“I Never Expected to Need Something Like This”

Army Veteran EK spent twenty-one years serving his country. He joined the National Guard in 2001. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Then I met some guys from the Guard and they seemed different. I wanted what they had. I’m still in touch with most of them and one is my best friend. I was 39th Infantry” He served eleven years in the infantry and was deployed to Iraq two times in his first five years. In his last ten years, he served as a warrant officer.

EK was born in Louisiana and moved to Arkansas in 1993. He still has family in Bebe, a sister in St. Louis and two daughters., twenty-four and eighteen years old. He retired from the military in 2022.

I was in a relationship that ended. The house was not in my name and I found my self with no place to live. I went online and found St. Francis House. When I called, they told me about all the services and put me in touch with the Day Treatment Center. They got me in here.”

The military afforded me a lot of opportunities and it’s helping me now. I have 100% service connected disability due to PTSD, bad knees and diabetes, and I’m working on getting my retirement benefits. I looked at a place today and hopefully I’ll be able to be back on my own soon. My end-goal is to use my VA home loan benefit to buy a house. I’d also like to travel and experience other cultures.”

I’m believe that God sent me here. I never expected to need something like this, I’m very grateful and thankful. I would tell any of fellow Veterans who need it to just pick up the phone. The resources are here.”