Posted on Apr 11, 2017
What's Your Motivation for helping Veterans?
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Victory for Veterans/Veteran March on America do it for soldiers/veterans like SGT Michael Thorin, one of our very own RallyPoint Members and a very close friend of mine! He means the world to me and others here at VFV/VMOA! Send out a Big Prayer Request for Michael in his upcoming Lung Transplant! The Power of Prayer is Strong! It's Strongest here on RallyPoint!
I work hard for veterans in memory of my father-in-law who committed suicide on December 8, 2015 and men like Sgt Michael Thorin that are fighting the good fight to stay alive!
Here is his story!
"It is comforting to know that the VA and UAB are working together to build a better me. I thought the most I would be worth in this life was linked to my SGLI. However, between the oxygen, power chair, lifts, stair lifts, braces, medicines, concentrators, testing equipment, canes, crutches BIPAPs, CPAP's, nebulizers, hearing aids, glasses, and other assorted equipment and supplies, I feel that I have far outgrown the SGLI payout.
I've got no complaints. I have 6 wheels to get around on now. My corrected vision is now better than over 3/4 of the population of the United States (I made this statistic up, so just let me have this moment), with my hearing aids I can hear more than most, I have more oxygen which is purer than any other person I know, and I can answer my phone through my hearing aids. The VA is essentially turning me into Steve Austin from the 6 Million Dollar Man! Why complain, at the very least I feel like I am worth a million dollars now, even if my health doesn't concur with my assessment." SGT Michael Thorin
I joined the Army at 17, did a split op program, we to Basic Training in the summer between my junior and senior year in high school. Graduated, spent 4 on active duty, then got out and into the Alabama Army National Guard in 1995, and began my fire service career.
After 9/11, like many others, we started getting deployed regularly. I participated in many deployments, both Title 32 and Title 10. My Title 10 deployments were to Fort Stewart in 2003, Afghanistan 2003, Anniston Army Depot in 2004, and Iraq in 2005 - 2006.
While I was actually stationed at CSC Navstar, Kuwait (Iraqi and Kuwaiti border), our mission was convoy security and route reconnaissance. Route recon roughly covered the area of Safwan to Kuwait. Convoy security took us as far south as Basra, and as far north at Mosul. We made many trips to Fallujah, al Taqaddum, Balad, Tallil, Taji, Scania, FOB Orion, Tikrit, Mosul, Basra, and BIAP.
During this time, we operated in M1114 up armored HMMWV's. Of course, they were better than the "hillbilly armor" that was so prevalent prior to the M1114's, so in that respect we were very fortunate.
During this year and a half deployment, we would spend most of our time on the road. Making trips to all of these FOB's and COP's kept us hopping, and we were running op's sometimes as long as 17 hours at a time. During my time in country, our HMMWV would be hit 3 separate times by IED's. Of these times, none led to any immediate injuries, other than a staved up back and a terrible desire to light something up. We endured, however, and there is no doubt in my mind that God had His hand of protection over us.
While in Iraq, I developed a chronic cough, hypertension and severe nausea. I went to the TMC once and was put on bed rest for 3 days and issued out some Ranger Candy. Of course, it fixed absolutely nothing, so I just did what I knew best and avoided the TMC from that day on and sucked it up and moved on. Life is hard, you can own it or you can let it on you; the choice is ALWAYS as simple as that.
After returning home, I went back to work in the fire service. During this entire time, I was battling the cough, hypertension, back pain, chronic nausea, severe joint pain, muscle pains, pain in my long bones (femur and humerus), and of course, PTSD. I reported these symptoms to my regular doctor, and he said I was too young to be having these problems, so he labeled it "exercise induced asthma" and gave me an albuterol inhaler. Needless to say, that was not the cure.
Presently, after several tests, I have been diagnosed with a myriad of medical problems. Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome, Constrictive Bronchiolitis Obliterans, Cardiac asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, fibromyalgia, and congestive heart failure. There is no good prognosis for any of these, and a lung transplant is the best option. After consulting with the doctors, they told me my heart may not be strong enough to stand the procedure, so now we are being evaluated for a heart transplant too.
We have lost our house, cars, and as for me, a bit of my dignity and self-respect because "I am man, listen to me Our lives are only temporary, and I refuse to sit around my house idly and
Having said that, I have no regrets.
My life has taken me down many winding roads. My two goals in life were to be a firefighter and a soldier. I nailed them, and if there is one thing in this life that I proud of, it's my lineage.
Finally, on April 1, 2016, I passed out on our job tasks at the fire department, and awoke to find two brothers standing beside me. I have been blessed to find a group of people; on here at RallyPoint and Victory for Veterans. Thanks
CPL Roger CopelandSPC Amy Harris]Joni Kelley(Join to see)
I work hard for veterans in memory of my father-in-law who committed suicide on December 8, 2015 and men like Sgt Michael Thorin that are fighting the good fight to stay alive!
Here is his story!
"It is comforting to know that the VA and UAB are working together to build a better me. I thought the most I would be worth in this life was linked to my SGLI. However, between the oxygen, power chair, lifts, stair lifts, braces, medicines, concentrators, testing equipment, canes, crutches BIPAPs, CPAP's, nebulizers, hearing aids, glasses, and other assorted equipment and supplies, I feel that I have far outgrown the SGLI payout.
I've got no complaints. I have 6 wheels to get around on now. My corrected vision is now better than over 3/4 of the population of the United States (I made this statistic up, so just let me have this moment), with my hearing aids I can hear more than most, I have more oxygen which is purer than any other person I know, and I can answer my phone through my hearing aids. The VA is essentially turning me into Steve Austin from the 6 Million Dollar Man! Why complain, at the very least I feel like I am worth a million dollars now, even if my health doesn't concur with my assessment." SGT Michael Thorin
I joined the Army at 17, did a split op program, we to Basic Training in the summer between my junior and senior year in high school. Graduated, spent 4 on active duty, then got out and into the Alabama Army National Guard in 1995, and began my fire service career.
After 9/11, like many others, we started getting deployed regularly. I participated in many deployments, both Title 32 and Title 10. My Title 10 deployments were to Fort Stewart in 2003, Afghanistan 2003, Anniston Army Depot in 2004, and Iraq in 2005 - 2006.
While I was actually stationed at CSC Navstar, Kuwait (Iraqi and Kuwaiti border), our mission was convoy security and route reconnaissance. Route recon roughly covered the area of Safwan to Kuwait. Convoy security took us as far south as Basra, and as far north at Mosul. We made many trips to Fallujah, al Taqaddum, Balad, Tallil, Taji, Scania, FOB Orion, Tikrit, Mosul, Basra, and BIAP.
During this time, we operated in M1114 up armored HMMWV's. Of course, they were better than the "hillbilly armor" that was so prevalent prior to the M1114's, so in that respect we were very fortunate.
During this year and a half deployment, we would spend most of our time on the road. Making trips to all of these FOB's and COP's kept us hopping, and we were running op's sometimes as long as 17 hours at a time. During my time in country, our HMMWV would be hit 3 separate times by IED's. Of these times, none led to any immediate injuries, other than a staved up back and a terrible desire to light something up. We endured, however, and there is no doubt in my mind that God had His hand of protection over us.
While in Iraq, I developed a chronic cough, hypertension and severe nausea. I went to the TMC once and was put on bed rest for 3 days and issued out some Ranger Candy. Of course, it fixed absolutely nothing, so I just did what I knew best and avoided the TMC from that day on and sucked it up and moved on. Life is hard, you can own it or you can let it on you; the choice is ALWAYS as simple as that.
After returning home, I went back to work in the fire service. During this entire time, I was battling the cough, hypertension, back pain, chronic nausea, severe joint pain, muscle pains, pain in my long bones (femur and humerus), and of course, PTSD. I reported these symptoms to my regular doctor, and he said I was too young to be having these problems, so he labeled it "exercise induced asthma" and gave me an albuterol inhaler. Needless to say, that was not the cure.
Presently, after several tests, I have been diagnosed with a myriad of medical problems. Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome, Constrictive Bronchiolitis Obliterans, Cardiac asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, fibromyalgia, and congestive heart failure. There is no good prognosis for any of these, and a lung transplant is the best option. After consulting with the doctors, they told me my heart may not be strong enough to stand the procedure, so now we are being evaluated for a heart transplant too.
We have lost our house, cars, and as for me, a bit of my dignity and self-respect because "I am man, listen to me Our lives are only temporary, and I refuse to sit around my house idly and
Having said that, I have no regrets.
My life has taken me down many winding roads. My two goals in life were to be a firefighter and a soldier. I nailed them, and if there is one thing in this life that I proud of, it's my lineage.
Finally, on April 1, 2016, I passed out on our job tasks at the fire department, and awoke to find two brothers standing beside me. I have been blessed to find a group of people; on here at RallyPoint and Victory for Veterans. Thanks
CPL Roger CopelandSPC Amy Harris]Joni Kelley(Join to see)
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I am 100% disabled. I got to this point because of my service but that isn't my point. Other veterans are in the same boat as I am and are getting nothing because they either don't know or n one has offered to help them. I live in Asia. In mil-speak, OCONUS. With the exception of Puerto Rico and the Philippines there is no VA in the rest of the world. Veterans in the rest of the world, not including retirees as you have Tricare, have no access to medical care unless they have a rated, service-connected disability. It is called the Foreign Medical Program. It is operated by the VA but under its mandate it only pays for medical care caused by, mitigated by or aggravated by a rated, service connected condition. for example, if you are service connected for diabetes and you get cancer, it comes out of your pocket. BUT let's say you pass out fall and break your arm and you are service connected for heart disease...it's on you. HOWEVER, I left out an important detail. The patient has a pacemaker implanted. His pacemaker farts, causing him to black out, fall and break his arm, the FMP WILL pay for this.
Most of the Vets I deal with are Vietnam Vets although I am seeing more Iraq and Afghan Vets now. Someone took the time to educate me and i worked with them to set up a program where local hospitals would agree to service Veterans for their Service connected conditions and bill the VA directly limiting the out-of pocket for Veterans. I am proud to say that while there are scattered facilities around the globe that do this, We, here in Thailand, have a network of 7 hospitals, 2 clinics with 2 more hospitals coming on line with this in the near future.
Ten years ago my good friends Chris Palombi and Mike Holmes started approaching hospitals to participate. I was their guinea pig. They would set it up, I would go for the exams, treatment, etc. They would submit the bills to the FMP an done of us would put up a credit card as a back up. Once the hospitals were convinced, we no longer had to put up credit cards. We also had a green light for Vets to participate. It took awhile for the Vets to get use to this but it caught on. If a Veteran is SC for heart disease and has a heart attack, he can rest easier knowing that he will get good care in a participating private hospital and not go bankrupt because of a lack of insurance.
The issue with some facilities accepting this is that the FMP is NOT insurance, it is a reimbursement program. So long as I am able, I will keep working to get more hospitals on board and keep trying to get the word out to Veterans that help is indeed available...
Sorry, end of rant.
Most of the Vets I deal with are Vietnam Vets although I am seeing more Iraq and Afghan Vets now. Someone took the time to educate me and i worked with them to set up a program where local hospitals would agree to service Veterans for their Service connected conditions and bill the VA directly limiting the out-of pocket for Veterans. I am proud to say that while there are scattered facilities around the globe that do this, We, here in Thailand, have a network of 7 hospitals, 2 clinics with 2 more hospitals coming on line with this in the near future.
Ten years ago my good friends Chris Palombi and Mike Holmes started approaching hospitals to participate. I was their guinea pig. They would set it up, I would go for the exams, treatment, etc. They would submit the bills to the FMP an done of us would put up a credit card as a back up. Once the hospitals were convinced, we no longer had to put up credit cards. We also had a green light for Vets to participate. It took awhile for the Vets to get use to this but it caught on. If a Veteran is SC for heart disease and has a heart attack, he can rest easier knowing that he will get good care in a participating private hospital and not go bankrupt because of a lack of insurance.
The issue with some facilities accepting this is that the FMP is NOT insurance, it is a reimbursement program. So long as I am able, I will keep working to get more hospitals on board and keep trying to get the word out to Veterans that help is indeed available...
Sorry, end of rant.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SSgt Jim Gilmore Absolutely no issues with you sharing this with the RP Community Jim. These are the types of issues that need to be resolved for today's veterans and generations to come! Thanks for your service and I hope you're enjoying your time Bangkok, Thailand!
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs great question. I want to give back. If it is a kind words someone to talk to help others understand their strengths and work on their weaknesses. I believe in paying it forward to others. Seeing a.person accomplish something that they originally thought they couldn't is so rewarding in itself.
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Although I'm a Vietnam Era Vet, I'm not a Combat Vet, and the war in Vietnam remained a million miles away as a Navy Aviation Electrician. Much of that was due to my immaturity. The war got closer when I found out a good friend; an Army Lt. Infantry officer was killed in Nam within months of his arrival in 1967. During that period I was also experiencing hate directed a me simply because I'd been in the military. As the years passed I began to develop friendships with other veterans who fought in Vietnam. They represented all branches of the military, but by far those in the Army and Marine Corps seemed to suffer the most casualties and injuries. I was becoming aware many bore injuries and scares that were not physical. The term PTSD was something I did not fully understand fifteen years ago. Then I recalled an event that happened to me in 1981 where I experienced a deliberate attempt by someone to run me off the road. I was carrying an overhead camper, towing a boat, and I had my seven year old daughter in the front seat with me. I literally threaded a needle to avoid a head-on collision. The driver of the other vehicle in a P/U truck had two other passengers in his front seat, and all three had a smirk on their face as it was apparent they were playing a game of "chicken". My fiancé was in a vehicle directly behind me and she still doesn't know how I avoided slamming into a line of very large mature trees on the shoulder of the road. More than anything I wanted to turn around and chase these guys down, but that was not only impossible on this two lane road, but impractical. I was still shaking hours later because the consequence of what could have happened weighed heavy on me.
It would be nearly thirty years later before it occurred to me that if that experience could have created that degree of stress on me, then the stress of combat in a war environment would have far more lasting effects. That is when I began to realize I would like to be of assistance in anyway possible to Veterans who suffer both physical and emotional injuries as a result of service to our country. I started by offering my services as a photographer at Vet Camps, and determined to be a good listener. I also read several books written by Vets dealing with PTSD, or a better term would be PTSI, for Injury vs. Disorder.
My wife suffers from PTS due to several life events that few of us experience. But, the overwhelming event of being a victim of a date rape, and the loss of a child would weigh heavily on her emotionally. Again, I had a hard time understanding why someone couldn't get past that, and now I know it is an emotional injury that leaves emotional scare that do not go away. Therefore, I have become more involved and sensitive for those with PTS.
It would be nearly thirty years later before it occurred to me that if that experience could have created that degree of stress on me, then the stress of combat in a war environment would have far more lasting effects. That is when I began to realize I would like to be of assistance in anyway possible to Veterans who suffer both physical and emotional injuries as a result of service to our country. I started by offering my services as a photographer at Vet Camps, and determined to be a good listener. I also read several books written by Vets dealing with PTSD, or a better term would be PTSI, for Injury vs. Disorder.
My wife suffers from PTS due to several life events that few of us experience. But, the overwhelming event of being a victim of a date rape, and the loss of a child would weigh heavily on her emotionally. Again, I had a hard time understanding why someone couldn't get past that, and now I know it is an emotional injury that leaves emotional scare that do not go away. Therefore, I have become more involved and sensitive for those with PTS.
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This goes a ways back and is a little lengthy, so I apologize for that.
After high school, one poor choice after another took me over 2,000 miles from home and left me homeless on the west coast. I lived under a bridge for a little while, and had a place where I stashed my backpack during the day while I would wander around. Things got progressively worse for me from day to day and I was too proud to reach out to my parents and admit I had made a mistake. One afternoon I was standing in a convenience store and was debating whether or not I would rob it just so that I had money for food. As I stood there, I looked out the window and saw a bench at a bus stop that had an advertisement for the Army National Guard. Now that was not something that I had considered before. Before I began my downward spiral of poor decisions that led to the predicament I was in, I was looking at going straight into college and entering the workforce. After standing there for a long while considering my future, I walked out of that store and called the National Guard recruiter. SSG Leslie Anderson is who answered the phone. He came and picked me up and we had a discussion. I was honest and told him my story. He gave me his spiel and while I listened, I still wasn’t sold. He scheduled me for taking the ASVAB for two days later, but I still didn’t have anywhere to go. They actually ran a homeless shelter out of the drill hall of the armory where he recruited out of and he took me first to dinner, and then to the director of the shelter and got me checked in.
This is where I met SPC Rodriguez who was an 88M, a truck driver. He was unrelenting in his attempt to motivate me to go for it and make a change in my life. I don’t know whether I would have enlisted or not had he not spent every waking hour during the next few days selling me on the benefits of the military. But I did, and that was not where my interaction with SPC Rodriguez ended. I had about six weeks from when everything was signed and when I was leaving for basic training. Let me tell you, when you are homeless, six weeks feels like six months. He spent the next month or so teaching me everything imaginable about the Army. His most important message was, “Do not end up like me!” He made no excuses or attempts at blaming others for his situation, he just wanted to ensure that I didn’t make the same mistakes. There were not all of the programs or the outreach efforts in place in the 80s that we have today for veterans. I don’t know what became of SPC Rodriguez, I attempted to contact him later on through SSG Anderson to no avail.
I left for basic training, reconnected with my parents, and got my life back on track in the right direction. After the first Gulf War, I decided that the regular army was the place for me. I discovered a patriotism I didn’t know I had. I traveled all over the world. I have been to the top of the Eiffel tower, went to Easter Sunday mass at the Vatican, kissed the Blarney Stone, and have been to Oktoberfest in Munich (5 times). I stood on the banks of the Tigris River and looked out at the birthplace of civilization. I have been able to walk through the capital cities of 17 different countries and visit 46 different states. I am about a handful of classes away from finishing my third degree. Most importantly, I have an amazing family that I fully support in every way and they are also incredibly supportive of everything I do.
I don’t share this information to brag or to make myself sound more than I am. I share it because if it were not for the actions of SSG Anderson and SPC Rodriguez, I would not be where I am today. I had to make the decision myself to join, but I could have even ended up in prison or an early grave otherwise.
I have no problem stating that a National Guard recruiter and a homeless veteran along with some divine intervention and bus stop bench saved my life. Taking on the position of County Veteran Service Officer is allowing me to not only live my own dream, it is allowing me to give back to my fellow veterans.
So lastly, if you know of a veteran in need, send them towards their local County Veteran Service Officer.
After high school, one poor choice after another took me over 2,000 miles from home and left me homeless on the west coast. I lived under a bridge for a little while, and had a place where I stashed my backpack during the day while I would wander around. Things got progressively worse for me from day to day and I was too proud to reach out to my parents and admit I had made a mistake. One afternoon I was standing in a convenience store and was debating whether or not I would rob it just so that I had money for food. As I stood there, I looked out the window and saw a bench at a bus stop that had an advertisement for the Army National Guard. Now that was not something that I had considered before. Before I began my downward spiral of poor decisions that led to the predicament I was in, I was looking at going straight into college and entering the workforce. After standing there for a long while considering my future, I walked out of that store and called the National Guard recruiter. SSG Leslie Anderson is who answered the phone. He came and picked me up and we had a discussion. I was honest and told him my story. He gave me his spiel and while I listened, I still wasn’t sold. He scheduled me for taking the ASVAB for two days later, but I still didn’t have anywhere to go. They actually ran a homeless shelter out of the drill hall of the armory where he recruited out of and he took me first to dinner, and then to the director of the shelter and got me checked in.
This is where I met SPC Rodriguez who was an 88M, a truck driver. He was unrelenting in his attempt to motivate me to go for it and make a change in my life. I don’t know whether I would have enlisted or not had he not spent every waking hour during the next few days selling me on the benefits of the military. But I did, and that was not where my interaction with SPC Rodriguez ended. I had about six weeks from when everything was signed and when I was leaving for basic training. Let me tell you, when you are homeless, six weeks feels like six months. He spent the next month or so teaching me everything imaginable about the Army. His most important message was, “Do not end up like me!” He made no excuses or attempts at blaming others for his situation, he just wanted to ensure that I didn’t make the same mistakes. There were not all of the programs or the outreach efforts in place in the 80s that we have today for veterans. I don’t know what became of SPC Rodriguez, I attempted to contact him later on through SSG Anderson to no avail.
I left for basic training, reconnected with my parents, and got my life back on track in the right direction. After the first Gulf War, I decided that the regular army was the place for me. I discovered a patriotism I didn’t know I had. I traveled all over the world. I have been to the top of the Eiffel tower, went to Easter Sunday mass at the Vatican, kissed the Blarney Stone, and have been to Oktoberfest in Munich (5 times). I stood on the banks of the Tigris River and looked out at the birthplace of civilization. I have been able to walk through the capital cities of 17 different countries and visit 46 different states. I am about a handful of classes away from finishing my third degree. Most importantly, I have an amazing family that I fully support in every way and they are also incredibly supportive of everything I do.
I don’t share this information to brag or to make myself sound more than I am. I share it because if it were not for the actions of SSG Anderson and SPC Rodriguez, I would not be where I am today. I had to make the decision myself to join, but I could have even ended up in prison or an early grave otherwise.
I have no problem stating that a National Guard recruiter and a homeless veteran along with some divine intervention and bus stop bench saved my life. Taking on the position of County Veteran Service Officer is allowing me to not only live my own dream, it is allowing me to give back to my fellow veterans.
So lastly, if you know of a veteran in need, send them towards their local County Veteran Service Officer.
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There is 3 or4 vets that attend our Celebration Recovery program at church, I pass on information to the head of CR and when there is a window open, I will try to attend one of their meetings and talk to these people.
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I make custom canes and staffs for the veterans at no cost to them. They paid a price for which they can never be paid enough. This is just a small way to give back to my brothers and sisters.
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It's the golden rule #1 treat other as you want to be treated. As a member of the Gaston County NC Honor Guard we did 160 Funerals in 2017, I just started in September so I haven't attended all. Its an honor to see what the Families think and say about their departed Veteran! I want to give back to my brothers in arms!
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To maintain my sanity, the civilian population do not understand where we all have been nor what we have been through. I feel comfortable with assisting Veterans and just being around those who are Veterans. My full time employment is assisting Veterans with their employment needs, my other volunteer duties include Chairman of Veterans Cemetery locally, Commander State of Maryland American Legion, Adjutant of Post 189 American Legion.
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SPC Dwight Turner
so there is justice in the world rock on james !!!! way to go at least your stepping up congrats my hats off to you !!!!
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I consider all veterans my brothers and sisters no matter what branch or where they served. We are all in this together.
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