Once a Warrior: How One Veteran Found a New Mission Closer to Home
Written and Narrated By: Jake Wood
Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
BRAVO!!!
Tho’ it’s been put on a rather definite hold, my hopes of an End of Life Doula career went way beyond serving the public. Rather, I’ve studied and studied and dreamed and hoped to serve Veterans, preferably Vietnam Veterans, but my education and training has been in the Military Culture. One of the most tragic things I’ve learned is how many, how very very MANY of our nation’s servicemen and servicewomen have been driven to suicide once they’ve survived battle only to come back Home broken and? Without purpose.
These are individuals who’ve put it on the line, who have survived horrific events, who’ve fought bravely, who’ve had to say good-bye to fallen friends.
And they’ve come home largely unemployable despite the extensive trainings they’ve had with hands-on experience. A Home with too many choices, with too few options, with a completely uninterested public. That Thank You For Your Service is just so much lip service, something we civilians spout off with nary a true care for those we spew it to.
Author Jake Wood learned all of this, early back at Home, having survived both Iraq and Afghanistan. What on earth could be done? Where was the Mission?
The devastating earthquake in Haiti engrossed him, and it inspired a dream, followed immediately with action. Calling on other Veteran buddies, they rag-tagged it to Haiti with loose plans but most certainly with grit, gumption, and the laudable skills they once used to fight and survive wars.
After Haiti, Wood was on fire.
Once a Warrior is how Wood came to build and grow Team Rubicon, their mission? Veterans serving communities that needed them after natural disasters, whether abroad or at home. Superstorm Sandy? There. Hurricane Harvey? There. Multiple disasters across the world?
There there and there.
This is one helluva listen. At times gut-wrenching, especially when even after serving, suicide is chosen as the only way to quell a nightmarish existence, it is also uplifting in the extreme. And sometimes it’s of Veterans serving other Veterans in need. Just truly extraordinary, especially when the struggling Team(s), the Greyshirts, find exACTly the support needed at the exact moment it’s needed. There are resources given/offered when all looks bleakest.
Wood does a superb job with narrating his work, enthusiasm, sorrow, the level-headed musings. The fraught circumstances met with sincerity and some of the hardest work ever. His narration is spot on, and there are plenty of instances that place the listener on the edge of the seat because ya never know how things are going to work themselves out.
This is Jake’s story, sure. But it’s of so many others. The victims, the heroes.
Bravo, sir, and well-done.
And y’all? For Veteran’s Day, truly truly thank a Veteran. And if you can’t do that? Throw a few shekels at Team Rubicon.
Or hey! even become a Greyshirt.
Meet some honest to gosh Heroes!!!
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