Where did you serve and what did you do?
I served during the cold war. Most people will never know how hot it really was. I served as part of the weapons gang of the nuclear submarine USS Lapon SSN 661. We received several medals during the first few years after the commission including the MUC, NUC, PUC (Presidential Unit Citation issued by the President of the United States), and several Battle efficiency E’s. I serve now in the Department of New York VFW Auxiliary.
How are you #StillServing?
I am currently involved in helping homeless veterans. My passion is to get more involved in helping to transition veterans flow back into mainstream society. Not into mainstream crises. I am serving right now as the VFW Auxilary Orange County Council President, District #2 VFW Auxiliary Department of New York President, and Department of New York VFW Auxiliary Jr. Vice President. I am a Life Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Post 140. I am a Life Member and 30 years Member in the American Legion. When I can I am part of the Orange County Coalition of Veterans. I get email updates about veterans needing help daily from the Orange County mental health association. I pass this Information on when applicable.
Why do you do it?
I do these things because time after time I see veterans pushed aside after serving their country. The scars of service are not always visible.
I have personally seen homeless veterans, veterans suicide where there was no help to return these young veterans back to his loved ones,(family). Veterans abused in VA hospitals, my own Vietnam veteran brother has PTSD with very little help.
A WWII veteran who fought through Omaha Beach, France, The Battle of the Bulge, all the way into Germany. There he took shrapnel from a mortar shell. They wanted to take his legs. He said no. He nursed himself back to health. He became a businessman well respected in his community. A life member of a VFW Post. With his own hands, he physically helped build the VFW Post as it is today. Now he is 96 years old and forgotten. My motto is, “No veteran ever forgotten.” No family of a veteran ever forgotten either. These are a few of the reasons I still serve.