Vets help veterans get a ride home

By Ms. Marie Berberea (TRADOC)March 7, 2013

Vets helping vets
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla.-- On March 2, a group of veterans rolled out to help other veterans ride home. The Combat Vets Motorcycle Association donated more than $2,000 to help retired first sergeant Thomas Easterly get a wheelchair capable bus ready to help those in retirement homes visit their loved ones.

"The reason for doing it is because I can't see veterans spending their last few days, years, months not being able to come home because they can't get there," said Easterly.

Easterly was really motivated to take action when a friend's health took a turn and he needed help getting back and forth.

"If they can come home three hours on the weekend, and I can get them there and then take them back, then that's three hours more they got with their family," said Easterly. "It's not that they can't visit at the veterans center it's that they're home. Their home."

Right now the veterans center has vehicles to transport them to medical appointments only.

Easterly set out to find the right vehicle to assist the veterans and he found one in Oklahoma City. When he spoke with the owner about its purpose, they reached an agreement that benefited both parties.

"Trinity Health Care out of Oklahoma City called me and we spoke about the mini-bus that he had, he said 'If that's what you want to do with it then I'll give it to you.'"

The mini-bus has a motorized ramp and is capable of transporting three people in wheelchairs along with three attendants.

Easterly's only obstacle was paying for its high insurance. That's where the CVMA came in to help offset costs.

"When I first saw this, I had that internal intuition of 'I need to help here,'" said Al Franz, CVMA 10-3 chapter event coordinator.

About 6,000 strong in Oklahoma, Franz said the motorcycle group was founded on helping veterans. He emphasized that they are not a motorcycle club, and they are no different than other nonprofit organizations. They just happen to do a lot of their business on motorcycles.

"We're one big giant family with one purpose: take care of the vets and enjoy riding our bikes. Being a retired command sergeant major, working with people was my top priority and it still is today," said Franz.

Easterly put out the message on Facebook and was pleasantly surprised by the response.

"People need to know that they are still needed and when Thomas Easterly put out that request it seemed as if it went on deaf ears at first. It didn't. He posted it, I liked what I read and I definitely like what I'm doing."

Easterly and Franz said the reason they are dedicated to giving back is because it's what they are used to doing from their time in the military, and they hope someone will help them in their times of need.

"We fade away, but someone else is going to take that torch and carry it. And, I hope that whoever carries it when I'm old and unable to move they'll be there for me," said Franz.

If anyone would like to volunteer to drive call 580-353-9883 or email easterlythomashotmail.com.