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DAVE BRAY USA Arising A Better Man Operation Remount Veteran 2 Veteran Boots on the Ground The Cause is Greater Than I Afghan Misadventure SUMMER 2021 Click to Subscribe

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A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to AT EASE Veterans Magazine We are blown away by the amazing support and feedback about AT EASE Veterans Magazine You may notice this issue is a little bit fatter than our inaugural edition Frankly it s all YOUR fault PUBLISHER Devil Doc Publishing EDITOR Christine Walker ASSISTANT EDITOR Shannon Robinson STAFF WRITERS Alberta Cotner Shannon Robinson Judy Skilling Paul Sullivan Christine Walker SALES STAFF Christine Walker LAYOUT DESIGN Christine Walker CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tim Bailes Carrie Murray Beavers Anthony Lecours Fr John Martin Eric McNail Christina Mortel Cristie Remmel Annette Whittenberger FIND US ON FB AtEaseVeteranMagazine TheATEASEmagazine com The enthusiasm of our readers to contribute their own stories has honestly been overwhelming Great because it s giving us a ton of stories and articles but logistically speaking we now have a waiting list extending into our Spring 2022 issue Y all ROCK Coming into the second issue our team has been incredibly humbled by the kick ass excitement and interest we have received from the Veteran community as a whole Your energy is what motivates us to continue doing what we do Because at the end of the day It s ALL about the Vets AT EASE Veterans Magazine a subsidiary of Devil Doc Publishing reserves all rights connected to all copyright and proprietary property contained in our official publication website s social media accounts videography email marketing branding and printed materials This includes but is not limited to authoritative and or written content photographs graphics and infographics ad design artwork including official company logos in design color and format and video s Any use of the above aforementioned in whole or in part may not be used for any reason without the express written consent of Devil Doc Publishing Copyright 2021 AT EASE Veterans Magazine and Devil Doc Publishing All Rights Reserved AT EASE Veterans Magazine 3

Table of contents EVERY VETERAN HAS A STORY TO TELL 21 11 4th of July 27 DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL KNOW A VETERAN WE SHOULD INTERVIEW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU STORIES THEATEASEMAGAZINE COM 4 AT EASE Veterans Magazine Message from the Editor The Cause is Greater Than I Back on the Home Front Girls Grit DD 214 Beyond D Day V2V Boots on the Ground Veterans Produce I Remember When Two Perspectives One Stigma Silent Pain 30 3 6 9 16 18 31 35 36 39 40 41 Chaplain s Corner 42 Crossword Military Code 45 Afghan Misadventures 46 Salute to Satire 47 TAPS 38

SUBSCRIBE TODAY VETERAN STORIES MILITARY HISTORY DD 214 BEYOND GIRLS GRIT SALUTE TO SATIRE VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS AND SO MUCH MORE SCAN THE QR CODE 15 Annually for Digital Subscriptions or 25 Annually for 4 Quarterly Print Magazines Visit theateasemagazine com subscribe AT EASE Veterans Magazine 5

The Cause is Greater Gold Star Family Memorial Frisco TX Honoring Families of the Fall On a sunny breezy day in Frisco Texas a massive group of families police officers fire fighters and veterans spanning wars and lifetimes poured into Frisco Commons Park to recognize the Fallen and the families they left behind The promenade to the park s Veteran Memorial was lined with American flags and veiled in black the monument awaited dedication What is a Gold Star Family We define it as any family member who has had a loved one give their last full measure of devotion to their nation in military service Chuck Wright USMC and Honorary Board Member of the Gold Star Family Memorial Monument Woody Williams Foundation opened the dedication ceremony and played an active significant role in bringing the Monument to Frisco The Woody Williams Foundation was founded by Hershel W Williams the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II who was commended for his courage at Iwo Jima Through his foundation Williams continues serving his country by erecting monuments across the country honoring Gold Star Families To date he has built 82 monuments with 77 more planned for the next year As Woody spoke a pall of reverent silence descended over the crowd There is no substitute for freedom a gift almost as precious as life itself This memorial speaks of those values for itself They will be remembered Yet we know that this memorial will not ease the pain or the heartache or the grief but perhaps it will give some peace and solace to those loved ones who sacrificed one of their most precious gifts one of their own Those we honor with this memorial said by their sacrifice You may take my life but you cannot take my freedom 6 AT EASE Veterans Magazine The monument a sharp black granite is unmissable against the green Spring grass It has an unwavering presence much like the rigid support and strength of the families it represents The monument features the outline of a soldier standing in salute but Frisco added one unique feature to their memorial standing tall a few feet away in the same striking granite is another soldier returning the salute representing Williams himself Williams formidable words ended with a recitation of The Gold Star Lament a poem dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country a poem that embodies the spirit of his foundation s motto The cause is greater than I The dedication ceremony not only revealed a beautiful monument remembering the heroes who sacrifice their lives for our country and their families that live on with their memory but it is a true reminder that freedom is not free

r Than I len By Shannon Robinson Gold Star Lament Author Unknown Our boy went off to war He said he wanted to go To give many others A freedom they don t know I can tell that he loved America And wanted to do what s right Then we were all notified That his duty to country and to fight Had cost him or them their life We all knew the danger But prayed that he d be safe Then we were notified That he had met his fate We are so proud of what he did And the sacrifice he gave We pray that our country By his efforts will be saved And as we shed our tears of sorrow We know he rests in peace Having given all he had To help wars of violence cease YOU ARE NOT ALONE VETERANS CRISIS LINE 800 273 8255 But he would say to us Be brave Stand strong We re all a part of America Right where we belong He s standing guard in heaven With all of his buddies near They sacrificed their lives So we could be safe here So let us all remember What freedom really costs Never ever to forget the loved ones The many that were lost SCAN FOR HELP AT EASE Veterans Magazine 7

From Enlisted to LDO to Entrepreneur Have you ever dreamed of becoming a business owner David MacMelville didn t Back in 1992 he didn t know what he wanted to do so he joined the Navy right out of high school His goal was to take advantage of the educational benefits to set him up for a future career outside of the military after his 4 year enlistment David S MacMelville LCDR USN NAS PAX MD VX 20 Maintenance Officer Nearly 29 years later David is about to retire with many new choices to make Do I sit on the porch and drink ice teas No too boring to do that Do I just take the easy route and look for a corporate job No too limiting Maybe I ll look into becoming an entrepreneur Yes that sounds like a good challenge But where do I start After boot camp David attended Aviation Electronics While I felt qualified and competitive for Technician school in Millington several job listings that I looked at it was TN This was a fast paced time for me to perform a bit of soul searching school that compressed about and decide what I really wanted out of life 2 years of a traditional trade school into about 9 months Upon David took advantage of the numerous completion of initial training he arrived at transition programs provided by the his first command and began working on military but he still felt ill prepared for the full avionics suite of the Navy s E 2C making the leap The thought of starting Hawkeye After 4 years according to a business from scratch was beyond Dave I was having the time of my life my comprehension After doing his so he decided to re enlist In true military research David reached out to Irving fashion he was assigned to a job that had Chung a franchise consultant and nothing to do with all of this knowledge franchise owner With literally thousands and training he had gained His next of franchises available he helped him navigate the entire process Irving assignment was Recruiting conducted a comprehensive consultation No more turning wrenches and fixing in which he walked him through a series of airplanes Instead he learned a lot about questions to help narrow the search After business marketing and sales during this meeting the franchisor corporate staff tour At the tail end of that tour the tragedy from the CEO on down he finally chose of 9 11 struck the nation As an E 6 he a franchise that he believed will provide was called to immediately report back to him resources to ensure he is successful support of Operation Iraqi Freedom Two more combat deployments and many Long story short entrepreneurship is years later after several more transfers within your reach and there are people reassignments and promotions Dave out there to help guide you on the path ended up back in Virginia managing David is about to take the bold step of all levels of aviation maintenance and owning his own business as a Floor finally moved to Maryland where he is in Coverings International franchise owner charge of the maintenance department launching summer of 2021 for research test and development of new aircraft systems 8 AT EASE Veterans Magazine Why are Veterans Selecting Franchises Proven track record Less risk Established infrastructure Full operating procedures Comprehensive training and ongoing support Brand awareness Experienced leadership team Marketing resources Easier funding Irving Chung is a franchise consultant with FranChoice He is also the Director of Entrepreneurship and Board Member at the Dallas Fort Worth Veterans Chamber of Commerce To learn more contact Irving for a free consultation Irving Chung FranChoice Franchise Consultant ichung franchoice com 214 908 9791 bigconsideration com

Back on the Home Front By Christine Walker GOLD STAR WIFE EMILY FEEKS On August 16 2012 Emily Feeks arrived to work with a very bad feeling Emily was CTR stationed stateside at SRT1 Coronado NAB in San Diego Her husband Patrick was a SEAL on mission in Afghanistan In the year and a half since they got married together time was hit and miss for this Military couple As Emily recalls either Pat was deployed or I was Emily joined the United States Navy in 1999 and served as a Cryptologic Technician Collection or CTR operating state of the art computer systems to conduct Information and Cyberspace Operations She and Patrick met in 2010 immediately hit it off and they were married shortly thereafter Even with their hectic schedules Emily and Pat made their relationship work through purposeful communication They loved each other fiercely and were ready to start a family when Pat returned home from deployment But that morning something was very off and even though there was not an official dispatch and the instant report hadn t been signed off Emily learned that Pat as well as the other SEAL Team 3 members had been killed when their Black Hawk Helicopter had been shot down by enemy insurgents My brain couldn t comprehend it I couldn t rationalize in my head that this was even possible I had just talked to him 12 hours before his mission Emily remembers When Emily and the family finally got the official word of Pat s death she and his sister also active duty Navy in San Diego flew to Maryland to be with Pat s family I couldn t see outside my own grief Everyone else was grieving but I personally couldn t see it I couldn t comfort myself much less be there for my in laws Emily said Emily felt as if her brain had shut down She went through the motions of making decisions for the funeral buying a dress and everything else that accompanied this horrific tragedy but actually remembers very little She was just numb After the funeral it was just too much to remain in San Diego The memories the places that both Emily and Pat had loved it was like a permanent cloud was hovering over this beautiful sunny city that used to hold so much joy Emily put in a transfer to Tampa FL She had to start a new life and day by day week by week Emily began to heal But even 4 years later she recalls crying to the Navy SEALS Foundation Even when I m an independent strong person who opened up my life and heart to this person You know you can take care of yourself but this REALLY SUCKS This August will mark the 9 year anniversary of Patrick s death Emily has since SO1 Patrick Delaney Feeks retired from the Navy in 2019 and will be getting married this October with Pat s family in attendance We are still close because we communicated our grief and we are still family she said And even though she will always miss Patrick I m certain that my fianc is Pat approved she said with a laugh 1 https www cool navy mil usn enlisted ctr htm If you have a story to share as someone who served on the home front email stories theateasemagazine com AT EASE Veterans Magazine 9

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On occasion you can hear a song that reaches to the very core of your being For Veterans one of those songs is Warrior Inside by Dave Bray USA At first glance Dave looks like your typical Rock Star with his long hair and signature sunglasses But make no mistake Dave Bray is anything but typical The one thing that stands out about Dave there is no doubt that he is as genuine and real as they come For Dave his motivation isn t for the notoriety and photo ops instead it is a passion that runs so deep that it drives the very heart of his life s mission And this passion for God family and Country are evident in every single song he writes He is in fact a hero in his own right Although he would humbly disagree MILITARY Dave Doc Bray served as an FMF Corpsman for 2 2 STA Platoon Camp Lejeune The STA platoon is the sharp edge of the sword for the Marine Rifle Battalion Dave s Military Days at Camp Swampy It took Dave a few weeks to prove himself to these dirty bearded and unexpectedly cantankerous Devil Dogs My Marines took a young dixie cup wearin Rock n Roll lovin fresh out of the can squid and taught me how to improvise overcome and adapt my way out of just about any situation that came along I very soon realized that most situations could be fixed with 550 cord some kind of tape water or just plain destroying everything within a square kilometer Dave recalled But once he earned their trust those Marines had his back and Dave had theirs no matter what came along That trust and loyalty would serve Dave well during his deployments from guns pointing downrage atop an American Embassy to every other mission they were assigned Although I don t consider myself a true warrior by definition I do find that I have a tendency Scan to Watch to to gravitate towards those who are Dave said Warrior Inside MUSIC Dave s musical style can be described as a fusion between Country Folk and a whole lot of Rock thrown in for good measure With his guitar in hand and a profound proclivity as a patriotic storyteller Dave s lyrics and music have the ability to pull you into a ballad and touch your heart in a way that very few songwriters can achieve After his discharge from the Navy Dave used music as an outlet to fill in the void that was left after his service Dave recalls Writing and performing my music on stage was a huge part of my transition back into civilian life 12 AT EASE Veterans Magazine

It was also at that time that Dave met his wife Becky He recounts Becky and I would spend the next 10 years of our lives grinding it out in the clubs and bars with numerous musical projects both while working full time jobs Becky turned out to be the best little battle buddy a guy could ask for The Brays found quite a bit of success early on in Dave s career but the chiggers and snakes he encountered during his training at Camp Swampy were nothing compared to the swamp creatures he encountered in the music industry It left us chewed up and spit out by our record label and the projects into which we had poured our blood sweat and tears We were broken he said His dream of honoring American heroes through music was very close to meeting its end Dave remembers somewhere within my emptiness and resentment there resided a small flame still burning inside my faith FAMILY FAITH Starting over That s the new mission Dave and Becky found themselves on but this time they were going to do it not with the help of a compromised sadistic music industry but with God himself They went back to their core belief system of Honor Courage and Commitment We knew that if we were going to get back into the fight we would have to Stay the course finish that fight and never surrender he said With two young boys to raise we knew we were taking a huge gamble Dave recalls With little time to prepare and practically zero financial resources to draw from we were knee deep in the brass so to speak and running low on ammo We needed Faith Not just a we re going to church now type of faith but a deep down ancient kind of a faith the fearless kind he said With nothing but a literal song and a prayer they took that leap of faith and started their own entertainment AT EASE Veterans Magazine 13

Ray Cash Care plays the homeless Veteran on the streets and the utter rejection and invisibility that While Dave is the front man and face of Dave Bray comes along with it USA Becky is lovingly referred to a Mission Control In 2018 they produced and released Music On A Mission Mission Two verses in the song stand out This full length album features 9 songs narrated by that almost any Veteran can relate Bray for a truly unique first of it s kind Story Teller to Album Music On A Mission features Warrior Inside Last Call and Into the Fire Dave s second album You promised me you d always slated to release this year will include already released be there through the worst of singles Survivor and One Day of Hell a tribute to times and the suffering Scan to Watch to the September 11 2001 attacks on our Nation A Better Man But darkness wins when I let it in The shadows overtake me and I m blinded once SONG WITH A PURPOSE again company and record label Dave Bray USA was born In 2020 Dave was on yet another mission to highlight Veteran homelessness What is our country doing for the homeless Veterans for all those people that served this nation that went and fought in battles and wars who bled for us and they are on the streets starving and dying he said According to the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans it is estimated that over 40 056 veterans are homeless on any given night and the number of young homeless Veterans is steadily increasing In context that s almost enough to fill a football stadium To fight this epidemic it takes more than just logistics It s tackling the heart issues the pride issues and the perceptions that Veterans are trained not to be weak It is drilled into us that we can never allow ourselves to be the weakest link in the chain And because of this some Veterans who actually need help often don t reach out until it s too late if they reach out at all ARISING A BETTER MAN As the video portrays the absolute brokenness of our Veteran a stranger walks by and puts a gold cross into the hat that is being held out for change He picks up the chain and holds it up and then the emphasis begins to change until the only thing in focus is the cross For Dave the source that brought him out of his own darkness and despair was a far better man than he His faith in a Risen Savior and the ongoing relationship he has with Him It s this relationship that gives him the courage and resilience to fight another day and to fight for those who can t fight for themselves As a good soldier Dave knows that he must be tactical in the battles he chooses to fight and no longer concerns himself with the swamp creatures Instead he and Becky choose to walk humbly with God run their entertainment business with the utmost integrity honor and fortitude and stay on the Mission to be a voice for Patriotism our Veterans and First Responders arising a better man The latest project for Dave Bray USA is a video collaboration called A Better Man Working with A HUGE Thank You to Dave Bray for supplying his article published director and video producer Curtis Boggs and Navy in the July 2020 issue of Semper Fi magazine used to pull quotes for SEAL Veteran Ray Cash Care they created an honest his background And to Becky Bray for the 11th hour edits look at Veteran homelessness It s a little dark and emotional but we wanted to shine a very real light on Veteran homelessness and hopefully witness another option and that option for me was faith Dave said 14 AT EASE Veterans Magazine

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finding my voice again Written by Carrie Murray Beavers Join me for a large cup of coffee while I tell you my story Unfortunately it is not unique to many female Veterans but it does have a happy ending THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED It happened one night while sleeping in an open bay at Army AIT If you didn t want to be yelled at by a drill sergeant the whole time you were making your bed you slept on top of the covers I also slept in PT uniform of a t shirt and shorts on the top bunk I was awoken by my Drill Sergeant s hand slowly moving up my leg up over my body and down my arm I opened my eyes and when I saw him standing there I immediately closed my eyes and froze I could not move I could not think and action was out of the question What happened that night changed my life forever at the tender age of 18 I was too afraid to report it at the time and even if I did would they believe me One minute I was a happy trusting and hopeful young woman with a bright future ahead of me But afterwards I was depressed mess I rolled up in a ball on the floor crying not knowing why this happened to me and even worse that feeling of being powerless to do anything about it The moment I left AIT I suppressed the incident ever happened I was in complete denial MOVING ON TO SELF DESTRUCTION Germany was my first duty station in 1991 during the Gulf War Alcohol and drugs had never been in my wheelhouse but drinking excessively and doing a variety of drugs became my normal Anything I could do to numb my feelings and not face the pain I had no idea that I had PTSD I just knew something was very wrong I met and dated my future husband in Germany We had a very on again off again relationship It was just so hard for me to trust or respect a man But we married in 1993 and I transitioned out of the Army to Ft Bragg where he was stationed I had a very hard time transitioning to civilian life so I joined the Army Reserves and was assigned with the 82nd Aviation as support I also got a civilian job in sales but I was fired because I could not make the sales quota It felt like I was being thrown into another world being expected to 16 AT EASE Veterans Magazine

know how to navigate in civilian life After only 4 months after my discharge from active duty I reenlisted active duty Army as a Combat Medic LET S TRY THIS AGAIN I was assigned to Womack Army Medical Center I went from being the soldier that was picked for having the best uniform to escort the Generals around during my previous enlistment to not getting along with my chain of command I was demoted but later on earned back my rank I was the medic that the Army nurses came to do things because I was great at my job I was assigned to Smoke Bomb Hill Family Practice to take care of Special Forces family Members I helped to manage the clinic and yet I struggled to get along with my chain of command once again It was also at this time that my husband I had separated just one of multiple separations Still not knowing I had PTSD or what PTSD was I just knew that I was self sabotaging my life off and on I worked in stressful jobs as a nurse in the ER and other areas of healthcare because I felt drawn to the stress FINALLY A TURNING POINT Fast forward to 2019 I was really struggling I was tired of my own shit for the last 30 years and I was considering suicide I was in a very low place and felt stuck there I finally reached out to a Veteran group for help and started to notice that numerous Vets were expressing that they wanted to end their life too I reached out to them as a good listener and someone they could relate to I started working with a Veterans crisis team and I saw that I was making a difference in other Veterans lives and giving them hope but I was still struggling with suicidal thoughts myself I decided to go to the VA for help I put in a claim for PTSD related to MST Military Sexual Trauma After 2 years and much frustration I was awarded 100 percent disability The counseling at the VA combined with networking with other Veteran groups online helped me a lot I networked with other Veterans online and found a community of support that has really changed my life A NEW BEGINNING In 2020 I started my own business Soldier Girl Coffee I also created an affiliate program to help inspire other Veterans that you can have PTSD find healthy coping mechanisms and do anything you want to do in this life as long as you don t give up Do not wait 30 years like I did My advice get help early on I let PTSD from the trauma of MST control my life and silence my voice for far too long I found that CBD oil is also a tool that has helped my PTSD and that is why I am offering a 100 THC Free CBD infused coffee in hopes that others will find it can help them too Finally while it may have been a rocky road I am damn proud to be a Veteran who served my country Don t get me wrong there are still days that PTSD rears it s ugly head but with the love and listening ear of my Veteran brothers and sisters those dark days are fewer and further in between I am committed to using my business and my resources to continue to work within the Veteran community supporting programs that prevent Veteran suicide Veteran homelessness and put a spotlight on women Veterans to find and use their voice To find out more about Soldier Girl Coffee scan the QR Code Editors Note According to National data from VA s national screening program reveals that about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 50 men respond yes that they experienced MST when screened by their VA provider Although rates of MST are higher among women because there are so many more men than women in the military there are actually significant numbers of women and men seen in VA who have experienced MST https www mentalhealth va gov docs mst_general_factsheet pdf AT EASE Veterans Magazine 17

DD 214 BEYOND HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS about the lack of homes for women in need there was no question I would take action Meet an Army Veteran creating Certainty and Dignity one Home at a Time Did you know Texas has the third largest population of women veterans nationwide behind California and Florida yet leads in the number of homeless women veterans In a recent study from the VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans it estimates that between 13 15 of women veterans living in poverty are likely to be homeless This unfortunate statistic sparked Retired US Army Captain Veronica Segura to form Housing Confidence LLC a woman veteran owned business that provides transitional housing for women veterans Veronica s new mission is to create safe accessible housing for women vets in need After learning that there is a growing gap between women veterans and affordable housing in her county Veronica set out to address this issue Reflecting on her veteran family values she noted I was taught community service from an early age Once I knew firsthand 18 AT EASE Veterans Magazine Starting with the home she grew up in Veronica s parents sold her their home in 2019 providing her opportunity to reimagine her childhood home as a future haven for homeless and marginalized women veterans Veronica quickly realized she needed a plan to not only renovate and update the home but a framework for business ownership too She reached out to Texas Veterans Commission Entrepreneur Program for guidance on business planning market research entity formation and community resources Veronica began writing her business plan This included learning the actual homeless numbers in her area the extensive wait lists for veterans who qualify for housing and the requirements as Written by Christina Mortel a homeowner Quickly it became obvious the availability of homes just did not meet the demand Even one home could make a difference As Veronica dug deeper into the facts she realized this passion was more than a project it was another opportunity to serve Veronica sought the help of an attorney and CPA to help inform her decision to establish a Series LLC business entity According to Rebecca Smith retired US Army Veteran and Attorney The Rebecca Smith Law Firm PLLC A Series LLC was consistent with Veronica s business goals since she was operating in the state of Texas Series LLCs are not allowed in all states and can have specific tax consequences Always consult with competent legal Veronica Segura Ret Captain USA Family

counsel before deciding on the best entity for your business Now how to find community resources Veronica s startup efforts led her to the VA and HUD Housing and Urban Development VASH Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing Program She met with a HUD veteran liaison who detailed how the program helps lowincome veterans By working within the VASH program her property would house vets who received a voucher to meet expenses through a housing subsidy HUD provides guidance on property owner compliance and within a few weeks Veronica met the requirements and qualified her residence for the VASH program Thanks to community resource help Housing Confidence LLC now offers a single family home in the program Veronica will help place a veteran in a newly minted home in a quiet established neighborhood The next chapter for a woman vet and family will be a life of certainty and dignity Veronica is starting a new chapter too Her plans are to grow her social impact business developing more homes in the next few years I am hopeful to purchase more houses and build partnerships with organizations who are helping women veterans In a touching tribute Veronica has dedicated the first home in honor of her late father Victor a veteran who served as a Helicopter Repairman in Vietnam All of Veronica s future homes will be dedicated to a veteran in recognition of their service to our country It is just one more way to connect future families to the vast and remarkable history of US veterans Sources VA Report VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans Article Hidden Numbers https bit ly 31A7T5H VA HUD VASH Program https www va gov HOMELESS docs LandlordsFactsheet508 pdf Homeless female veterans Out of sight out of mind Penn State University psu edu www RSmithLawFirm com Christina Mortel is a US Army Veteran and Business Consultant with Texas Veterans Commission Veteran Entrepreneur Program She also hosts Texas Veterans Mean Business Podcast Christina is a business owner and Managing Member of Get Write to Business LLC Do you have a start up story Connect with Christina www linkedin com in christina mortel Every business has a story What is your start up story Homeless and at risk veterans need more than just shelter We must give them the tools to empower themselves and reclaim the self worth and dignity which comes from occupying a place in the American dream It is a dream they fought so hard to defend for the rest of us Maria Cuomo Cole

EVERY VETERAN HAS A STORY TO TELL Written by Shannon Robinson AT EASE Veterans Magazine 21

A True Calling The Story of Fr John Martin USMC E5 Sergeant He may be a priest in the pastoral town of Pilot Point Texas but at one point Father John Martin was a boy with a military family ready to enlist in the US Marines John was exposed early to military life His father was in the Navy for 25 years and John was raised in the military culture with a deep respect for the service He remembers his friend in 3rd grade had a brother in law who was in the Marines Tall strong and the image of patriotism and manhood he was a figure that John looked up to and the reason he decided to enlist in the Marines After high school John worked for a year at a construction company repairing bulldozers he joined the Marines at 18 He told the recruiter he either wanted to blow shit up or train dogs to kill people The recruiter signed him up for mechanic school with the promise the could easily transfer to another position later in his service That definitely wasn t true John laughed He trained as a mechanic and primarily worked on C 130s F 4s and CH 46s Inspections or repairs John s work ran the gambit He remembers the high tension and anxiety in the hangar when the Inspector General would arrive Uniforms Perfect Barracks Spotless Military history On lockdown John worked in hangars in California South Carolina and Okinawa He says he was lucky enough to always be near a beach throughout his service He could have discharged after Japan but he decided to spend a year in 22 AT EASE Veterans Magazine North Carolina just to get a feeling for what was happening stateside before leaving the military John was discharged after nine years of service He had a rocky transition into civilian life and entertained the idea of becoming a highway patrol officer but he was a walk on at Bell Helicopters which was an irresistible offer John said that his call to the priesthood popped up several times throughout his youth In fact he knew he wanted to be a priest since he was a young boy He saw Pope John XXIII on television and revered how that position was such a celebration of God However the thought left me just as quickly as it came he said and John went on with his life But the thought continued to persist It wasn t until he was in Okinawa that John was baptized a Catholic He confided in a priest that he was considering the seminary and the priest quickly dismissed him saying that he was too old However after working at Bell Helicopters for 21 years he determined his call for the priesthood and entered into seminary in 2010 The military gave John structure and discipline and he enjoyed the many different people you meet and the brotherhood between servicemen He also said the military taught him to live light which is something that has served him well throughout his life traveling as both a Marine and a priest When comparing the military and the priesthood he said that both callings formate you One requires seven years of study and devotion the other he says beats you into submission You can guess which description applies to which career Formation style aside both vocations require a devotion of your life for what you believe Father John Martin is a Catholic and a patriot truly willing to defend God and country with his life

An Officer Gentleman The Story of Gary McKenzie USA Army Captain Flying visual and not instrumental they were strung out two miles apart above the clouds Suddenly jets were shooting out and taking off between them The pilots declared an emergency landing and landed at One of the highlights of Gary s time at West Point was an open airfield below What they didn t know is the jets participating in the West Point Glee Club Everyone were Thunderbirds which now had to circle above the airfield while the Hueys wanted to be in it because you got to travel landed Embarrassed all over the country All across the lower 48 and out of line the Gary and his brothers sang at some prestigious unit waited as the jets events They even had the opportunity to sing landed specifically so at the 1975 Miss USA Pageant where Gary also they could chew out had the honor of escorting Ms Ohio each and every one One fateful night performing in Springfield of them Fortunately Virginia Gary met Sandy She was a friend of years later Gary can his roommate and Gary knew he had to act now refer to this as the quick to date her They soon did and decided day he got to fly with they wanted to marry Drawing from a lottery to the US Thunderbirds see when they could get hitched the following Gary received orders to year they were married at West Point on June report to the 1st Cavalry 4 1976 Division at Ft Hood Graduating from West Point at the top of his where he joined Delta class Gary was a 2nd Lieutenant who focused Troop 1 9 Cavalry his training on field artillery The Glee Club He persisted through prepared him well because for the next six training as a Scout years Gary continued traveling across the Platoon Leader He United States He first joined the 101st Airborne described this period Division at Ft Campbell Kentucky He said they as lots of flying and lots of training Most of their flying were constantly training As a Fort Observer he went out was done at tree level or lower and they would identify with the infantry and practiced drills He became a qualified targets call up the gunship Huey Cobras and eliminate Paratrooper and attended Air Assault school Gaining all the targets the skills and experience he could Gary was Distinguished When Gary was discharged in 1981 he was a Jr Military Honor Graduate 1 Commissioned Officer which made him a hot commodity He applied for flight school and moved from Kentucky to going into the work force He began working for Exxon in Alabama in 78 where he spent nine months at Ft Rucker Kingsfield Texas and he worked in the oil and gas industry and learned to fly helicopters primarily the Huey and the until he retired in January 2020 Bell Jet Ranger The Oil industry took Gary to Russia for the first time The McKenzie traveled all around the US for the Army While experience was difficult for him to manage at first His stationed at Camp Irwin in California Gary recalled a day training had been to prepare for potential Soviet attacks they were flying two Hueys north of Las Vegas and planning so working with the Russians as a businessman was to meet at Indian Springs 8 men in each helicopter they jarring at first When you re trained to hate someone could overhear the pilots on the radio they were lost An Officer Gentleman continued on page 38 running late and low on fuel Nearing the final years of the Vietnam War 1968 was a time when many men were drafted overseas to fight the Viet Cong At 14 years old Gary McKenzie started researching the military and he discovered the Army was for him A born and raised Texan who had never been on a plane on July 1st 1972 17 year old Gary took his one way ticket to New York on Braniff Airlines prepared to change his life forever McKenzie started at West Point on July 2nd AT EASE Veterans Magazine 23

No Limits The Story of Robert Garcia USAF E7 Senior Master Sergeant From the rural logging town of Eureka California Robert Garcia s family didn t provide the most structured upbringing Ninety percent of my family were drug addicts or alcoholics he said He failed out of high school and left home at 18 After an attempt at continuation school Robert moved to Phoenix at 19 and enrolled in DeVry University He loved the mechanics behind electronics but his learning disability made it impossible for him to focus on Algebra or higher mathematics After a year of slugging through school he remembers losing his job and getting kicked out of DeVry in the same week He joined the military because he couldn t afford food Dead serious Penniless and sleeping on the floor he took the ASVAB The recruiter noticing he tested highly in electronics and was living off of nothing brought Robert a paper bag full of frozen foods to help him out I will never forget that act of kindness on his part What Garcia needed was structure and discipline At 21 years old he arrived at Lackland Air Base in San Antonio The first few days were a complete culture shock He was a bit older than the other guys at Basic He remembers some boys crying in their pillows like they were in prison but remarks that it was just 6 weeks and for him more like a summer camp where he knew he was going to be torn down a bit Maybe I just didn t have the right amount of give a care but nothing really got to me With a wretched life up to that point he had nothing to lose so he shut up enjoyed the ride got yelled at like everybody else and learned to be the shadow He enlisted Determined Contract and went into bomber avionics Nine months of intense electronics training was a high order for him at the time If he failed two tests he would have been reclassed to Open General Similar to his previous 24 AT EASE Veterans Magazine experience in school he struggled with the tests and was called stupid all the time At the end of the day he tried to have fun with it and successfully completed training Garcia was sent to Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport Louisiana for three years working as a Bomber Technician He was responsible for maintaining the plane systems such as radar monitors or the occasional barfed on keyboard the B 52s shook so much the training lieutenants often couldn t handle the turbulence It was at that point when he really got into achievement Robert decided to go to night school and achieved his bachelor s and two associate s degrees but in 2005 Garcia got a job teaching Engineering at a low income high school For the first two years there were no expectations On the far end of campus with little chance of running into an administrator Garcia hit up the beach bars slept in his car and stumbled into class hungover he didn t care about anything However by the end of five years he had done a complete 180 he was running the Academy of Engineering His methods Ninth grade there s a formula You go full Drill Sergeant for two weeks you scare the living shit out of them and you establish dominance It s just like prison Eventually he eased up with the Juniors and Seniors but this kind of tough love and discipline earned him a reputation of absolute terror along with a nomination for Teacher of the Year While he was teaching Robert joined the Reserves finished his MBA and then pursued his Doctorate During this time the school lost funding for the program and he was let go It was after this from 2006 to 2013 that he describes his life like being in a tunnel His enlistment was up in 2002 and he drove to San Diego where with all of his training and degrees the only job he could get was as a tow truck driver 6 75 an hour 12 hours a day 5 6 days a week Within a month he enrolled in the University of Phoenix to get his MBA That s when he started the long climb to success He doesn t know quite how it happened He found technical writing and bounced between companies for eight years while still working on his Doctorate Robert earned his Doctorate of Education degree at 37 and became an enlisted PhD He realized that the corporate environment didn t have the zeal that he was looking for he wanted to work for himself So he focused all of his No Limits continued on page 38

An unexpected turn The Story of Terry England USN E3 Like many young men when Terry England embarked on his military career he had no idea where it would lead him He only knew that he wanted to travel and needed money for college In the summer of 1994 right after graduating high school Terry shipped off to Recruit Training Command Orlando As the second to last training group before the location was shut down at the end of boot camp the new recruits broke down their beds and shut down the barracks the last night they were there He went into boot camp Undesignated He had an interest in linguistics but couldn t join for a year and a half he wanted to enter intelligence and considered nuke training but he couldn t study those and pursue SEAL training in the future He came out of boot camp with an A School Opportunity so Terry went into Damage Control Training Damage Control ensures preventative maintenance for firefighting and systems on the ship Terry trained in Chemical Biological Radiological CBR Detection and Decontamination Running drills daily much of Terry s responsibilities included firefighting fixing burst pipes and plugging holes He remembers one night where he sat on a toilet for seven hours with a CO2 extinguisher and welding glasses watching 2 crews replace a pipe in the pressurized fire suppression system making sure nothing caught on fire and keeping people from using the bathroom even when a CPO tried to shower Terry forbade him from entering trying to explain the situation To no surprise standing in his tighty whities ditty bag in hand the CPO chewed England out and threatened him within an inch of his life Fortunate for Terry his commanding officer Chief Goans showed up and promptly put the CPO in his place explaining the situation and ending with a stern don t bother my crew Now England believes that everything happens for a reason Unfortunately just before he deployed he was running a Mass Conflag drill and carried a P 250 auxiliary pump up three decks On the way back to his station he fell down a ladder well The fall revealed damage done to his knee during boot camp and Terry was quickly diagnosed with PFS or runner s knees in laymen terms due to overuse and probably running too much in steel toed boots Surgery was an option an option that came with a 6 chance of recovery and a 30 chance of making things much worse Terry was medically discharged later that year with disability He immediately entered physical rehabilitation for his knees and stuck with that for years He was told he d have to have his first knee replacement before he was 50 years old but with grit and determination he hopes he has reversed those odds After his time in the military Terry worked several different jobs He started selling vacuums with his uncle in Lawton Oklahoma When his uncle got out of the business Terry didn t feel any ties to the sales industry so he left the business too Next he went into the restaurant industry serving bartending and working his way up However he realized that working his way up in the restaurant industry still wasn t his calling So he transferred again into the IT world At the Convergys call center Terry earned several tech certifications However right as he was about to level up in the tech industry Compaq was bought out and the market was soon flooded with supremely qualified call center reps It became increasingly harder for Terry to advance in this career His mother is the one who talked Terry into nursing A nurse herself she encouraged him to pursue a BSN However Terry wasn t sure he would receive any or enough VA benefits to afford a college education In fact Terry didn t go to school for 10 years because he didn t know he qualified for VA benefits He paid for his nursing pre requisite courses and then applied for benefits through the GI Bill expecting around 1600 dollars He describes the day he found out he was going to receive 8 9 000 dollars Shocked surprised and grateful An Unexpected Turn continued on page 38 AT EASE Veterans Magazine 25

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By Christine Walker Located just 20 minutes south of Lusk Wyoming there is the little community of Jay Em Jay Em is so small that driving south on 85 you would miss it The buildings on Main Street have literally been frozen in time since the late 1800s and are flanked by dirt roads There are a handful of old wood framed houses and the only service in the town to speak of is a Post Office But don t discount this little pioneer town because within its borders is an absolute treasure for the Veteran community Located just a few miles down the road on the Mirrored K Legacy Ranch is an up and coming Veteran organization committed to PTSD Equine Therapy and Wild Mustang rescues called Operation Remount MEET THE ALEXANDERS Kelly Karen Alexander met in 2008 through a mutual friend while Kelly was still active duty Army National Guard Karen was an Oncology Nurse and Kelly was an Intelligence Specialist They were married on the day that the Mayan Calendar predicted the end of the world in 2012 Karen joked Kelly acquiesced because he could do anything for 24 hours In 2016 Karen moved to Cheyenne Wyoming while Kelly was stationed in Nebraska While there she studied and received her Doctorate Degree to become a Nurse Practitioner Unbeknownst to either of them at the time every decision from this point on would soon become the providential foundation of Operation Remount Kelly originally served in the Army from 1983 to 1987 He was out of the Military for 14 years until he decided to join the Army National Guard in September of 2000 exactly 1 year prior to the day of 9 11 AT EASE Veterans Magazine 27

Kelly had two long deployments one to Iraq from 2004 2005 and another 20 month stint to Afghanistan from 2007 2008 Guard units would take two months at the front and at the back he said of his extended deployments Returning stateside Kelly realized that he was in trouble and reached out to the VA for treatment and counseling He was diagnosed with PTSD and TBI Traumatic Brain Injury While never having received a head injury due to the prolonged exposure to trauma the chemical make up of the brain can change causing permanent injury to the brain to their website but I missed the cut off date by days I called the program and got the green light to fill out the application and sent it in he recalls Kelly knew it was a long shot In December of 2017 while home on leave Kelly received a phone call informing him that they had received his application and were looking it over Another phone call a week later informed him that he had been accepted into the program As it happened Kelly s retirement and terminal leave coincided with the program start date Thankfully Kelly Karen were in a financial position that Kelly could attend and pay for his trip and meals while he stayed in the couples RV in Texas Kelly was diligent in seeking treatment Unfortunately the VA The Mustang Heritage treatments didn t really work for Foundation equine therapy me he said The VA is sustained program was 8 weeks long on the lowest bidder Most of the I was one of six who was treatments are short term and are invited to attend Two of based on certain methodologies the six were not local which equal the least possible Kelly said Not knowing amount of treatment so Veterans anything about horses and are left to their own devices having put my uniform Kelly firmly stated I was involved behind me I was worried in cognitive behavioral therapy about a job and what am I which is a treatment that brings going to do He recalls I back all the fears and memories tried to keep an open mind Kelly Endy in a controlled environment They to the best of my ability also tried Alpha Stim therapy an electro therapy device around the second week I realized I wasn t too bad at that is supposed to relieve post traumatic stress disorder this and it just might work depression anxiety and sleeplessness through a painless electrical stimulation delivered through a smart device At the end of 8 weeks there was a semi formal graduation ceremony and Kelly was voted class horseman Just Between the lackluster one size fits all short term because I didn t know much about horses didn t mean I treatments and the meds it left Kelly feeling Meh wasn t a horseman That Aha moment gave me a sense of worth and passion he said AND THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED NEW LIFE WITH THE WIFE While sitting in the waiting room of the VA waiting for Kelly returned to Cheyenne In late Fall of 2019 Karen his appointment Kelly was browsing through a VFW now a Nurse Practitioner received a phone interview from magazine and read a story about a group of Veterans who a Clinic in Lusk Wyoming The Clinic asked for a second were doing a Veterans to Mustang program at Cheyenne in person interview and in January of 2020 Karen was Frontier Days displaying to the general public what they hired did I thought it was cool but I didn t know anything about horses he said The couple was faced with the But Kelly couldn t get the article out of his mind so he possibility of living started searching for Equine Therapy programs most of apart and doing which were geared towards Veterans in the local area in the two house which they operated didn t meet his specific needs or thing again were simply a day long trail ride In 2017 Kelly finally They looked at found a program in Central Texas that he thought would properties but work for him I came across a therapy program went nothing seemed to 28 AT EASE Veterans Magazine Karen Belle

fit Two weeks later the Realtor called and said a 270 acre Ranch in Jay Em just went on the market It was close enough to Karen s job so they went to see the property As they drove in there was a sign that read Wyoming Horse Rescue They looked at each other and knew it was divine providence Karen said It was love at first sight The house known by locals as the Little Red Mansion was PERFECT The red brick sprawling multi level Ranch style house was enormous but it was the Barn that sealed the deal With nine stalls with run outs including a mare care stall horse shower dog washing station and two huge shops at the North and South end of the heated barn it was at that moment that the couple birthed Mirrored K Legacy Ranch with Operation Remount close at its heels LET S TALK ABOUT THE MUSTANGS Mustang horses are Federally protected animals under the Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 The act provides specific protections to all unbranded and unclaimed horses and burros on public lands of the United States and makes it a crime for anyone to harass or kill these animals on federal land It requires the departments of the Interior and Agriculture to protect the animals Beginning with its enactment it required studies of the habits and habitats of free ranging horses and burros permitting public land to be set aside for their use In addition the act required that these horses and burros be protected as living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West The Bureau of Land Management BLM was tasked with the identification of the areas where free roaming horses and burros were found there was no specific amount of acreage set aside and the Act required management plans to maintain a thriving natural ecological balance among wild horse populations wildlife livestock and vegetation and to protect the range from the deterioration associated with overpopulation Although wild horse ranges were principally for the protection of the horses the land was required to be maintained for multiple uses The BLM was also permitted to close public land to livestock grazing to protect wild horses and burro habitats 1 According to Kelly due to the high density population of Mustangs due to breeding it began to take a toll on the available food sources for the horses The Bureau of Land Management has to round up thousands of horses every year which are then sold at Auction It is important to note that every buyer goes through rigorous inspections of their properties by BLM to ensure the proper care of the animals Unfortunately the rounding up process sometimes utilizing helicopters and being kept takes its toll on the wild Mustangs causing stress and PTSD OPERATION REMOUNT When Kelly finished his equine therapy program in Texas Endy the horse he was assigned to work with became his As everything began to fall in place the Alexander s realized the time was right to launch Operation Remount Corporation Together they devised a plan that would not only allow Veterans like Kelly to find healing but to partner them with a Mustang they could build a life long bond with Yes you read that correctly If the Veteran is able to care for and stable the horse Operation Remount will gift the rescued Mustang to the Veteran For Kelly Karen it wasn t enough to just run a 6 week program they want to take it to another level providing for every single need of the Veterans while they are in the program at no cost to them AT EASE Veterans Magazine 29

The program will run 4 days a week from 0900 1530 Mornings will consist of training and education in horse care safety horse training grooming and a myriad of other topics related to the care of the Mustangs The afternoons will be a time for one on one bonding with their horse Dog s and Horses have an incredible depth with human beings Kelly said This schedule will also allow the participants plenty of down time to reflect and keep in touch with loved ones While in the course Veterans will be housed on the property and the community of Jay Em has stepped up to help provide meals In fact the community is so supportive that several have volunteered their time to come out to the Ranch or open their doors for visits One woman who runs a canine equine massage therapy business will be sharing her experiences and expertise At other times there will be field trips to Veterinarians Farriers Rodeos and other events WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR OPERATION REMOUNT It s Alexander s dream to expand their mission to include a Bunk House a handful of Tiny Cabins and increase the number of participants and horses for the 6 week program throughout the year 1 https en wikipedia org wiki Wild_and_Free Roaming_Horses_and_Burros_Act_of_1971 The first two Veterans to go through this program started in May and a second course is slated to begin in August with 3 participants Ultimately Operation Remount plans to run year round The bond between the Vet and Mustang doesn t end with the program I think we can go one step further Kelly said Upon graduation the Veteran will receive their curriculum a grooming kit their Mustang and transportation of the horse back to their home state after the initial inspection of their property boarding stables by the Bureau of Land Management When asked about how families can support their Veterans Kelly answered It takes very special people to support a Veteran with PTSD TBI and it starts with the spouse Absolute support and unconditional love are needed and it may require a short term financial sacrifice on the home front 30 AT EASE Veterans Magazine HOW CAN OUR READERS HELP If you would like to give to Operation Remount contact the Alexanders through their website contact form To sponsor a Veteran 5000 this includes travel per diem to and from Jay Em housing meals curriculum the Mustang and Equine transportation To sponsor a Tiny Cabin 8000 To find out more visit their website by scanning the QR Code Authors Note If for any reason the Veteran cannot keep the horse the horse will remain on Mirrored K Legacy Ranch for the next cycle of Veterans or will be Auctioned to a good home and the money raised will go back into Operation Remount Regardless of ownership the BLM must inspect the properties to ensure the Mustang is in a safe and healthy environment Operation Remount article proudly sponsored by

D DAY FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN By Shannon Robinson When we look at the Americans who parachuted into enemy territory and stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6 1944 they were common men who had to muster up uncommon bravery for an extraordinary task They are heroes The bearing it had on the War alone was monumental it changed the course of history from a potentially doomed socialistic tyranny to a future where freedom could ring It was a day that shook the world and was the beginning of the end of World War II Operation Overlord held the hope for the end of World War II in its complex hands Its many moving parts and the pressurized promise of an Ally success rested on Eisenhower and other Allied leaders like Earth on Atlas s shoulders They knew this day would determine the War The impact it had on the soldiers was drastically life changing They felt the bullets dragged their bodies through the cold Atlantic waters watched their brothers die on those rocky beaches and overthrew the German fortifications Approximately 10 000 Allied casualties over 4 000 dead 5 000 ships 11 000 airplanes and 150 000 men Numbers can help you visualize the size of such an operation but they cannot convey Eisenhower s strategy or the anticipation of the paratroopers as they descended under nightfall or the agony and determination felt on the Utah and Omaha beaches that day With all the movies and TV series that have been made to capture the courage and brutality of D Day it is impossible for any civilian to understand the tremendous impact that day had The ordinary men with extraordinary bravery moved forward with the formidable words of General Eisenhower You are about to embark on the great crusade toward which we have striven these many months The eyes of the world are upon you I have full confidence in your courage devotion to duty and skill in battle One of the most recognizable orchestral pieces today Aaron Copland s Fanfare for the Common Man premiered in the Spring of 1943 He wrote it at the urging of English conductor Eugene Goosens to commemorate and honor the men serving at the start of World War II The timpani boldly opens the wellknown piece resounding like a heart beat with steady measure and courageous anticipation Then the solemn trumpet section presents a dignified but not ostentation solo This solo is reminiscent of each individual soldier that day clad in a solitary dignity The trumpeters playing in perfect unison are soon joined by French Horns tubas and trombones and like the brothers in arms that day at Normandy the brass section swells and the timpani thunders to the musical crescendo The uncomplicated melody persists and strengthens amid the clash of cymbals It is an appropriate metaphor of the invasion of Normandy and the gallant men who persevered against all odds and certain death World War II called average men that together in unity of one common goal stormed the beaches or dropped through the sky that fateful day for the purpose of achieving the remarkable Let us remember that our world would not be the same without these common men and their uncommon bravery AT EASE Veterans Magazine 31

4th of July Reflection on Freedom America Written by Shannon Robinson Hard times create strong men Strong men create good times Good times create weak men Weak men create hard times My mother often likes to quote G Michael Hopf s timeless words from his novel Those Who Remain Remain especially when we re arguing about politics or history I can t argue against this ironclad stanza however Now reflecting on our nation heroically defended by the blood and bodies of centuries of Americans before me this cyclical prophecy reminds me of the grit on which America is built It s so easy to take freedom for granted With the American flag so commercialized and replicated with major historical events dumbed down and supplanted into cartoons it s easy for civilians to forget that 245 years ago brave men visualized a different future for themselves Our founding fathers created a new world out of hard times They were the strong men that built our nation They were the strong men that took an idea and gave us the fruits from which all Americans still reap today Their visions echo in the footsteps of every strong man and woman who continues to fight for freedom and American values 30 AT EASE Veterans Magazine Growing up and teaching overseas I ve often been laughed at or misunderstood for my American ideologies My favorite response comes when my advice to someone has been Well why don t you just do it or Why don t you just ask them My friends and students usually chuckled and said that is a very American way of thinking And they re right It is a very American way of thinking The thought that I can ask questions plough my own path and challenge anyone else s idea with my own is innate in my mind Without hesitation I believe I can accomplish what I set my mind to And that is simply because I am American I grew up with freedom and the belief that if you work hard you can accomplish anything This ideology is unique to our country and a fundamental part of our identity many people take for granted Our nation shifts and changes sure but surging through its core the American identity holds us together Whether it be good or hard times Americans always find a way Whether we re defending our rights and honor or we re making the good times better Americans innovate persist and create So this summer as we remember our forefathers and the roots from which our nation grew let s fly our flags high let s open another beer and let us be those that say hard times be damned We are strong men for we are Americans

FROM MY POINT OF VIEW America was founded on the basis of freedom even though in the very beginning freedom was only an idea People who have witnessed injustices have had to advocate and speak out in order to make change happen In today s world everything is out of sync Our elected officials seem to be swayed with the wind and the top story of the day They no longer represent us they represent their wallets To answer that question as to what patriotism means I have to look at education reform that has taken place over the last 20 30 years We are a nation made of many cultures and what binds us together has always been the American flag and the ideals behind that flag To be precise our Constitution and what our forefathers had in mind for an ideal American nation We have been moving away from what America represents by allowing the different cultures who come here not adapt to our ways of life I believe that we have to assimilate and love what our Constitution has given us in order to return to what America was first designed to do and to provide for all of us Freedom to pursue justice fairness and equality to all of its people and to achieve the people s own goals as to their ideal life We no longer teach patriotic songs to young children we no longer teach the constitution in our elementary schools nor at the high school level and in college it is an elective if so desired We no longer abide by our laws the tiny minority has been forcing the majority to abdicate and to change our ways of life Many people nowadays are ignorant of the principles of American government and the spiritual foundations of the nation They seem unaware of the current saying To be born free is a great privilege to die free is a great responsibility Ignorance is especially true of the younger generation in today s world There is a toxicity that plagues our current political climate and it feels like nothing can be done This cannot be further from the truth We can start in our own backyard by making a stand in who we select as our representatives and voting out those who misrepresent us and who line their pockets with money American patriotism is the love for or devotion to America It represents people who love this country and support the authority and interests It also means that we have to teach history with all its flaws and ugly truths so we can value what we have and how far we have come from the cruelty of slavery and the atrocities committed long ago Patriotism means taking a stand voting being a decent individual with principles and fairness not running away from our country and being present each day Patriotism means that you will do whatever is in your power to make sure we uphold our Constitutional rights and our values We are accepting of other cultures we love them and welcome them What we don t welcome is their laws they are escaping from Come to this country legally come and assimilate to our way of life our values and love of country See yourself as American of insert your nationality here decent Never forget where you came from but see yourself as America first America owes you nothing You owe America everything Seek not to be enslaved by the erroneous thought of the few who want hand outs and reparations for something that did not happen to them Seek instead to be free of the slavery mentality and the victim hood that the few want to maintain I choose to be a free person of my By Christie Remmel own volition and thought and my own means I choose to be free to do and pursue my life as I see fit I choose to earn what I have through my personal efforts and mental capacities I will never be made a slave to the thought that someone owes me something and that reparations should be paid Where does that stop Where does it take you It is a hole I choose not to jump into Remember we are in a slightly alternate dimension and we are seeing it with everything that is wrong in Washington DC The military still there as I m writing this article the fencing around the capital and extreme fear of the politicians who continue to line their pockets with money They have sold America to the highest bidder and they will continue unless we the American people start voting them out We must demand election integrity and we must demand they represent us as elected officials Patriotism to me is defending our way of life against all foreign and domestic enemies I was never released of this oath when I left the military I choose to fight for our freedoms and our way of life To take an unwavering stand and to vote our representatives out of office when they do not line up with what the Constitution mandates It is our right to be represented It is our right to voice our opinion and what we need TAKE A STAND AND BE A PATRIOT Cristie Remmel is a Desert Storm Veteran having served as a FMF Corpsman in the United States Navy She is also a business owner and President of the DFW Veterans Chamber of Commerce as well as the National Chamber Development Director for the United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce AT EASE Veterans Magazine 33

In Congress July 4 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature s God entitle them a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness That to secure these rights Governments are instituted among Men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it and to institute new Government laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness Prudence indeed will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed But when a long train of abuses and usurpations pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism it is their right it is their duty to throw off such Government and to provide new Guards for their future security Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States To prove this let Facts be submitted to a candid world In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity We must therefore acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our Separation and hold them as we hold the rest of mankind Enemies in War in Peace Friends We therefore the Representatives of the united States of America in General Congress Assembled appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions do in the Name and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies solemnly publish and declare That these United Colonies are and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved and that as Free and Independent States they have full Power to levy War conclude Peace contract Alliances establish Commerce and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do And for the support of this Declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our Lives our Fortunes and our sacred Honor Readers We encourage each of you to scan the QR Code to the right and read the Declaration of Independence in it s entirety Transcript of original document taken from https www archives gov founding docs declaration transcript 34 AT EASE Veterans Magazine

BOOTS ON THE GROUND Written by Eric McNail Veterans2Veterans Group Ltd was granted its federal taxexemption status in November of 2017 although it had existed as a loosely organized local charity for a few months prior The brain child of Eric McNail a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who served with the US Army s 101st Airborne Division Veterans2Veterans Group or V2VG for short was initially founded and staffed by only four active members Eric McNail Patrick Hazlet Colin Smith and Chuck Bradley Originally meant to serve only veterans of the armed forces current and former V2VG quickly adopted polices and bylaws to also serve First Responders Caregivers of Disabled veterans and first responders as well as qualifying Family Members of the same The scope of aid increased commensurate with their general treasury from minor assistance with research and paperwork submission to tangible financial aid which includes assistance with everything from past due utilities and rent to emergency food and fuel home or vehicle to clothing and personal hygiene i t e m s and more besides As V2VG is staffed by volunteers Volunteers Staff all donations or income to the charity go directly to their treasury for use toward their client base Although Veterans2Veterans Group was and remains a small New Hampshire based charity they are quick and eager to collaborate with other larger agencies and groups in order to get their clients the help they need This can range from financial and other temporal assistance to research and benefits aid as well V2VG has no need or desire to take the credit for helping and will often stand aside and allow other often national or other major agencies to run with a case just as long as the client gets the help they need However unlike the majority of other agencies V2VG often works with they are able to move fast very fast in taking a case verifying eligibility and need and voting on various forms of assistance Veterans2Veterans Group due to its small intimate board of directors currently at 9 members and one alternate is not often burdened by the red tape other organizations are thus V2VG is in many ways described as a tactical charity Veterans2Veterans Group has aided people all over their home state of New Hampshire but they have also assisted those in need who qualify for their aid as far west as California and south as Florida as well as many parts in between V2VG s motto is Family Through Service and they strive to live by that code as often as possible and in as many ways as they can Luckily due to their very small size they are able to keep things personal to a degree and clients are not viewed as only a case number but as real people with real problems who need help not tomorrow or after the next meeting but today or even yesterday as it were Ever expanding in their reach and tangible aid capability V2VG continues to seek ways to spread the word about Veteran Programs that are offered by multiple agencies but which many in the veteran or caregiver community are not aware of Likewise they seek to increase and grow their Social Media presence so as to reach out to as many individuals as possible Veterans2Veterans Group invites you to find them on Facebook Instagram or even YouTube and check them out If you have any ideas on how they may grow or continue to evolve into an even more successful charity please do not hesitate to reach out to them with your comments or ideas they are greatly appreciated AT EASE Veterans Magazine 35

Tucked away in an industrial park in Lewisville Texas of all places There are 37 352 homeless Veterans as of February 2021 and that is is a little greenhouse From the outside looking in it really doesn t only half of the number believed to be homeless seem like much but when you walk inside it s tantamount to a Willy Wonka version of produce and technology ABOUT VETERANS PRODUCE I had the privilege to meet with T C Beckett otherwise known as The Chief from his Navy days T C Beckett moved to Texas in T C along with fellow Veterans Kenny Smith USN Jeremy Chio USMC and Chris Schweitzer USAF make up the team at 1995 Originally from Indiana Veterans Produce T C grew up on a farm there so The vision and long term goal growing wholesome organic food behind Veterans Produce is to is important to him eliminate Veteran hunger due to homelessness and food insecurity We had a chance to meet at the by feeding them healthy organic Greenhouse and T C filled me in food and teaching them how to on the reason Veterans Produce grow their own food was started THE BACK STORY Back in 2015 week after week T C saw a homeless guy camped out near a plant nursery One November night it was cold and wet and I saw this guy sitting there and I wanted see if he needed anything Come to find out he was a Vietnam Army Vet It just made me mad Just because I m retired doesn t mean I stop caring for my brothers in arms It s just a kinship that never will die This man Tony had been staying in a shelter and somebody stole his money and ID So without that he was on the street T C knew he had to do something Building small T C The Chief Beckett homes was an expense that he didn t think he could take on but even more than shelter the immediate need for homeless Veterans was food At the time there were no programs that he could find that specifically took on the challenge of meeting the needs of Veteran hunger 36 AT EASE Veterans Magazine Veterans face many challenges hunger should not be one of them After doing some research T C settled on using Aquaponics as the growing system for the greenhouse and has since transitioned most of their growing using Hydroponics AQUAPONICS HYDROPONICS HOW IT WORKS So a quick breakdown of how Aquaponics and Hydroponics works Hydroponics Plants grown without soil Plant seeds are bedded in spun wool that allows the seedling to take root Once the plant roots are established they will be continuously submerged into a rich solution of nutrients and water Nutrient Film Technique Image source True Veg com

Aquaponics is a hybrid of hydroponics and aquaculture Unlike hydroponics where nutrients must be added to the water aquaponics utilizes the same structure using live fish in a tank The nutrient rich water produced by fish and their byproducts create the perfect Image source https ag purdue edu envision the big idea hydroponicssource of plant food aquaponics The plant seeds are set in a base of spun wool because it is PH neutral The temperature is regulated through the greenhouse effect and also has a large cooling system that helps maintain the perfect 70 80 degrees needed to keep the plants thriving and healthy 365 days a year As we moved into the hydroponic area of the greenhouse the lettuce and strawberry plants were housed in vinyl downspout extensions lined up in a row To say the plants were enormous and absolutely beautiful is an understatement The benefit of using water based growing hydroponically is that we use 90 less water We can grow 800 plants with just 50 gallons of water and they will grow 30 faster because the nutrients are constantly replenishing the roots T C said Not only does this system of growing save water it takes just thirty days from seedling to harvest It also produces 8 10 times more food per square foot year round Even more impressive the produce is not only organic but it contains 46 more nutrients than what we find in our grocery stores Currently Veterans Produce harvests 40 lbs of Lettuce per month That is approximately 160 servings of salad per month By years end Veterans Produce hopes to build a second greenhouse that will be 800 square feet This will double the amount of produce that can be grown and harvested in any given month And that means more Veterans will be fed A tray of seedling Lettuce This will take about 30 days until harvest REPLICATION T C looked down on a bracelet he wears that reads if not me then who Already they are replicating this system with other Veteran organizations He said he is working with veteran organizations in the San Antonio and Houston areas to replicate on a much bigger scale what they are doing here in North Texas In addition he s working with a local Veterans ranch who built a tiny home community for homeless female Vets Not only will the greenhouse they re building provide healthy food for the residents but it will also give the ranch a source of income They will be able to sell up to 80 of their produce at local markets and restaurants In fact they already have a waiting list he said Nevertheless T C would like to see this go National We are looking for other Veteran organizations that want to feed other Veterans We will teach them how to duplicate what we are doing we ll give them the build plans and we ll provide remote support and training If you or your organization is interested in finding out more about Veterans Produce and their community greenhouses scan the QR code to visit their website 900 N Kealy Ave Lewisville TX 75057 469 240 2693 Scan to visit Veterans Produce veteranproduce org Written by Christine Walker AT EASE Veterans Magazine 37

No Limits continued from page 24 extra energy outside of tech writing on building up his own businesses He started SHIFT Magazine and his own business consulting company The Warrior Strategist It was in 2018 that Robert s life took some major turns He volunteered for a six month tour at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar His mother had terminal cancer when he left but since she was doing well and had already passed her threemonth life projection by two years he figured six months wouldn t be a risk Robert was working at the busiest air operations center on earth in the most high stress job he s ever had Suddenly he was told that his mother was in her final days and he should probably give her a call He got off shift and called her home His aunt answered and said she hadn t spoken in three days but once his mom found out it was Robert on the phone she started speaking She was choking on blood and every word was a struggle Garcia describes in an article he wrote for LinkedIn He talked to his mom for an hour and a half and said I didn t focus on anything negative because I knew she was dying There was a lot of anger a fucking lot of anger and I let it go I reversed the roles and thought if I was dying and it was the last call with my kid how would I want it to go It was very emotionally hard The next day Robert s aunt told him that she died in her sleep He was offered a flight home but he said no because there wasn t really anything he could do He quietly cried through the next couple days at work and all he received was a hand signed card the Commander had a flunky run down to him While his Reserve Unit supported him well he didn t receive that support in Qatar So like he learned back in Basic he put his head down went into turtle mode and got his work done to finish the mission When he returned to the States nose to the grindstone Robert started building 38 AT EASE Veterans Magazine up his businesses He withstood a mental breakdown where he called the Veteran Hotline from pure debilitating exhaustion He put his energy into The Warrior Strategist helping veterans and business owners command the entrepreneurial world with practical straightforward techniques He s published eight books and helped several clients achieve business acumen and success Tenacious and resourceful don t even come close to completely describing Robert Garcia s journey One thing I ve learned is the military augments who you are If you re a real piece of degenerate garbage that makes bad decisions the military is going to make you tenfold If you re a good person who is highly motivated the military is going to turn you into a dynamic leader Robert Garcia truly molded himself into the latter An Unexpected Turn continued from page 25 he enrolled in college and helped his parents close on a new home Terry received his BSN from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2013 Since then he s found that nursing fulfills him in a way no other career could He loves taking care of people and positively affecting people s lives He passionately advocates for public knowledge on nutrition lifestyles changes and healthy habits to make lasting differences for individual lives As a traveling nurse he lives his life 13 weeks at a time Nutrition particularly focused on highlighting the staggering rates of childhood obesity remains a key motivation in Terry s nursing journey While his time in the military may have been brief the Navy taught Terry that teamwork is absolutely important when there s something bigger than yourself you re fighting for However he realized that the most important lesson it taught him is that his limits are only in his brain Officer Gentleman continued from page 23 it can be hard to turn those instincts off when you suddenly have to work with them However after years in the industry Gary managed to turn the apprehension into good business and professional friendships Among his honors in the military Gary is also a proud Son of the Republic of Texas and a big Texas history buff EVERY VETERAN HAS A STORY TO TELL LET US TELL YOUR STORY Contact Christine DevilDocPublishing com

I Remember When SERGEANT BILL SERGEANT BILL DON T DRINK THAT WATER Staff Sergeant Bill H was a big strapping Marine Are there any other kind who came from South Boston He was one of those Marines who knew his way around in such a way that one could always depend on him He was kind of like the Corporal O Reilly of the TV situation comedy MASH nowhere as innocent but definitely as knowledgeable He kept his eye on me when we lost our Platoon Sergeant Gunnery Sergeant Norman M a product of Beaufort South Carolina who was an outstanding NCO Just prior to our landing in Taipei Norman became quite ill and was unable to continue with our platoon It was going to be a tremendous loss for our platoon Fortunately I was able to get Sergeant Bill assigned for the duration of the exercise in Taiwan Sergeant Bill helped put everything in order as we went about carrying out our mission as guerrillas for the exercise called Operation Blue Star We would become Guerrillas for the duration of our stay in Taiwan During one of our exercises my platoon and I arrived at the foot of a hill that needed to be reconnoitered to determine the status of our enemy who we knew were not too far ahead of us I sent out a fire team to determine their status location numbers weapons displacement of their weapons etc In the meantime while I was determining the best placement of my men I spotted Sergeant Bill preparing to dip his canteen into a small stream that meandered along its way from above I spotted this just as he placed his canteen to his mouth I immediately called out to him telling him not to drink that water He gave me a cursory glance indicating he would be fine I signaled him that he was NOT to drink from his canteen Too late He chose to drink it He raised his hands to show me he was fine that the water was cool and refreshing I caught up to him a minute later to tell him that we had no idea what was above us coming down in that cool refreshing water I told everyone else to lay off the damn water It may have been fifteen minutes later when I was gathering information from the fire team I sent out when all hell broke loose Poor Sergeant Bill He began to moan and groan He was in agony His whole body began to convulse He sweated profusely and just sort of lay in a prone position writhing in pain On top of all of this he shit in his utilities It took about one and one half minutes of this continuous writhing for me to realize we needed to call in for a helicopter to evacuate him We moved out to a clearing and waited for the helicopter When Sergeant Bill lifted off we gathered together took the fire team reconnaissance information and began to maneuver to the top of the hill Guess what we found at the top of that hill That s right a small village rather quaint in size however right down the middle of the so called road that ran down the center of this quaint little village was the stream from which Sergeant Bill chose to fill his canteen with its cool and refreshing water Unbeknownst to our now very enlightened Sergeant Bill and the rest of my men stood one of the most grotesque water buffaloes I ve ever seen There he stood in all his glory relieving himself of some two gallons of urine Ten minutes later there stood two children transacting their business in the same stream We all learned a very important lesson that morning especially after moving on up a little farther where the stream now a small river was beginning its downward slope Villagers were congregating there for the purpose of gathering clean water for their daily cooking and cleaning just above the site of their tiny village It was a lesson well learned I m sure none of these people drank from that cool and refreshing stream beneath their homes where Sergeant Bill had quenched his thirst with something other than the nectar of the gods called water Paul Sullivan Ret Captain USMC resides in Massachusetts with his wife Beverly AT EASE Veterans Magazine 39

Veteran Mental Health Two Per Annette Whittenberger Annette is an Army Retired Combat Veteran mother and military spouse She is the CEO Founder of A Wild Ride Called Life and Host of The Truths We Hide Podcast She is a mental health advocate writer author and speaker She is on a mission to help end the stigma on mental health and combat suicide The stigma on mental health and mental illness has been seen as an ugly thing It is almost like saying a bad word that offended someone No one wants to say the words and no one wants to talk about them Well no one except for those of us who are suffering from it and living with it We are the ones who want to talk about it but don t know how or to whom We are afraid to be seen as weak as a charity case or as having something wrong with us We are left to sit in a dark place with all of these dark thoughts and nowhere to put them So what do we do The only thing we know how to do We hide in our rooms We cry We isolate ourselves We turn into someone that is unrecognizable because we truly don t know who we are when we are in that dark place of emotions The thing that we often forget about is that it is ok to not be ok It is ok to let out those emotions It is ok to have a bad day It is ok to talk about it We need to be the ones to put an end to the stigma and make our mental health a priority We need to use our voice to share our story of how it really is 40 AT EASE Veterans Magazine One of the most difficult and probably the scariest things to do is acknowledge that we need help Needing help and asking for it is almost like walking into that amusement park and riding on the first roller coaster you see AND in the front seat You want to scream and your stomach turns because you know it is coming but you are still not ready No one said you had to go through the whole amusement park in one day It is ok to get on one ride at a time It is ok to choose which one you will ride first Same thing goes for talking about your feelings Find the right person that you can trust and start there One emotion and one thought at a time You Can Do This The only way I know this to be true is because I am that person I know how it is I know how it feels and it was scary as hell You have that strength inside of you that has the power to make huge changes for yourself and others It all starts with using your voice I am in your corner as your advocate friend and sister Let s get that power together to help end the stigma Judy Skilling Judy Skilling is a Certified High Performance Coach and U S Navy Veteran with a background in emergency nursing She helps veterans increase productivity without feeling overwhelmed improve their wellness on a day to day basis and establishes a healthy work life balance Her work can be found in several publications such as Entrepreneur Medium Elephant Journal and more In her free time she enjoys cooking traveling and having childlike fun with her young daughter You can learn more about Judy at https www judyskilling com You can find her on Facebook and LinkedIn I heard a saying the other day that rang true to me on many levels It was Honor the soldier Fear the Veteran I couldn t help but think how that is relevant in our society We praise the solider give them the recognition they deserve for sacrificing their freedom to protect ours but when they transition out of active duty and become a veteran we fear they may unleash and cause harm to us or worse themselves It is evident that with the rise of mental health awareness in recent decades our veterans come home troubled and war scorned They struggle with adapting to a civilian lifestyle and then have to struggle with a mental health issue on top of everything else They may feel lost scared unsure of what to do and then they do what they ve been trained to do stuff it deep within the depths of themselves hoping that it

SILENT PAIN By Tim Doc Bailes 1991 rspectives one Stigma doesn t come up to surface anymore We are trained in the military that you don t speak up learn how to deal with it yourself and figure it out on your own Those teachings don t translate into the civilian world and that may be why thousands of veterans struggle with seeking help There is nothing prideful in dealing with such issues on your own In fact it does more harm than good The most humbling thing about being a veteran is that we got your back We re here for you anytime anywhere any day Veterans don t speak up for several reasons One reason is the social stigma behind certain diagnoses such as PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Depression Anxiety TBI Traumatic Brain Injury and any other mental health related diagnosis When you come across someone with such a label you may approach cautiously and trepidatious What will they do Are they ok What if they snap It would seem easier to not share such a label with those that don t understand your situation than to explain everything right You don t want to be labeled as that guy girl 1 Swallow your pride and call for help Reach out to the VA at 1 800 273 8255 2 Talk to someone anyone Reach out to another veteran make a post on social media asking to talk to someone There is always someone that will talk to you 3 Develop your awareness of certain triggers and moods Become proactive rather than reactive in your mental health Another reason is any possible repercussions that may result from a veteran seeking help Will they lose their job Will their employer treat them any different than their colleagues What may happen to their relationships friends family etc What if they lose certain benefits or privileges These are realistic questions veterans face when dealing with a mental health issue The diagnosis may cause more harm than help Addressing the mental health issue is 1 in curbing the stigma of fearing the veteran There are tons of resources and assistance to guide support and help veterans in learning how to deal and manage their mental wellness Need help Here are 3 tips to use VETERANS CREED I AM A VETERAN I HAVE SEEN AND DONE THINGS MANY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND I AM A WARRIOR I WILL NEVER ACCEPT DEFEAT I WILL NEVER QUIT AND I WILL NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN BROTHER OR SISTER IF THEY ARE HURT I WILL CARRY THEM IF I CANT CARRY THEM I WILL DRAG THEM I WILL HELP THEM FACE THEIR ENEMIES TO INCLUDE THE DEMONS FROM WITHIN THEY ARE MY BROTHERS MY SISTERS I AM A VETERAN I often sit and ponder Over long forgotten years Of days and nights In other lands When my smiles were turned to tears My spirit had ventured gladly To these places torn in strife No one could see The kid in me Was soon to lose his life When innocence meets evil And turmoil is at hand It s plain to see That mentally My head was in the sand I feared to cry too often And ceased to feel the pain Shrieking screams Were in my dreams Their vision to remain Thoughts too painful to pursue Guilt was often on my mind I hid that pain Deep inside my brain Somewhere I hoped to never find Upon my return the world to me Was different than before The child withdrawn Had all but gone To be heard from nevermore Two score and some odd years have passed Since time has stopped for me I feel it s strange To make a change But I know this has to be That silent pain I hide in vane Took its toll you see I can attest I m not my best I d always hoped to be AT EASE Veterans Magazine 41

CHAPLAIN S CORNER By Fr John Martin I am a Catholic Pastor so this is a Catholic perspective but also once upon a time my name was SGT John W Martin U S M C As a Priest I represent the teachings of the Catholic Church and also the Diocese of Ft Worth therefore I cannot give you merely what my opinion is Where I am heading with all of this is pertaining to the question of how God would look upon our veterans I have heard some in the church denounce war and those who have partaken in it Some joined some were drafted and although many did have a choice please recall the words from the Gospel of John Ch 15 13 No greater love than to lay down one s life for one s friends for one s friends family or Country Those who are sworn to serve their country in the armed forces are servants of the security and freedom of nations If they carry out their duty honorably they truly contribute to the common good of the nation and the maintenance of peace Catechism 2310 There are some actions that we as Civilians do not need to know about are blessed to not know about actions that Certainly God detests War It is an abomination but as we protect us all and our freedoms our lives and those of future veterans know there is an evil out there and there are generations to come some who would go to any length possible to destroy our Country our Freedoms and our way of life or to simply That being said such people who wish to remain free from cause us great harm Many in the world or even our own having to know should support you who not only know but Country metaphorically wear Rose Colored Glasses regularly risk your lives for all of us and do not see these realities Maybe in some way that is alright Can you imagine living in a Country where you I have traveled to many places in the United States and have are so free and do not have to worry about your safety been privileged to meet and interact with many people I have because you have so many people who do that for you in been Blessed that the vast Majority of the people I meet are order to keep you and yours safe Our Military and our veterans know veterans are serving currently or have a family Police member or friend who are serving in our Armed Forces or Police Forces I am well pleased to report to you our Military This being said it is not only right to protect our Country and Veterans that the vast Majority of the people that I meet Militarily by joining the military or police but it is a are Honored to live in our Country and very proud of you all Moral obligation and responsibility In the Catholic any others I do not recall because I mentally block them out Church there are documents that speak on the subject of Military duty and the responsibility of protecting life and freedom One such source would be our Catechism of the Catholic Church which teaches us more about our Faith Peace be with you always We read in two paragraphs Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm For this reason those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility Catechism 2265 42 AT EASE Veterans Magazine Fr John W Martin Fr John W Martin is a Roman Catholic Priest for the Catholic Diocese of Ft Worth Texas and the Pastor of St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Pilot Point TX Blessed to live in a town where people love and appreciate our Country our Military and our Police Officers If I may speak for our residents we appreciate our active duty Military and all that they and our veterans do and have done for us No matter what anyone says we know that at some time in our past someone many freely gave up their lives or risked them greatly for our freedoms

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afghan misadventures Excerpt taken from The Unreliable Narrator in Stay Calm This is War by AJ Lecours Make sure to check out the next excerpt in our Fall issue But I digress So like any great drinking story no shit there we were in the middle of Afghanistan doing a patrol We were in a column formation For those of you who were not in the military this just looks like people walking in a fucking line Now we have reached a point in the story where other people have to be involved Seeing as I have not spoken to these people and have little to no idea what they are doing and what ramifications will be in their personal life if said stories were brought to light I will refer to them in such a way that everyone who was there will know who they are but everyone who was not are probably shit out of luck We were led both literally and figuratively by Staff Sgt Rod He was followed by Pvt Pistols and myself then specialist gunner LeClaire Rounding out our team was Spc Chile Now Chile was not only a passive aggressive whiny fuck but also the driver of our vehicle so after a short but heated debate it was determined that he got to stay with the truck As such he plays a very little part in this story I am not bitter I swear Other people followed us in line but I m not going to mention them because frankly I don t give a shit There was an interpreter or a terp as they are affectionately known Fun fact most of the time our patrols occurred in column formation This is because the whole country was mined and you never were quite sure where it was safe to walk By walking in a single file line we limited our exposure to just the person in the front One of the things Hollywood often screws up when we walk in this line we are not nut to butt That would eliminate any benefit of being single file in the first place If the first person in a normal single file line stepped on a mine the next six people would die Rest assured there is a healthy distance between soldiers I would say five meters but as you dear reader and most of our soldiers are probably American nobody knows what the fuck a meter is But rest assured there was some sort of variance of space between each individual limiting the casualties taken in the event of an explosion Oh shit Oh SHIT Was that an AK Is Rod shot I got that stupid strength only given to adrenaline fueled grandmothers lifting cars off babies and bounded up the rest of the hill Usain Bolt fast Adrenaline coursed through my system Weapons and gear be damned no one was going to die while waiting on me I crested the top of the hill only to look out and find Rod crumpled down toward the base of the hill some hundred meters down the steep and rocky terrain from me I yelled toward Pistols and told him to set up his M249 light machine gun and pull security while I went down to check on Rod I was afraid I was too late I d failed In my mind I was handing a folded flag to his wife and trying to explain to his daughters how their dad was a hero At this point I was dashing downhill Weapon slung at my back on a three point sling the barrel rhythmically slapping at the back of my knees Both arms pumped with the fury of an angry god as I sought to use the air to pull myself closer faster I saw Rod start to rise Did I make it in time Is he okay What the fuck happened Now the official story was that Rod returned fire and took up a defensive position What had actually happened is he had placed his weapon on burst instead of safe So not only was the gun turned on it was on turbo mode While running he had tripped and pulled the trigger demonstrating his lack of ability to use his secondary safety his finger showering the hilltop that Pistols now occupied with lead He had lost track of the local who d avoided the hilltop because as I only found out after the fact it was heavily mined The interpreter had caught up with the terrorist hiding amidst a group of construction workers Somehow the bad individual had grouped up with more bad guys They d stopped running at the sound of gunshots These assholes threatened a group of local nationals with violence if the workers did not comply In short order we were able to discern the bad guys from the probably soon to be bad guys and detained them As it turned out several were known enemy combatants and were on a watch list For our roles in detaining these individuals me and Pistols were awarded a certificate of achievement Our terp came to the front and started to talk to some local nationals routine stuff he asked them who they were and told them who we were Then one of the locals just booked it Like full dead on sprint out of nowhere booked it Like there were thirteen tired hot sweaty Americans armed for bear and out for blood after him As any good In a nutshell short walk small talk dude runs so leader would do Rod took action He sprang forward and ran after this guy Then over his shoulder yelled for me we follow Rod trips shooting the hill we were climbing and Pistols to go over this hill while he followed the local then there are four terrorists medals for everyone I have no directly by running a small goat path meandering around idea why Moral of the story I guess if someone runs follow the base of the hill Now I am not a runner in the best of them Thus ends my first Afghan misadventure conditions and those were not the best of conditions Me About the Author and Pistols raced up the mound following a small animal I am a 32 year old path slipping on what I hoped was just goat shit the whole medically retired way By the time we were halfway up I was sucking wind Soldier Originally like I was in a puking CrossFit level workout when I heard from the Seattle area the sound of gunfire I want to make a sound noise here like a strange and cruel bang bang bang or BRRRRT but nothing I put up here will accurately describe gunfire Either you have heard it or you twist of events have me have not Three rounds burst out interrupting my ragged currently residing in Ohio breaths and causing echoes through the landscape 46 AT EASE Veterans Magazine

SALUTE TO SATIRE Esteemed reader today we devolve For the purpose of clarity we are going to resort to the lowest form of humor imaginable Something that has been making children laugh since the beginning of time So I strongly advise you to buck up and drive on The real story isn t always pretty As a matter of fact it is shit covered Afghanistan is the perfect setting for this story Shit country with shit people and a shit war where I can do my shit job I returned from mission Hot sweaty My ACU top and undershirt were wet to the touch after I removed my body armor The night had done wonders in cooling down the air but my body seemed to still be playing catch up I grabbed a water and a crystal light lemonade packet These things made my deployment Lemonade on the go Fucking amazing Somebody needs to contact the guy who created those single serve packets and give him a goddamn medal Lord knows I would if I could I sat down on my twin mattress My M240b machine gun was lying on the bed next to me This is like the middle brother between the 50 cal and the 5 56 caliber bullet of the M249 machine gun I took off my shirt and top and hung them from a knob hanging on the backside of my door made for this purpose I knew from prior experience that it was best to hang them out until you could get to the laundry In a bag they just seemed to fester Now that I was in some semblance of comfort I started the laborious task of cleaning my crewserved weapon Crew served being somewhat of a misnomer as my entire military career I had been the only one carrying cleaning and firing the crew served weapon The weapon got disassembled into its base components and then I hand cleaned each piece individually There were a lot of pieces It was a labor of love though Not love for the weapon rather love for myself Each piece of my kit needed to remain in top shape for the next mission I have known people whose weapons had failed them at a critical juncture Mine would not except of course that one time when it did but that is another story altogether About halfway through I got a tingle in my intestines The tingle quickly turned into a kick in the guts I could barely stand up I was in so much pain Luckily the bathroom was set up as a trailer thirty feet outside the door of my hooch read building I live in I exited my room grabbing my 9mil and padlocking my door Bathroom emergency or not no one was stealing my weapons or trying to take me without a fight I risked a fast step then resorted to a sort of half bent over slow twisty walk that you typically see in children who have to pee Oh god it hurt I opened the first stall I came to I drop my pants while sitting down Or at least I was trying to sit down My body was just about in the shape of an L laying upside down My pants were around my thighs and my ass was facing the wall when it happened My god did it happen Diarrhea Explosive Shit cascaded from my ass like rain from the heavens It seemed like an eternity of poop splashing up against the walls of the stall and all over the toilet I had crapped so hard that a small toilet shaped silhouette could be seen on the wall Toilet paper could not clean this mess and worse I thought it was going to come again I could feel the second wave building up but no way was I putting my relatively clean cheeks on that self created cesspool next stall I sat down on this pristine toilet and looked at sad brown lumpy piles of shit under the stall door I commenced wiping as I said a quick word of thanks to my Lord and Savior for being a two stall latrine It was at this time Pistols came in I knew it was him because I heard the trailer door open then an immediate WHAT THE FUCK I know I replied saw that when I came in here Luckily this stall was clean I finished my business washed my hands and walked away Pistols whom at first I thought was waiting for the cleaner toilet but turned out to be awestruck just stared in disbelief He proceeded to drag everyone in the squad over to the bathroom so they could marvel at the wonders of my incognito masterpiece Now seemingly gallons of shit lighter I returned to cleaning my weapon Years later I had met up with Pistols and we were talking about Afghanistan Somehow the conversation drifted to things we have had to use to wipe our asses down range Socks shirts underwear Gauze him Four single dollar bills me Pistols looked at me and said Do you remember that guy that shit the toilet that was fucked up Yeah I remember Must have been a local national They never did quite learn how toilets worked He laughed I laughed My secret safe My shame hidden UNTIL NOW AJL USA I did what any of us would have done I scooted over pants around my ankles on to the AT EASE Veterans Magazine 47

Coming Up In Our Fall Issue Veterans Day Special Veteran Sheepdogs of America USMC Birthday September 11 Remembered Double Trouble A WWII Story Plus our regular feature articles VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES ADVERTISE WITH US AFFORDABLE AD RATES VETERAN DISCOUNTS CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS CALL TO REQUEST A MEDIA KIT 940 209 0022

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE SO FAR HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS HIGHLY RECOMMENDS THE 11TH ORDER The award winning short film The 11th Order is based on the true story of LCpl Jordan Haerter and Cpl Jonathan Yale two United States Marines who stood their ground to stop a suicide truck bomb saving the lives of the 150 Marines and Iraqi Police behind them Written and directed by Marine veteran Joshua DeFour the film was made in collaboration with the families of the fallen Marines and funded largely by the veteran and active duty military communities TV MA for strong language and mild violence SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH NOW

T A P S In an effort to NEVER forget this page will serve as a Memorial to our Brothers Sisters who gave everything If you would like to have a fellow soldier or loved one remembered Please email TAPS theateasemagazine com with name rank branch of service war and death date This Issue we Remember AUGUST 16 2012 Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Patrick D Feeks 28 of Edgewater MD Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Sean P Carson 32 of Des Moines WA Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class David J Warsen 27 of Kentwood MI Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Suresh N A Krause 29 of Cathedral City CA Army Sgt Richard A Essex 23 of Kelseyville CA Army Sgt Luis A Oliver Galbreath 41 of San Juan Puerto Rico Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brian D Hornsby 37 of Melbourne FL 38 AT EASE Veterans Magazine

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