Helping Combat Veterans Return To A Normal Life

JACKSONVILLE, FL - For 29 years, the Vet Center has been counseling those who fought to defend our freedom.

Chester McCoid served two tours in Vietnam as an Army paratrooper. He told First Coast News he is grateful for the work the center does for him and all veterans.

"If it weren't for a center like this, for a lot of people of my age of my generation, we would be in dire straits in the fact there would be noone to talk to," said McCoid. "In 1967 when I came back, I got spat on."

But McCoid says it wasn't just the disrespect he and others endured. For many Vietnam veterans there was no post-war counseling to help them adjust to civilian life. McCoid says the pain was stuffed deep inside.

"So a lot of us lived with it for 30-40 years. I moved every three years, lost my job, lost my job, lost my job," said McCoid.

But then, he found the Vets Center, where he and other veterans from all U.S. conflicts get respect, honor, and readjustment counseling.

"That they'll be able to get on with their lives through good employment, good careers, making sure that their relationships are restored and also seeing that they feel some sort of security when they get back," said Vet Center Team Leader Reginald Lawrence.

Chester McCoid describes what it's like to release the pain and confusion through the counseling he's received.

"Because it'll open up the concrete walls of your head and let some of the memories out and people like Reggie -he's just remarkable!"

Lawrence has been helping combat veterans for 27 of the 29-years the Vet Center has been open. He says he can't wait to get to work every day, with a broad smile on his face.

"I think it's the honor of working with people who defended the country and knowing some of the needs that they're bringing back after defending the country," said Lawrence.

Monday the Vet Center held an open house. There was a lot of good food, smiles, and veteran and client David Barnes presenting the flag he captured 40 years ago in North Vietnam to the staff.

Barnes says it's one way he's giving back to those who have helped him over the years.

"It's made me a happier individual. I wish it had happened in 1970 or '71," said McCoid.

And Reggie Lawrence sums up the sentiment of the entire Vet Center team.

"We want to make sure that people know that we're still here, and we still care!"