Grissom volunteers help local veterans Published Oct. 27, 2009 By Lt. Col. Gary Lockard 434th ARW Public Affairs Staff GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- Grissom personnel are involved in some very unique activities during their off-duty hours. From building houses for Habitat for Humanity to racing at the local drag strip, base personnel are active participants in the local community. Recently, doing volunteer work for disabled military veterans has been added to the list. This volunteer outreach to the disabled military veteran community has been a joint effort between the Howard County Veterans Service Office, the Grissom Airman and Family Readiness Office and the Seasoning Training Flight. Bob Ladd, an Air Force veteran and Howard County Veteran Service Officer, got the ball rolling when he mentioned a specific challenge one local disabled veteran was having. The individual was housebound and not even able to leave for doctor appointments. His home was not handicap accessible and did not have a wheelchair ramp. When the individual's situation came to light, base personnel sprang into action. Capt. Jeff O'Toole, Master Sgt. Paul Tomlinson, Staff Sgt. John Borland and Senior Airman Michael Wilson worked to build a ramp. The materials for the ramp were donated, as well as the off-duty time of Grissom personnel, so it did not cost the disabled veteran anything and there was no cost to the government. Everything went so well, from the donated materials to the new friendships made, the scenario was repeated on several occasions to help other disabled veterans. But the outreach to disabled veterans did not stop with building ramps. Other base personnel donated their time and talents to help a family re-start a garden in their backyard. The husband and wife are both disabled veterans and wanted to grow fresh vegetables for their four children, two of which have disabilities. When the call went out for help, wing personnel readily responded. Chief Master Sgt. Tamara Jones, Tech. Sgts. Rusty Hunter, Jay Fulkerson, Timothy Everhart; and Staff Sgt. Joshua Dipert and Anne Schwartze teamed up on their off-hours to weed and till an existing garden, put a fence around a second garden, assemble an awning and build a sand box for the children. Later, a second team of wing personnel consisting of Staff Sgt. Mark Garcia and Stephen McPherson and Senior Airman Makayla McClintock, Gerard Merchant and Tyler Stephens donated their off-duty time to help maintain the garden as well as tilling another site. "It feels great to help our own. A large number of volunteers showing up at the disabled veteran's doorstep gives the vet a sense of connection to our military family. These disabled veterans have not been forgotten and their service to our nation is appreciated. They enjoy our inherent camaraderie while sharing stories and reconnecting to today's generation of warriors," said Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel T. Greathouse. Other individuals who supported the projects included Maj. Obadiah Smith, Senior Master Sgt. Tim O'Brien, Mrs. Diana O'Brien, Master Sgts. Jackson Barnett, Bill Archer and Rob Hoffman; Tech. Sgts. Zachary Guamer, Ed Bazan, Erin Baker, Senior Airmen Rachelle Chance and Chassity Howieson, and Mr. Weston Smith.
