heart for what you do,when i'm in a line for anything and one or more are near,i always make it a point to pay for what you are there for,lunch,food,or even a coffee,if i dont have the money,i personally will shake your hand and thank you every time,love you guys,have the best christmass you can have! from one murphy just south of boston,anyone that needs a pen pal,get in touch,its at least i can do

kurt "MURF" murphy
rockland, MA

The Love of my life!

My husband was in Viet-Nam from 1969 to 1971. When he came home he had MS although it took 12 years to get it diagnosed. He passed away last year from his MS. I would like to hear from anyone who might have served with him. You see I need to prove by a means other than my word that it is possible that the symptoms existed while he was in Viet-Nam. His name is Frank Moleski. I also would like to know more about him during his service, we didn't meet until after his return. Frank didn't talk much about his service. He was however the kindest and most caring person I have ever known. He didn't judge people and was always considerate of others. He was my best friend and he is missed. He was originally from Chicago, Il.

Debbie Moleski
Manitowoc, WI

curious

I never knew my father he died 6 months after I was born. He joined the Marines when he was 16 [his mother signed his early enlistment for him] he fought in Vietnam His name was Robert kay [he went by Kay]Hansen. he was born April 12 1951. He fought in Vietnam for 4 years before coming home and meeting my mother. Both were killed in a car accident when I was six months old.he died at age 21, I never knew him and all of his military medals were buried with him. I was wondering if there was any way I could pay for duplicate copies of his medals. He was born and raised in Price Utah and I really would like a copy of his medals as his mothers Norma Reid Hansen Petrie's 90th birthday is in January and I would like to make her a plack with all of his medals on it .
thank you
Christy Kaye Hansen Hironymous.

christy kaye hansen Hironymous
fortworth, TX

I will never accept defeat!

I joined right out of high school into the Army National Guard as 31B (Military Police). I was pumped and ready to serve my country. 362 days after I returned home from training I was involved in a serious car accident involving me and a school bus. The drivers side of the car I was in was not recognizable and flattened! I wasn't supposed to survive that but I can attribute that the skills I learned in Basic and AIT played a huge part in my recovery efforts. I followed orders even when I was in a coma!
I also wouldn't have been able to get as far without the help of my mother and my stepfather. I went on to earn my AS Accounting, my BS Accounting, and my MS Forensic Accounting with GPA's north of 3.95! I am working on training in paracycling with hopes to make Team USA in para cycling next year and ultimately the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.

Mandy Kloepfer
Rockford, IL

The Seven Brothers

My grandmother had seven sons in WWII. Only five of them came home. Two were Marines, One was a navy pilot, and the rest were army. I still have the picture of her and granddad being presented with a flag with seven stars on it for the service that her sons gave to the United States. They are all gone now, but their memory lives on it a book we put together of their letters home.

Anonymous
Dallas, OR

My family and the United States Navy

I join the Navy as an alien. My home country used to have an agreement with the U. S. government that Filipinos can enlist in the United States Navy which is a part of U.S. military bases agreement. The process was very much more rigorous than in United States. I spend my first Christmas at boot camp in 1966. Vietnam war was at it's height. After four years I re-enlisted and was eligible to become a naturalized citizen. I grabbed that opportunity right away. After 21 years of service I retired from the Navy. Although Vietnam veterans were not treated just as the modern day veterans I am not going to cry over spilled milk. We would not have anything if not for the NAVY. After retiring from the Navy I lucked out and got a job with the Department of the Navy as a civil service employee. Twenty one years doing that I finally retired. My wife and I are enjoying retirement. My family and I owe the Navy everything we have and still benefiting from my service. It makes me very mad when I see people here and abroad disrespecting my adopted country. THANK YOU VERY MUCH UNITED STATES NAVY AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!!

Santiago Tualla
Goose Creek, SC