A battle-worn Marine of 30 years, Sgt. Maj. Lance Nutt cannot tell the story without tearing up.

He and members of his Sheep Dog Impact Assistance team, a group of war veterans and retired police, fire and emergency response officers, were helping clean up the devastation of a tornado that ripped through Wynne, Arkansas, in March.

The EF3 twister with wind speeds of up to 165 mph sliced through the eastern Arkansas Delta town, killing four people and leaving a mile-wide path of destruction.

Nutt and his “Sheep Dogs” traveled to Wynne, set up camp at a nearby state park and began walking through the town and offering aid.

“We came across a man who had lost the roof on his home,” Nutt said. “There were three large oak trees that had fallen in his yard, and he was using a small chainsaw. You could tell he had taken all day to clear one tree with that little chainsaw. You could see the exhaustion on his face.”

He offered assistance to the man, who looked back at him skeptically.

“He wanted to know how much we would charge,” Nutt said. “I told him we were here to help.”

The Sheep Dogs cleared the three trees within an hour, and the man, who earlier seemed defeated by his own progress, began smiling and laughing with Nutt’s team.

‘A DESIRE TO SERVE’
The tale is symbolic of Nutt’s Sheep Dog Impact Assistance program. Veterans who return after serving in conflict and retired police officers, firemen and EMTs suffering from the stress and trauma
of their jobs all have their own fallen trees to deal with.

“Our nation’s heroes have a desire to serve,” said Nutt, a life member of VFW Post 3031 in Rogers, Arkansas.

He said when a veteran’s tour of duty ends, his or her sense of purpose may end as well. After a life of intense service, suddenly they find themselves sitting on the couch with nothing to do, Nutt added.

That is where problems arise. Veterans’ suicide rates are alarmingly high as a result. Last year, according to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, 6,146 veterans took their own lives. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for post-9/11 veterans, accounting for 22.3 percent of all veteran deaths.

“We were helping the town of Wynne begin their recovery,” Nutt said. “But we are also helping our individuals begin their own recovery.”

The Sheep Dogs Impact Assistance program idea was triggered in Nutt’s mind during the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While with the Marines, Nutt brought a group to Louisiana to help those in need.

“We lost men in combat in Iraq,” he said. “That was part of the job. I came home, and I was thankful, but some of our brothers did not. And others who did come home started killing themselves. I thought, ‘How, as a leader, did I fail them? I became angry and began blaming myself. Then Hurricane Katrina came, and I watched. Here we are failing the public again. I had to get up and do something.”

Nutt was sworn into the Marine Corps by his father, a retired Navy aviator, in 1988.

The younger Nutt deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He later attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where he earned degrees in business management and communications.

He returned to the Marines in 1995 and served as a recruiter and instructor until 2000.

Nutt then left the Marines to manage corporate sales for major retail marketing companies in northwest Arkansas.

But with the war on terror in full swing, Nutt re-enlisted, joining the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines in 2003.

“I grew up with the company of heroes,” he said, referring to his family who also served in the military. “The definition to serve was ingrained in me the day I was born.”

‘SHEEP DOGS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS’
In 2010, Nutt created the Sheep Dogs. It began slowly, mostly in Arkansas. His team would travel to disaster sites, helping locals deal with ravaging tornadoes and floods. Newspapers began reporting about the teams’ work in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, Kentucky and other areas, and attention grew.

“It changed how I felt about myself,” he said. “Helping is healing. Helping others can help yourself.”

Gene Roberts, the owner of a pizza restaurant in northeast Arkansas, was one of the first Sheep Dog members in the Jonesboro, Arkansas, chapter.

Roberts volunteered at first; he later became a police officer and then officially joined the Sheep Dog organization.

He and Nutt were friends in college, and Roberts traveled to southern Louisiana with Nutt after Hurricane Katrina.

The impact of the group came to him and, like Nutt, he becomes emotional when telling the story.

A young soldier returned from Afghanistan. He had been injured and was using a walker and wheelchair. Someone told the Sheep Dogs that the man did not have a ramp leading to his home and he had to negotiate steps.

“The Sheep Dogs went to his house with donated materials,” Roberts said. “We built a porch with a large staircase and wheelchair ramp. His family said they could not afford it, but we told them it would not cost them anything. We got a picture and a hug and it was worth it. There was not a dry eye out there when we were finished. Sheep Dogs take care of business.”

The first few years for the Sheep Dogs were “nasty,” Nutt said. It was constant trips to disaster scenes. He saw the vast devastation of tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri, and Birmingham, Alabama, and flooding in his home state.

Then, things slowed down.

“We needed to fill in gaps between the disasters,” he said. “What do we need to do to get off the couch?”

That was the mantra of his new programs. Nutt developed “Get Off The Couch,” a program designed to bring Sheep Dogs together for camping and hunting trips, fishing and other events just to maintain the camaraderie they need.

He also created Warrior PATHH for posttraumatic growth help with a seven-day training program.

“It is the next step of life,” Nutt said. “It is the second mountain. We climbed the first one already [with combat and service] and now we are faced with the second one. This truly defines our legacy as human beings.”

Participation in the Sheep Dog Impact Assistance program has grown to 20,000 members in 20 states.

“It has been amazing,” Nutt said. “I am beyond proud of what this is. We lost veterans because they gave up on themselves. We are reminding people never to give up on themselves.”

VFW Department of Arkansas Commander Jeffrey Byrd, a member of Post 2330 in Searcy, Arkansas, said his VFW Department wants its members to join with other organizations to help veterans.

“We encourage all our local VFWs to partner with the Sheep Dogs,” Byrd said. “Many of the groups like Sheep Dogs and We Are The 22 are all doing the same thing – helping veterans.”

There is a deep brethren among veterans, he added. He believes in the power of his “buddy checks,” times when he picks up his cell phone and sends quick text messages to fellow veterans.

“It’s a two-second text just to check on others,” Byrd said. “You are reaching out to let them know you’re there.

“There’s not been a sense of real belonging at times. You’re seeing the closing of local VFW chapters. Sheep Dogs allow retired veterans to go and talk about their experiences with others without people judging them.”

Arkansas currently counts 72 VFW Posts with approximately 10,000 members.

Jonesboro VFW Post 1991 opened its doors earlier this year for the Sheep Dogs to present their program and to recruit members, Commander Robert Murphy said.

“Anything that can get people together will help,” he said.

The Sheep Dogs also have worked with We Are The 22, a group dedicated to helping veterans in volatile situations. During a recent Sheep Dog meeting in Jonesboro, members of that group also briefed each other about their programs.

Wes Holt, a member of the We Are The 22 Arkansas chapter, said that in the five years his organization has been in existence in Arkansas, members have lost only one veteran while responding to 500 calls in the state.

“We help de-escalate things,” Holt said. “If you have law enforcement coming to a situation with a veteran with a gun threatening to harm himself with lights and sirens going, it won’t go well. The only real reason why we do it is because we are all brothers.”

Several Sheep Dog members also are involved in the other assistance programs.

The northeast Arkansas Sheep Dog group has 12 members and meets the third Thursday of each month. If they are not planning outings or assistance programs, they are just gathering together to see each other.

In February, Gene Roberts was given the 2022 Northeast Arkansas Sheep Dog of the Year award for his work.

“This is personal,” Roberts said “We have friends who may be in trouble emotionally and need help. Sheep Dogs help keep the wolves away.”

This article is featured in the 2023 August issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Kenneth Heard. Heard is a former newspaper and television reporter based in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He currently is the media information director for the Craighead County (Arkansas) Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

Since 2019, VFW Post 2667 and its Auxiliary members have donated canned food and peanut butter and jelly to the One Roof Ecumenical Alliance Outreach in their hometown of Newnan, Ga., as well as Bridging the Gap, the Salvation Army and The I-58 Mission.

According to Janet Alford, secretary/historian of Post 2667 Auxiliary, members are encouraged to bring jars of peanut butter and jelly to the monthly meetings. Those are then taken monthly to one of four community groups committed to helping food insecure families.

“To date, we donate more than 100 jars of peanut butter monthly,” Alford said. “As of July, we have donated a total of 4,848 jars of peanut butter, 1,354 jars of jelly and various canned goods. These donations have amounted to more than 12,000 pounds and an approximate value of more than $10,000.”

Alford said that in 2022, Auxiliary members began making birthday kits to donate to the pantries. Kits include cake mix, party plates, napkins, candles, frosting and pan to bake the cake in. Six birthday kits are donated each month.

“Our members have been very generous with their donations and our food pantries are very grateful for our donations,” Alford said. “We definitely feel like we are making a difference in our community. This is a project that every VFW could to in their community and it would make such a difference.”

A VFW Post in New Jersey will show why it is called the Garden State.

VFW Post 7925 Commander Brian Gallagher announced in July that the Post and community are coming together to build a “green space” for Fairfield residents to enjoy. The garden is named Schlaepfer Gardens in honor of Warren Schlapfer, a late World War II veteran and VFW member.

Schlapfer, an Army veteran who fought in the Philippine Islands, was a charter member of VFW Post 7925 in 1946. Schlapfer died on March 14, 2022, according to his obituary.

Community members are also working on the Freedom Rocks project. Anyone can participate and they will receive a rock to paint in honor of any veteran. The stone will be placed in the garden when it opens.

Gallagher said that the project could not happen without the support of the residents of Fairfield.

“We wanted to give back to the Fairfield community for their support over the years as well as honor one of our founding members,” Gallagher said during an interview with TAPinto West Essex.”Schlapfer Gardens will be a place where our residents can enjoy a place of tranquility to remember and reflect.”

Blain Bertrand enlisted in 1989 out of a desire to serve his country. He spent four years in the Army and was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany.

Three decades later, the Texas native is #StillServing as the commander of VFW Post 3885 in Erlangen, Germany. Even before becoming their official leader, Bertrand offered guidance to Post members.

“Before I was commander, I spent two years as a [VFW Accredited] Service Officer helping numerous veterans file claims,” he said.

Bertrand also takes an active role in outreach efforts. For instance, he built and manages his Post’s website and social media channels. He also provides support when the Post hosts benefit concerts and outdoor activities.

Recently, Bertrand started a chapter of the Veteran Golfers Association. Organizing golf tournaments for veterans and their families is one more way he’s bringing the veteran community in Germany together.

“Golf is huge in the United States, but no one has started something in Germany. As a PGA Professional and Army combat veteran, this is a perfect way to help veterans in Germany come together and grow the VFW community.”

The ways in which veterans across the country and abroad are #StillServing take many forms. Using their unique talents, Bertrand and others like him are finding creative ways – like managing their Post’s online presence and organizing special events – to continue supporting communities everywhere.

A section of Highway 115 (mile markers 15-27) in Colorado’s Fremont County is now known as Veterans of Foreign Wars VFW Warriors Memorial Highway thanks to the efforts of VFW’s Department of Colorado and its VFW Warriors Motorcycle Organization.

According to VFW Warriors Terry Mullins, the work on the highway naming began in 2022 with a petition to the state of Colorado. On April 21, 2022, VFW representatives including Department of Colorado Commander Gerri Rimpley, gathered at the state capital to hear the reading of Colorado Senate Joint Resolution 22-012, which authorized the highway name.

Mullins said there was not one “nay,” as every senator agreed to accept the resolution.

“Because of that resolution, we now have a memorial highway that is dedicated to our fallen warriors,” said Mullins, adding that there are about 200 riders in the organization.

The Colorado VFW Warriors began in 2004 at VFW Post 101 in Colorado Springs. One of its members, Army Sgt. Bobby Clark was killed in a motorcycle accident on April 8, 2006, in Penrose, Colorado.

The following year, the riders held their first memorial ride from Colorado Springs to Penrose in remembrance of Clark. Mullins said since then, the annual ride has grown to be part of each of the Department’s eight Districts.

On April 22 during the 2023 memorial ride, the Veterans of Foreign Wars VFW Warriors Memorial Highway signs were erected. The signs were paid for by VFW District 2 and District 5 Warrior members.

“This is just one of many projects that the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Colorado has done to promote and support all of our past, present and future veterans and their families,” Mullins said. “The VFW Warriors continue to strive to make our communities aware that our mission is not done. We will always be there for our veterans and families in need.”

Families in the Tar Heel State gathered on June 3 in the state’s High Country for an event aimed to entertain families of the area.

The inaugural Family Fun Day event, hosted by Boone, N.C.’s VFW Post 7031, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, featured live music, arts and crafts, and other children’s activities free of charge. While the event was opened to the public, Family Fun Day was held with veterans and their families in mind.

Past-VFW Post 4031 Commander Chuck Wright, who was the Post’s commander leading up to the event, said that he and other organizers believe Family Fun Day was a success. Wright added that 91 registered veterans attended with their families.

“It was an outstanding event, and we are appreciative of all the veterans who showed up with their families,” said Wright, a Marine of the Vietnam War. “We were even able to sign up several new members to the Post and Auxiliary.”

Wright, who served with the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam, said that the event went so well that there are plans to hold another Family Fun Day in the future.

“This event was the first of its kind here in northwestern North Carolina,” said Wright, who served three tours from 1965 to 1971. “Representatives from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation have said they would like to participate in a future event.”

Wright, who medically retired from the Marine Corps in 1972, said the event would not have happened without the work of VFW Post 7031 Auxiliary member Tammy Dyson, who is a fellow of the Tennessee Elizabeth Dole Foundation. Dyson, along with the Post 7031 Auxiliary, was a pivotal part of the event and its success, according to Wright.

“It is important for us to keep VFW’s mission at the forefront,” Wright said. “And we have to be able to show that to our community.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce SSG Jonathan Dozier Memorial Post 2894 in Chesapeake, Virginia, has been selected to receive the 2023 VFW Fred C. Hall Memorial Outstanding Post Special Project Award, a prestigious award that recognizes VFW Posts for notable and exceptional community service projects.

In early 2020, U.S. Navy Petty Officer Victoria Bullard and her husband, Christopher Edmonds, who was also on active-duty service in the Navy, purchased a home with the seller agreeing to make necessary repairs prior to the couple’s return from their respective overseas tours. Victoria was dismayed when she returned from deployment to discover the seller had not completed any of the work, leaving her family with a home nearly uninhabitable. With Christopher still deployed, Victoria faced the sole responsibility of moving into a home that needed major repairs, and she didn’t know where to turn.

When members of VFW Post 2894 heard Victoria’s story, they stepped in without hesitation. From repairing a large hole in the kitchen floor and replacing flooring throughout the home, to renovating the kitchen and repairing the backyard deck, together with the community and local groups like The Home Depot, I Sell 757 and Habitat for Humanity, Post members didn’t stop working until the Bullard’s house became a safe home.

VFW National Commander Tim Borland will present VFW Post 2894 Commander Jose Vasquez with the 2023 VFW Fred C. Hall Memorial Outstanding Post Special Project Award on Wednesday, July 26, during the 124th VFW National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

Watching his aging World War II veteran father neglect his cane because it made him appear “vulnerable” in public, VFW Life member Tom Ashmore set off on a journey that led him to Cane-Fu.

With an extensive martial arts background dating back to formal training in judo at 14 years old, Ashmore, 78, contacted Grand Master Mark Shuey, a U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee who created the American Cane System.

The system, developed for seniors and people older than 40 in all physical conditions, appealed to Ashmore. He believed that using a cane for exercise and self-defense could get his father to appreciate his own.

“I started training with Grand Master Shuey a decade ago and worked my way up, going through all the different belts,” said Ashmore, a Purple Heart recipient who deployed in 1966 with the 2nd Bn., 4th Marines to Vietnam. “Then as I got more involved in teaching my father, I figured I’d help others like me. It became a hobby of love more than anything else.”

A Life member of VFW Post 4639 in Williamsburg, Virginia, and a retired police officer, Ashmore and his wife created Cane Loyalty, a free program that has since taught Cane-Fu to more than 2,000 veterans in and around Virginia.

He describes Cane-Fu as an “innovative” way for veterans to stay active and practice self-defense tactics.

“Sadly, physical attacks on seniors and the disabled have increased about 70 percent in the last few years,” said Ashmore, whose martial arts background includes learning under several masters while deployed to Japan, as well as mastering Arnis, the national martial arts of the Philippines that uses stick, knife and open hand fighting.

“We went with Cane Loyalty because if you are loyal to your cane, it will be loyal to you,” Ashmore added. “It’s like taking care of your weapon in combat. When you need it, it is there.”

Ashmore’s Cane Loyalty program offers seminars with hands-on training, providing each veteran with a free hardwood cane manufactured by Cane Masters in Florida. While open to traveling for seminars, most of Ashmore’s classes are held at the War Memorial Cultural Arts & Community Center in his hometown of Powhatan, Virginia.

“I’ve been traveling around Virginia, but as I get older, I have traveled less,” Ashmore said. “I do classes at VFW Posts and Purple Heart chapters around the area now. No veteran has ever paid for a class, either.”

For his efforts in teaching Cane-Fu to veterans, Ashmore has received much recognition over the years. Last year, the Vietnam veteran was honored with a permanent mural and Quilt of Honor at the VA hospital in Richmond, Virginia, as well as an award from the Richmond chapter of The Military Order of the Purple Heart for his continuous work in teaching veterans that a cane is more than a crutch.

“The cane can become your personal gym so you can get stronger to live longer,” Ashmore said. “You can use your cane to enhance your balance, increase your flexibility and defend yourself and others if needed. Learning these movements also builds confidence, and it can alleviate depression by giving them something to focus on.”

Through Cane Loyalty, Ashmore has recently developed new training programs for veterans who are wheelchair bound, as well as programs dedicated to caregivers and those missing a hand or arm.

“Caregivers also benefit greatly from the strength building and flexibility training as well as the defense option,” Ashmore said. “The caregiver and the veteran can practice together for added camaraderie.”

This article is featured in the June/July 2023 issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., senior writer for VFW magazine.

VFW has made great strides this year in membership. At press time, the organization was on track to hit 102 percent in membership.

VFW’s Membership Department offers congratulations to everyone helping to make this possible.

To keep this trend going, VFW Membership Associate Director of Post Development and Revitalization Corey Hunt urges Posts that may be struggling to work on revitalization efforts.

“A Post with good community ties will be a successful Post,” Hunt said. “Events held at the Post whether big or small is healthy for the membership of the Post.”

Hunt added that each Post revitalization story is unique. Perhaps it is a Post that made changes to its home to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act ordinances or a Post that offered up its
property to serve as a community garden.

It could be the act of gathering food trucks in the Post parking lot, thereby drawing the community to the Post.

“We do a lot of things at Posts throughout the year that count as revitalization,” Hunt said. “It doesn’t necessarily take a large, impactful effort, but small efforts combined.”

Hunt encouraged Posts with Auxiliaries to work closely with them for greater impact.

“Even small endeavors by Auxiliaries can make a difference in the revitalization of Posts,” Hunt said. “It is no secret that Posts with strong Auxiliaries do well. Most of those are All-American Posts.”

As an added incentive, Departments that charter a new Post or have a struggling Post that is revitalized will receive an award.

That award is a $250 VFW Store credit given to the Department to be used for new Post materials. Additionally, the Membership Department sends new Posts a New Post Charter Kit from the VFW Store. Hunt noted that this award is subject to change each program year.

“Ultimately, revitalization efforts are ongoing and keep Posts from defaulting,” Hunt said. “If it is not happening, the Posts would not be able to exist.”

This article is featured in the June/July 2023 issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Janie Dyhouse, senior editor for VFW magazine.

Members of VFW Post 10380 Green Township, Ohio, held their ninth annual “Cars and Courage” car show on April 29 to raise funds for their veterans’ programs.

The car show, a blend of more than 85 vintage and exotic cars lined across the parking lot of the Diamond Oaks Career Campus in Cincinnati, Ohio, helped the Post raise more than $1,200 towards their goal this year.

“It was also a great way to increase our presence in the community,” Post 10380 Vice Commander Edward Murphy said.

Hosting more than 500 car enthusiasts between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on a Saturday, members of Post 10338 charged car show participants $20, collecting the rest of profits from food and drinks. All spectators had free access to the show, as in years past.

The car show in April is among many slated fundraisers and community hosted by Post 10380 throughout the year. Some of these most popular events include a Fourth of July fireworks display, a Kids Fest in August, Veterans and Memorial Day parades, as well as an annual golf tournament.

On Aug. 27, the Post also will celebrate its 35th anniversary with the community.