Food Bank Helps Veteran Care for his Grandchildren

Nov01

Though it’s been years since Joe’s children passed away, the pain from the tragedies is as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. A song playing on the radio that reminds him of his daughter is enough to make him break into tears.

For Joe, 67, tragedy hit not just once, but twice. He lost his son to severe medical conditions 19 years ago and misfortune struck him again nearly two years ago when he lost his daughter to a drunk driver.

Now Joe and his wife have the task of raising Anthony, 20, Raven, 23, and AJ, 3. All Joe wants is for his grandchildren to have a better life than he had.

The Round Rock native grew up working hard in the fields alongside of his family harvesting strawberries, cherries and tomatoes. As the end of high school neared, he decided to leave school to join the military and fight for his country.

After finishing basic training, he was assigned to the airborne infantry and sent to Vietnam. Though his first combat mission was years ago, he vividly remembers his unit marching to the truck that would take them into the aircraft and the blue-eyed, 18-year-old soldier he befriended before jumping together out of the aircraft.

“We grabbed our gear, and threw it down and we jumped out,” Joe said. “We could see all the firepower and everything, but nobody was getting hit…we were just laughing, it has to be our own guys just scaring us.”

It took less than thirty seconds for war to become a reality when his companion was killed. On the ground, all Joe could do was fire, reload his weapon and take cover.

“Ever have a nightmare where you can’t yell or move or anything? Well, that was me,” he said. “I froze, I couldn’t move, but it was time to reload.” 

He survived his nearly 18-month deployment. After returning to the states 50 pounds lighter, he met the womanwho would be his wife of nearly 50 years at his mother’s funeral.

Now both retired, they rely on Supplemental Security Income to get by, but after losing their daughter and taking in their grandchildren, it can get tough.

Joe suffers from medical conditions from being exposed to Agent Orange during his time in the service, along with ringing ear drums and diabetes. His medication can get expensive; however, the couple is trying their best to support their grandchildren and is helping Raven with her expenses at Austin Community College.

Between Joe’s medical expenses and other family expenses, sometimes the family doesn’t have enough, even with Joe doing some yard work here and there to make extra money.

When they are “completely broke” Joe will visit the Food Bank’s Partner Agency, Abiding Love Lutheran Church he said. He lines up an hour before the food distribution starts to get staples, bread, produce and even meat to fill the family’s kitchen.

He knows his wife and Raven love to cook and will make whole nutritious meals with the food he brings back home.

“I can’t say thanks enough because it helps a lot of people that really need it like me. I’m retired and everything and can barely make ends meet,” he said. “I’m just grateful for all their help. It means a lot.”