William Stapler served his country in the Marine Corps from 1986 until 1994. Born in Osceola, Arkansas, he enlisted right out of high school and left for boot camp on his eighteenth birthday. He was stationed in California, but spent very little time there. He did tours in Okinawa, the Philippines and Korea, and was deployed to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia during the Gulf wars. “I got pretty beat up over there; my back and knees were shot and they wouldn’t let me re-enlist. I received an honorable discharge. But I loved being in the Marines. I’d have stayed in if I could.”
Mr. Stapler married while in the service and after leaving the Marine Corps, the couple moved to Ohio where her family was. “I drove a truck for a while, but that wasn’t for me. My wife’s family did asphalt paving and so I got into that. I had my own business for twenty-five years.” The couple had three children, but eventually divorced. “We just grew apart over time. I moved to Arkansas where I had family.”
Mr. Stapler continued “But I met the wrong girl and got in trouble. I’d always been a heavy drinker, but didn’t do drugs. She used meth and pretty soon I was involved with a whole different crowd. One day I realized that I wasn’t going around any of my family or old friends anymore. I hadn’t been working either so I told her I needed to work and didn’t want to do the drugs. She told me she got a job at a truck stop that was known for selling meth and would be staying there during the week. I was so angry, I packed her stuff and drove out there, drinking the whole time. By the time I got there I was angry and drunk. When the owner locked me out of place, I ran my truck into the building. I got away when I saw the police coming, but my engine blew, the truck crashed and I passed out. Wen I woke up, there was a police officer standing right next to me. I ended up in jail charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors. I eventually got a plea deal for two concurrent five year sentences and a thirty year suspension. While I was in prison, I started reading my Bible and getting right with God and I realized that it wouldn’t be smart to go back home. I met some people from the VA and they recommended I come here.”
Mr. Stapler is working hard on meeting his new goals. “I have no desire to do alcohol or drugs; I’ve had to change my way thinking. I am working on getting my medical problems resolved and also on getting my military benefits. I’m eligible for several things because I was exposed to the burn pits and burning oil wells and I was at Camp Lejeune when they were having the toxic water problems. I have a house, but I’m looking for a place around here. I need to try something new, new places, new people. St. Francis House is a good place. Well staffed, drug free, it has rules but it’s not an iron fist. It’s a good place for people to find themselves again.”