Army Veteran Edwards Cagle served his country from 1984 to 1987 as a tank crew member. After he left full-time service, he joined the reserves as a generator mechanic. He remained in the Reserves until 1994.
A native of Ohio, he joined the military the day after high school graduation. “I had worked as a janitor during high school, and there weren’t any good jobs, so I decided to join the Army. And you know what, I still had to scrub latrines!” Mr. Cagle said, laughing.
“In 1991, my mom wanted to buy a small mom-and-pop store, so I helped her do that. My sister moved down to Arkansas with her. I eventually moved there in 1996 and moved in with her to help renovate.” Mr. Cagle eventually moved in with his mother and helped her with the store as well as worked other jobs. “I met someone in 1997, and we were together seventeen years. We raised ten kids together, including a couple of nieces and nephews. When my mom died, we closed the store and turned the whole place into our home.”
It was after that relationship broke up that Mr. Cagle began getting into trouble. “I couldn’t seem to choose the right kinds of friends. I got in a fight with a girl, and she shot at me. I lost it, demolished her car, and burned down her house. I got ten years in jail, served a year and a half, and the rest on parole. I came straight from prison to St. Francis House. That was May 2015. I had never been to Little Rock. I didn’t know anything about the VA or benefits. I stayed until just after New Year’s. St. Francis House is a blessing for Vets. I got my benefits, all my medical and dental, and found a place to live. I did great for five years. “But then one day, a guy came at me with a stick; I took it and beat him badly enough to send him to the hospital. I went too far.” I spent ten months in jail and lost everything. The charge was reduced to a third-degree misdemeanor and probation. That’s when I came back to St. Francis House.”
Mr. Cagle has started college at Pulaski Technical and is active in all St. Francis House program areas. He works in the kitchen, volunteers through the VA, helps organize the clothing and supply closets, and is a Veterans rep. “I like giving back, and I hate being bored. St. Francis House gives you everything you need to live, and it’s free. They push you to make all your appointments and go to classes and groups. I lost a bunch of weight in jail, so I’m getting back in shape. I’ll be looking for a place to live, and this time, I’ve learned that I have to be careful about who I let into my close circle. And I can’t say enough about St. Francis House. Thanks for everything!”