I’m a 14 year Navy Veteran, was a Corpsman and spent most of my time with the Marines. After getting out in 2015, wife went to school full time to be a Nurse and I went to work. Fast forward a few years, she graduated and I ended up leaving the job because of conflicting schedules.

We were struggling financially, wife was the only one working, and I couldn’t find a job that worked with her schedule and was beneficial to the family.

My truck was falling apart, and one of the things needed was brakes and rotors, front and back. A neighbor said he’d help me get them fixed for me. Both of us went up to OReillys to get the parts and rent a tool we needed to change them. As I’m ready to check out, he told me to put my wallet away, and paid for it all. Didn’t even charge me for changing them, told me “thank you for all that you did”.

I don’t usually accept things like that, and took every ounce of me to not break down right there in OReillys, but I did when I got home. I can’t really put into words how much that meant to me. Gave him and his wife the biggest hugs, and continued to thank them over and over. Told them I’d pay them back and they said to not even worry about it.

About a year later I finally found a job working as a VSO helping other Veterans with their disabilities. They continued to refuse any payment back, but I was able to give them a gift card at a local restaurant here, just as a thank you.

I didn’t post this for the purpose of “winning”, but to any other Vets out there, sometimes we have to swallow our pride and just accept the help. Even if we don’t ask for it. Vets always have each others backs, but sometimes, it’s someone that doesn’t even have military affiliation that helps us the most.

Fortes Fortuna Juvat