Hello, BG Tom Landwermeyer from Homes For Our Troops here, I'll be by on Tuesday for a Q&A, what questions do you have for me?

BG Tom Landwermeyer — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 10:22:57 -0400

*RP Staff will be monitoring this discussion*

RallyPoint is honored to host BG Tom Landwermeyer, former Deputy Commanding General of 2d Infantry Division and current President/CEO of Homes For Our Troops, for a live Q&A on August 8th. BG Landwermeyer began his career as an Armor Second Lieutenant in 1976 upon graduation from West Point, and became an Army Aviator in 1981. He served honorably across the US, Germany, Japan, Bosnia, Iraq and Korea for 33 years while holding key staff positions at US Transportation Command, US Forces Japan, and culminated his career on the Army Staff at the Pentagon. BG Landwermeyer retired from the Army in 2009, and previously served as COO at Armed Services YMCA of the USA.

Today, at Homes For Our Troops, BG Landwermeyer’s team helps build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post 9/11 Veterans, to help them rebuild their lives. Post questions below about his leadership, Homes For Our Troops, transition, and leadership.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 10:26 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 10:26:24 -0400

BG Tom Landwermeyer Welcome, sir! How might one get involved in such a thing? I am making a big push with my Knights of Columbus Assembly to get more involved in community projects & this would be an ideal thing to do!

Response by CPT David Gowel made Aug 3 at 2017 11:21 AM

CPT David Gowel — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:21:33 -0400

BG Tom Landwermeyer thank you for joining us. Your organization sounds like one that is really changing lives not just for our service members who have made some of the greatest sacrifices for the rest of us, but for their families and caregivers who are just as deserving. Can you share an overview of the HFOT process and timing that an injured post 9/11 Veteran can expect? Also are there any common reasons injured service members get their applications declined for this exceptional gift?

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Aug 3 at 2017 12:17 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 12:17:50 -0400

BG Tom Landwermeyer: Good Morning, Sir! NICE TO HAVE YOU ON RALLY POINT WITH US!
I am wondering, Brigadier General: what the odds are of us winning a war with North Korea?
I pray, Sir, that our odds are Great.
HAVE A STELLAR DAY, SIR!
-Most Sincerely, Margaret C. Higgins U.S. Army Retired: Coach/Photographer

Response by Roberto Garcia made Aug 3 at 2017 1:08 PM

Roberto Garcia — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 13:08:46 -0400

BG Tom Landwermeyer welcome! It's great to know that your organization is dedicated to supporting service members that need help. Can you tell us a bit about what are some of the biggest challenges your organization has faced to provide support to service members and how HFOT has overcome these obstacles?

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Aug 3 at 2017 3:43 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 15:43:20 -0400

BG, I have to really draw the line because of all the stories I hear about troops getting home from organizations, there always story about the injured soldiers in Wheelchairs and one missing limbs and they always end in happy ending, What about the guy who suffers from PTSD and loosing his family and can barely make it trying to support the family he has because not much money is coming in and his wife no doing much and his PTSD isn't getting any better because the medication is having conflictions with his body? What they do with them kind of family members? I know you can't give out free houses to them and the VA won't give them 100% rating but you never hear stories about them but you will, when drop my book THE MIRROR in December to prove that when I was at WTU in Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Psychiatric unit counseling that just because I was not in a wheelchair or missing limbs I didn't get to stay in a really nice hotel or no one gave me a survey on if I wanted to live in my own dream home. I still had a problem. What's your organization doing about that and soldiers broken homes with PTSD or nowhere to go?

Response by SGT Matthew Reid made Aug 3 at 2017 4:09 PM

SGT Matthew Reid — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 16:09:21 -0400

Any ideas on how a widow can obtain a copy of her late husbands DD-214? An old high school friend of mine is trying and the best advice I can give her is the National Archives.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Aug 3 at 2017 5:23 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:23:20 -0400

BG Tom Landwermeyer Thanks for being a part of this great community we call RallyPoint, thank you for your service to this country, and congratulations on your retirement after 33 years. Outstanding career! I look forward to seeing some great questions and answers about your thoughts on leadership, your service, transition, and the Homes for Our Troops Organization that you're leading today.

Questions:

1. What is your biggest challenge when it comes to fundraising and gaining sponsors for your program?

2. Is your organization a non-profit and do you partner with any other non-profits toward your mission or other missions that lead to homelessness and Sucides?

Response by AN Christopher Crayne made Aug 4 at 2017 12:58 AM

AN Christopher Crayne — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 00:58:54 -0400

Welcome to Rallypoint sir. My question with respect. With the Homes For Our Troops financial expenses around 89 percent ,coupled with the programs expenses growth around 19 percent. What sustainability, solvency and or long term sustainability do you see for this organization? I look forward to seeing Homes For Our Troops being around a very long time. Thank you.

Response by Cpl Lawrence Lavictoire made Aug 4 at 2017 3:55 AM

Cpl Lawrence Lavictoire — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 03:55:00 -0400

BG Tom Landwermeyer Welcome Sir. Was wondering are you represented in the state of Indiana and if so what locations are your homes?
Thank You.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Aug 4 at 2017 10:48 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 10:48:47 -0400

RALLYPOINT CONTINUES TO BRING THE VERY BEST IN HONORED GUEST TO ITS MEMBERS!

RP MEMBERS AND CONNECTIONS - PLEASE JOIN IN ON THE RALLYPOINT LIVE Q&A BG Tom Landwermeyer ON 8 AUGUST 2017.

WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ASK BG LANDWERMEYER THE REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS AS THE FORMER DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE 2D INFANTRY DIVISION AND CURRENT PRESIDENT/CEO OF HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS. BG LANDWERMEYER SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR 33 YEARS AND RETIRED IN 2009, AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE COO AT ARMED SERVICES YMCA OF THE USA.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS FOR BG LANDWERMEYER IN ADVANCE ON TOPICS ABOUT HIS LEADERSHIP, HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS, TRANISTION, AND LEADERSHIP IN GENERAL.

PLEASE POST YOUR QUESTION TODAY:
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/hello-bg-tom-landwermeyer-from-homes-for-our-troops-here-i-ll-be-by-on-tuesday-for-a-q-a-what-questions-do-you-have-for-me

THE RALLYPOINT FORUM CONTINUES TO PROVIDE THESE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, RETIREES, CIVILIAN RECRUITERS, CIVILIAN SUPPORTERS, AND MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS TO REACH OUT & ASK QUESTIONS TO FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS AND LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY.

YOUR GREAT PARTICIPATION IS WELCOME, APPRECIATED, AND NEEDED TO KEEP THIS TYPE OF FORUM MOVING FORWARD.

THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

Hello, BG Tom Landwermeyer from Homes For Our Troops here, I'll be by on Tuesday for a Q&A, what...

Response by SFC William Farrell made Aug 4 at 2017 10:55 AM

SFC William Farrell — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 10:55:40 -0400

Keep it going forward BG Tom Landwermeyer. Bill here in Newport, RI and I've checked your website out. Did not know we had a wounded warrior here who received one of your homes. And thank you for your distinguished career. My first assignment after I joined the Army at 17 was not far form your unit in Korea. I was with I Corps Artillery at Camp Saint Barbara, just south of the DMZ in 1970.

Response by MSG Mark Million made Aug 4 at 2017 11:36 AM

MSG Mark Million — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 11:36:37 -0400

Sir, can you briefly describe for us the qualifications for a veteran to be eligible for your charity and can you tell us how that process is started?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2017 11:38 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 11:38:35 -0400

Thank you joining us on Rallypoint BG Tom Landwermeyer and thank you for your service and continued help to our disabled veterans.

My question is why is it when a vet Ron is granted HUDVASH (I think is what the program put in my location is called) they are limited on where they can live?

I have helped countless vets get housing as an advocate and they were unable to use the housing vouchers that would put them close to family and any all positive support groups. And it's usually with in city limits. I understand the need for some to be close to the VA, and theropy or rehabilitation centers. However the greatest part of healing is having that strong network close to you. I believe this would lower suicide rate and other sever depressions that may accure in a lot of vets who struggle to transition back into civilian lives.

This is just current observations and experience in this field of helping fellow veterans first hand.

Again thank you and I look forward to all the other questions and responses.

God Bless

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Aug 4 at 2017 11:47 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 11:47:34 -0400

BG Tom Landwermeyer Sir thank your for all you do..I have seen first hand the results of your leadership for HFOT

Simply an awesome program . I have helped with a Home for our troops Home, and been to several Key ceremonies for other homes presented. .
One of my troops, a triple amputee had a home built for them ...it is truly a gift for there sacrifice and service that can not be understood unless you are part of their lives and see the impact first hand.
I urge all to support Homes for our troops, be it lending a hand during the build (no skill needed, your help of making sure everybody has water, means a skilled carpet layer can focus on that task) If you can not help in person consider donating
Charity Navigator rates HFOT at 94.69 (out of 100) https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=11553
Red Cross is rated 83.33
The New reorganized Wounded Warrior Project is 90.49

index.cfm

Response by SPC Louis Miller made Aug 4 at 2017 11:57 AM

SPC Louis Miller — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 11:57:07 -0400

Greetings, Sir.

I did not know of your organization until reading about it on RallyPoint. Inasmuch, what comes to mind, for an inquiry, would be that of what your perceptions and objectives would be for ensuring that some of the demographic, served from your organization, continues in being justly served, within handling those blessed servants who have sacrificed their continued physical abilities for our blessed nation, and continue helping in all who know of some of the disparities, as shown in the recent City University of New York (CUNY) report.

Respectfully and with best regards,

Louis Miller

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 4 at 2017 12:54 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 12:54:09 -0400

No questions General, just a big thank you and a snappy salute, to thank you for your continuing service to help veterans.

Response by Sarah Zayas made Aug 4 at 2017 1:09 PM

Sarah Zayas — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 13:09:44 -0400

Thank you BG Tom Landwermeyer Sir, we are grateful you are spending your time with us. Leaders respond well after personally failing their subordinates or team. My questions are:
1) Can you describe general practical wisdom that can be applied to different scenarios about how a leader can recover from failure and earn back the trust he has lost?
2)In situations where trying again is not an option, what should every leader do internally and externally in response to failure?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2017 3:01 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 15:01:10 -0400

What financial and investment training or education will be available for veterans? A home is a large financial responsibility. There is monthly mortgage payments, insurance, maintenance costs that veterans must take into account for sustained homeownership.

When and where to buy? Good schools and good jobs will be a must consideration.

Should veterans stay in one place or chase that good paying job for a couple of years to earn their first pot of gold?

Response by SPC Stanley Robinson made Aug 4 at 2017 3:01 PM

SPC Stanley Robinson — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 15:01:14 -0400

Welcome BG Tom Landwermeyer,
Thanks for your service and what you are doing now. Home For Our Troops is an incredible program and has given me hope in Vet's taking care of Vet's.

Regards,
Stan Robinson

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2017 3:02 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 15:02:33 -0400

TradeStation offers free trades for active duty. They teach free online classes about options and stocks.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 4 at 2017 4:15 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 16:15:18 -0400

Welcome Sir, and thank you for continuing to lead in your second career. Part of me is glad your org seems to have flown under the radar. That tells me that you're humble and all about doing your business without the celebrity endorsements and pomp and circumstance. In the future do you see yourself (org wise) maintaining that mode of operation or will you branch out into the mainstream? You are the second org to come here and I'm quite grateful for it, but I have reservations at the same time for the actions of the more mainstream vet 'help' orgs.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Aug 4 at 2017 6:43 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 18:43:10 -0400

God Bless our Veterans!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2017 10:10 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 22:10:18 -0400

How is the environment in the military in 2017? Is the current regime working well with military?

Response by Courtney Minturn made Aug 7 at 2017 11:46 PM

Courtney Minturn — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 23:46:02 -0400

Hello BG Tom Landwermeyer,
Thank you very much for your service and for allowing us to ask you questions here on RP. I am an Army Brat and my father is a West Point Grad and Retired Col. BG Landwermeyer, I love your Company Homes For Our Troops. I work in my spare time to assist VETS to find jobs and / or services. I wanted to know out of all the severely injured post 9/11 VETS, what criteria do you use to be able to determine who will be accepted into your program because I may be sending some VETS your way if they meet your criteria.
Thank you BG Landwermeyer very much for everything you have done for our Country and what you are doing now to honor our VETS!
V/r,
Courtney Minturn

Response by SGT David Emme made Aug 8 at 2017 9:59 AM

SGT David Emme — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 09:59:33 -0400

General Landwermeyer,
Thank you for your service to our country and also your service to us who are disabled veterans. Thank you for coming on here to field questions.
My question is concerning the possibility of requesting a home being built. In that I want to be honest about myself.
Before asking my questions, let me give a bit of background about myself. I am a disabled vet and retired from the Army in 2006. Am a triple dipper (Army retirement, Social Security disability, and 100 % from the VA). In November 2004, I was wounded by an IED in Tal Afar, Iraq during the Northern uprising while the second battle of Fallujah was raging. It was a puncturing head wound, have shrapnel in my brain, a prosthetic skull larger than my hand that takes up nearly the left side of my head. Headaches, Severe TBI, and many other maladies persist. Having been wounded twice in thirty days (the first time from a mortar attack in Mosul at FOB Marez-exactly 30 days earlier), PTSD had been present before the big battle that nearly killed me. I have other problems I am not going into for time’s sake and I don’t want to seem like I am trying to build a case for myself.

I have many friends, active duty, veterans, and civilians who keep asking me why I do not request a home to be built by one of many great veteran charities doing the work. They tell me the reason why I should do this is because I deserve this. I always shy them on and here is the reason why (and do not always share this reason with them.) It is not about who deserves it. Yes, I went through a lot of pain and go through a lot of pain on a daily basis. To me, to say I deserve this is almost like saying this is a lottery and I deserved to win it. I always felt this is not what this is for. It is here to meet a need for veterans-mostly those who lost limbs, paralyzed in some way, or wounded in some other way that prevents mobility or in need of special access.

A good friend brought up the fact in the past I have had many dizzy spells and have had (and still do but not as intense) what can best be described as feeling mini explosions in my head. It starts as a rushing sensation that starts in the back of my head moving forward convulsing the membrane of my brain. As it would move down my head it would increase dynamically in speed meeting at my eyes climaxing in an explosion where everything would turn blinding white. Now, it is not so intense now as it used to be the first few years. Because I have shrapnel in my brain I could not get an MRI which prevented us from ever figuring out what the exact cause of this was…the possibility being mini/micro stroke or some sort of seizure. My fear, because the science is new, with age how much of this comes back and what affect does it have?
With this in trying to do as much as I can to recover, have been using education to recover brain functions. Some of my own research for a paper on my condition, I have learned that Traumatic Brain Injury from blast injuries have been found to age brains quicker. This because veterans who have TBI from the war zone had donated their brains for study (which I also plan to do). Besides this, they have also found that there were indicators of early onset of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and other CTE’s.(resources for this at the end of this letter). Putting this all together, I begin to think maybe I should try to get a home built for myself. The reason why is because I would not believe in waiting for whatever malady to hit before putting something in place. Even though I am almost 45, when it comes to the brain, you never know how things can happen or what can affect you (For instance, one night returning home from class, a deer hit my car and even though it did not affect my car that much, and the deer kept on trucking-nearly dropped all classes I was taking because of the affects it had on me and my brain.)
Returning to my point, I still feel selfish thinking I just want a new house and am taking from someone who might need it more than I. Do not want to take from those who need it now. On the other hand…
As of now I inherited from my dad two 1974 single trailers he put together as one place with about two Acres of land.
Your wisdom would be appreciated. Right now I am staying in the Philippines as we take care of the paperwork with my wife who is Filipina in getting her squared away to come to our country as my sponsored relative. This is the reason I am writing this as a posting as opposed to participating actively.
Thank you for your wise advice on this subject matter. Thank you very much for coming to Rally Point and serving us veterans and active duty military.
David Emme
Resources:
Blast causes brain to age:
Hicks, R. R., Fertig, S. J., Desrocher, R. E., Koroshetz, W. J., & Pancrazio, J. J. (2010, May 1). Neurological Effects of Blast Injury. The Journal of Trauma, 68(5), 1257–1263. Retrieved from: http://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e3181d8956d
Blast causes CTE
McKee, A. C., & Robinson, M. E. (2014, December 10). Military-related traumatic brain injury and neurodegeneration. Alzheimer’s & Dementia : The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 10(3 0), S242–S253. Retrieved from: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.003

Wolters Kluwer Health - Article Landing Page

Response by BG Tom Landwermeyer made Aug 8 at 2017 3:15 PM

BG Tom Landwermeyer — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:15:37 -0400

Have you heard of Homes For Our Troops and if so, how did you come to know about our organization?

Response by BG Tom Landwermeyer made Aug 8 at 2017 3:44 PM

BG Tom Landwermeyer — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:44:06 -0400

How do you determine which charity gets your support?

Response by BG Tom Landwermeyer made Aug 8 at 2017 3:56 PM

BG Tom Landwermeyer — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:56:19 -0400

What makes a specially adapted home? Well, I'm glad you asked! HFOT adds over 40 special adaptations to each of our homes in order to ensure that our Veterans are safe and can access all parts of their home. Some of these features are wider doorways, wider hallways, roll-in showers, lower countertops, roll under counters, sinks, and stovetops. We also have dual zone climate control, hardwood floors, walkways that extend around the entire home. Windows that open horizontally instead of vertically. This something you probably wouldn't think of. If a Veteran is in his wheelchair, windows can be especially challenging. For safety, we include a FEMA Level 5 rated safe room and a backup generator in every home. We continually make adjustments to our home plans based on feedback from our Veterans and their families.

Response by BG Tom Landwermeyer made Aug 8 at 2017 3:59 PM

BG Tom Landwermeyer — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:59:34 -0400

Thank you all for coming out with some really great questions. Homes For Our Troops is always looking for volunteers and supporters so make sure you check out our website and see how you can get involved. http://www.hfotusa.org Thanks again! Reach out on Rallypoint if you have any other questions. Have a great day and God Bless Our Troops!

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