Where did you serve and what did you do?
US Navy, Aviation Ordnance, Petty Officer Second Class Airwarfare Specialist.
NAS Fallon, Nv Station Weapons, Built Bombs, Rockets, Missles
NAF Lemoore, California, F/A-18’s VFA-113 Loaded Bombs, Missles, and Bullets. Person Gulf Operation Southern Watch and Desert Fox.
NAF El Centro Loaded Bombs, Missles, and Bullets on aircraft.
Tell us how your dog is helping you continue #StillServing in your community.
Sergeant and I are Life Members of the VFW, AVVA, DAV. We are also very active with the Daughters of the American Revolutionary War, Chief Whatcom Chapter, NSDAR Washington State. Sergeant is the Dog of Daughters of the American Revolutionary War for the State of Washington also known as DODAR. When I got out of the Military I self-isolated for 14 years and I felt like I had no purpose. I struggled with whether I wanted to live or not a situation that plagues veterans. I reached out to the VA for help and found out that a service animal would be in my best interest. With Sarge, I learned how to serve again. We are still enlisted just not active duty. We rise to the call of our community. We dig deep and give back. He is a constant reminder that I am not alone and I have reasons worth living for. I will never be a 22 a day because of him and my future service animals.
Why do you do it?
My Father was a fantastic teacher and leader for my brothers and me growing up. He encouraged us always to serve our communities and encouraged us to go into the military, law enforcement, EMT, doctors, nurses, and so on. My two brothers and I all joined the service. When we all got out of the service, we all struggled differently. You can say the three outcomes of mental health and the effects of war. I lost my oldest brother to 22 a day, my middle brother self isolates and I pulled myself out of the gates of hell and lived to share my story. I advocate for local veterans in our area. With the Organizations, I am in, including the VFW. I have raised over $ 8,000.00 for Brigadoon Service Dogs. Brigadoon Service Dogs helps veterans get service dogs. When Sarge retires, I will be getting my next partner from them. I am the Veteran Committee Chairman of our Chapter DAR, and We have sent out Cookies, 200 Christmas Stocking, and Christmas Cards to VFA-147 and VFA-113 this year. I have reached out to a female veteran who needed assistance with food and gas while she transitioned from homelessness.
Sarge and I also travel to Washington State and present a slide show presentation on War Dogs. It’s the history of Dogs in Service from the American Revolution to current wars. We were just on a radio show this week where we talked about depression and PTSD and the 22 a day. We were able to share those thoughts and give information about the Crisis Hotline 1-800-273-8255 Press 1 or text 838255. Sarge and I still have our core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. We have a personal motto, too, now. Veteran serving Veterans. Without my battle buddy Sarge, we would have never left that front door.