Seamus (SHAY-mas – Old Irish for prankster) is a sheltie mix has made my and my wife’s life so much better.  Even on the worst days when Jean and I are tired and burnt he can have us laughing in seconds, and hearing my wife laugh is some of the best medicine in the world.  He makes me forget the pain and everything while we play and when it is nap time he hops right on the bed and takes a nap also.  I can tell you for a fact that Seamus will make me want to keep going again… I was getting to the point of giving up and now… life feels so much better.  So again  thank you, thank you, thank you.  You all provide a great service to the vets and everywhere I go I let them know about Companion for Heroes and the fine service they do.

I was drafted into the United States Amy in 1968.  In five months I was in Vietnam as a light weapons infantryman with the 101^st Airborne.  I was 18 and never really understood why we had to sneak back into the country after our tour.  After Vietnam I mustered out and floundered around with family and education for about four years.  I then joined the United States Navy in 1974 as an administrative specialist.  I served in the Mediterranean Sea, South Carolina, Texas, and California onboard USS RANGER (CV 61) an aircraft carrier that was part of four carrier flotilla that policed the Arabian Sea during Desert Storm in 1991.  My father passed away in a VA hospital the second day of Desert Storm.  My son’s met me in Hawaii upon our return and rode the ship home to San Diego with me.  I retired in 1992.  Over the past few decades I have been self-sufficient and simply dealt with many devils I was carrying from the past

Both my sons have engaged themselves in military careers now.  One in the Navy and the other in the Army.  In 2000 my second son was ordered to service in Iraq.  To honor and support his sacrifice I bought the beanie bear in the picture.  That’s me holding the bear today!  And the other character in the pictures is my new pal, shipmate and friend, Mya, a rescue dog I took in as a companion and reminder of the care and love we all have within us and the need for unconditional love and understanding; both giving it and receiving it.

I don’t see my kids as much as I’d like to these days…  But Mya is there by my side through every crisis and crescendo in my life now.  She has changed my life and restored some of the humanity Vietnam, Desert Storm, growing old and living alone had stripped away.

Companions for Heroes has truly blessed me with another reason to live well and prosper.  Though many of us don’t see ourselves as heroes, I guess our family, friends and pets do.

Congratulations to SPC Stasney and Io!

SPC Stasney joined the Army in November 2004 where he served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2008 with the 220th Military Police Company out of Denver, Colorado and more recently a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2010 with Bravo Troop 1-172 Cavalry, 86th IBCT (Infantry Brigade Combat Team), Vermont Army National Guard.

SPC Stasney was wounded on May 1st, 2010 in Ghazni, Afghanistan. His truck was struck with a 500lb IED and thrown roughly 25-30 feet down the road and in to a ditch. Everyone in his vehicle was wounded, one had surgery and went home. The rest of the soldiers recovered in theater and went back in to the field at alternate times due to differing levels of injuries. SPC Stasney suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), various contusions and lacerations and was knocked unconscious in the blast. He has no memory of the event; three of his fellow warriors were MEDEVAC’d to Bagram Airfield and the rest remained in Ghazni at FOB Vulcan and FOB Ghazni.

Io came from a shelter in Colorado and found SPC Stasney.

SPC Stasney says: “Io has impacted my life significantly in a way that is indescribable. Io is so sweet and very attentive to my needs and she is always there when I need her. Io has improved my  symptoms and my quality of life definitely, however, I never thought about attributing my improvement to Io and how much my symptoms have improved until I spoke to the C4H Representative during one of the follow ups. Thank you, C4H!”

Congratulations to SPC Jurado and his new companion animal, Willett.

SPC Jurado was stationed with the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks Hawaii in June of 2005. He served as a 240-ammo carrier for some time then began training in Army Combative. His brigade transitioned from a light infantry unit to a mobilized Stryker brigade. During that time he became a Gimlet clan member, which is an honored position in the unit and not to mention the Army. Those who graduate get special privileges offered by the brigade and unit. In December 2007, his unit deployed to Iraq and his company was stationed in a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Albu Alwan near Baghdad.

On February 08, 2008 a close friend of SPC Jurado, who he served under and became a member of the family, was killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion while SPC Jurado was eating chow. That night before SPC Jurado’s platoon had traveled the same route, the weather that night made the route unable to travel so command decided to wait until the sun dried the mud on the route and send another platoon forward. SGT Gary Willett was a great friend of SPC Jurado’s and was in the gunner’s seat that day during an IED explosion. SPC Jurado had to see the Stryker (vehicle that his friend SGT Willett gave his life in) everyday for a month until it was towed away. The next morning SPC Jurado’s company captured four combatants believed to be in charge of the IED explosion that killed SGT Willet. In Apri 2008, SPC Jurado’s platoon was instructed to pack for three days to contain an operating FOB near Sadar City, Iraq. SPC Jurado and his platoon stayed for nearly a month with little contact with their families and a lot of contact with combatants. Within the first 12 hours every member in my platoon earned the Combat Infantry Badge, and experienced daily contact with combatants, not to mentioned being mortared at least once a day. SPC Jurado had a mortar round come in one evening and land on the other side of the T- Wall (temporary barrier) he was using as a pillow because they did not have huts to sleep in at this particular FOB. SPC Jurado spent a 15-month stint and came home in February 2009. He was honorably discharged in April 2009 and sent home since he was on stop-loss (not able to leave the US Army).

Willett (dog) was found by the Greenville County Animal Shelter with his brother abandoned on the side of a road. No one had adopted him and the county animal shelter is a kill shelter. The Greenville Humane Society took him and placed him for adoption. SPC Jurado’s family adopted him two days later. However, SPC Jurado had to foster Willett since he had a cold but SPC Jurado and his family knew that Willett was the one for them. SPC Jurado’s wife trained Willett in one day how to relieve himself outside and Willett has since understood his responsibility, and learning commands at a very fast rate. Of note, Willett’s loving and looking after SPC Jurado’s three-year old son.

SPC Jurado says: ‘Willett is truly becoming a resource for me to control my temper, anxiety, and panic attacks in public places and home as well.’

Congratulations to LCpl Johnson and his new companion animal, Logan.

LCpl Johnson has recently returned from a deployment from the fifth fleet air of operations. Upon returning home from deployment he noticed an inconsistency with living alone versus with living with his brothers aka “marines.” Always having dogs growing up Johnson wanted to again have a faithful companion to wake up to every day and to face the day together with.

Johnson adopted Logan, a white male boxer, that was found roaming the woods after months of being abandoned. He was all skin and bones and was near death when the Boxer n’ Bird Rescue in Oceanside, CA, right outside of Camp Pendleton, nursed him back to health. Logan immediately took to Johnson and listens to him like a faithful companion. Johnson and Logan attend complimentary training classes offered by the rescue and go to the dog park regularly.

Logan was a rescue dog located in LCpl Johnson’s home town and was saved by LCpl Johnson. Now, Logan is going to repay the favor by saving LCpl Johnson and his family with a lifetime of unconditional love.

Congratulations to PO1 Pike and his new companion animal, Max.

PO1 Pike is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). He is diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Max was a rescue dog located in PO1 Pike’s home town and was saved by PO1 Pike. Now, Max is going to repay the favor by saving PO1 Pike and his family with a lifetime of unconditional love.

“Dear C4H,

I have only had him [Max] about 3 days and he has already made a difference in my life for the better. I am a full-time firefighter and that affords me 5 days off at a time, which can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. I spend a lot of time alone and that time is often when my head spins out of control, most days I spend hours being angry or anxious or I will cry for no apparent reason and when it’s bad, I try to drink it all away! Well, I woke up this morning and I had Max, with his big tail wagging, waiting to go for a walk with me. And, instead of waking up depressed, I just laughed, I haven’t started a day off with a laugh in a long time. He might be a rescue dog and some people will say he’s lucky I adopted him, but in all reality I think I’m the one who lucked out! Thank you C4H, for helping me to adopt him and all your support for veterans.”

Best Regards,
Petty Officer 1st Class Pike
US Navy Seabees

Congratulations to SGT Clark and his new companion animal, Scout.

SGT Clark is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). He is diagnosed with Chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and traumatic brain injury by the U.S. Army and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Scout was a shelter dog located in SGT Clark’s home town and was saved by SGT Clark. Now, Scout is going to repay the favor by saving SGT Clark and his family with a lifetime of unconditional love.

A note from SGT Clark only after having Scout for two weeks:

Congratulations to SGT Brice and Zoe!

SGT Brice applied online to C4H for adopting a Companion Animal of her choice with the help of her local rescue. She suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and is a member of the Reserves.

Zoe was found in a nearby neighborhood and is now in the loving arms of a C4H Hero (SGT Brice).

Marine Sgt. James Allen, 28, with “Dizzy,” the Labrador Retriever/Catahoula Leopard dog mix he decided to adopt, at the Kentucky Humane Society. He chose “Dizzy” because she looks similar to the dog he had to give away before his last deployment. Sgt. Allen’s third and final deployment was in Iraq with the Marine’s 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (3rd LAR) in 2007. He is the first seviceman to take part in C4H’s first Adoption in the fine state of Kentucky at the Kentucky Humane Society. C4H connects veterans with dogs and cats by waving adoption fees and providing veterinary and dog training services. (Photos by Angela Shoemaker, Special to the Courier-Journal) August 31, 2011

SSgt Fasnacht and his love, Sapper

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