Veterans Find Forgiveness at Hope

Each night, a veteran sleeps in one of every four beds at Bethel Mission and The Door. Some fought in the Persian Gulf War and Korea while others simply served during peacetimes; almost half served during the Vietnam War. We asked three STAR recovery program residents — all Vietnam-era veterans — to tell us their stories.

Honor, duty, integrity — all words associated with military service no matter what branch you’re in. And all three of the veterans sitting in a sunny office at The Door today lived up to those ideals during the war in Vietnam.

“No, I never expected to be in a shelter, absolutely not,” insists Craig. “I prided myself during my career on being squared away. That’s part of being a Marine: neat, tidy, orderly.”

“Yeah, I used to see the guys on the sidewalk with brown bags near Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago and I’d tell myself I wouldn’t end up like that,” says Gary. “It’s a let down,” nods Walt.

Though Walt and Craig struggle with alcoholism, Gary quit drinking in 1989 and never looked back. But by 1996, he’d found a new obsession. “I could gamble 24 hours a day,” he says, “whenever my eyes were open!” Their addictions cost them good jobs, good marriages and good homes.

Each of these veterans is determined to gain back the ideals so important to them in the service. Through the STAR program’s intensive rotation of life-skills courses, counseling, Bible study and work assignments, Craig, Gary and Walt feel this time they can achieve that goal.

“I’ve gone through the VA twice for alcohol treatment, but I needed something more like this — long term and faith based,” Walt explains. “You can gather all the information you want, but you need time to live sober in a safe place.”

“I’ve been in several treatment programs,” Craig says, “but they involved going to a support group forever afterward. Here, I’ve found the forgiveness the Lord gives you. Other programs say I’m an alcoholic the rest of my life, but I’m forgiven of that sin. I don’t need to carry it around any more.”

These three veterans don’t believe the time spent in the military caused their addictions, and each looks toward the future with hope and conviction. “I came here as a result of divine guidance,” Walt says. “Otherwise I don’t think I would have incorporated Christ into my life. That’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

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