Organization Helps Military Wounded
By Johnny McDonald

John Roberts, above, was the speaker at the Ramona Rotary Club's Sept. 11 meeting. Roberts is now a service director for the Wounded Warriors Project. Photo by Darrel Kinney

Although only 40 members strong and spread throughout the country, an association called Wounded Warrior Project continues to provide assistance to servicemen injured in the Iraq War.

National Service Director John Roberts was in Ramona recently, updating Rotary Club members about work being done by his Jacksonville, Fla. -based nonprofit organization.

"Since the first of the year we probably have placed 1,200 people into our data base," he said. "Overall, we have worked with around 5,000 individuals.

"We represent veterans in the Veteran's Administration system and are in partnership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in this outreach program.

"The amputees are great in supporting one another, learning how to deal with their prosthetics," said Roberts. "So our chief concern is postwar stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, those who have a real tough time. Those with severe brain injuries who need 24-hour, around-the-clock care.

"Focusing on this generation, we make sure their health needs are provided and that compensation benefits are taken care of."

Some of that is life insurance, which his organization pushed for in Congress.

He pointed out how difficult it is for families when wives are forced to quit jobs to take care of loved ones. The families of casualties suffer in many ways: financially and psychologically.

He knows of what he speaks. Roberts received a medical discharge after injuries sustained in a helicopter crash. He had been in the service 14 years.

"I had third degree burns over 75 percent of my body," said the one-time Marine staff sergeant. "I was in the hospital for a year and in rehab for three more years."

Organization members can be found at all major military facilities where these wounded are being sent. Wounded Warrior Project works closely with the Veterans Administration.

"We're in the east down to Tampa, in the Midwest and Southwest, including San Antonio's Brooke Medical Center, the Naval Hospital in Balboa and into Washington and Oregon," he said.

Staff members, many wounded veterans themselves, live near the hospitals. He said three are stationed at Walter Reed hospital.

"More often than not, we are asked to come in to help fill gaps in the system...anything that comes up, treatment wise, medical coverage and VA benefits.

"I like to think there is more attention being given than it was in the Vietnam War. We want to make sure this generation doesn't fall through the cracks.

"We're the sixth largest veterans organization and with only 40 guys that's pretty impressive. That's based on volume of service. Sixty five percent of the proceeds take care of wounded."

He said the American public at large wants to do good things for these servicemen. They support the program with charity barbecues, golf and fishing tournaments.

"Generous, tax deductible donations to the Wounded Warrior Project enables us to help the thousands of wounded warriors," he added. "As the number of wounded steadily increases, it is easy to see how the needs of these brave individuals also increase."

Donations can be made either online at: www.wounded warriors.org or by mailing Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 75817, Topeka, KS, 66675-8517.