Army veteran Randy Reese has a long family legacy of service and patriotism. When an injury ended his career, he chose to devote his life to serving those who serve.
“I’m from Bristol, Virginia, a small border town along the state line between Virginia and Tennessee. My family proudly flew an American flag 24/7 and engaged in virtually all patriotic observances and events, from moments of silence to parades and Fourth of July celebrations,” he said with a smile. “My father served in the Army as a tank operator, and his stories were commonplace in our house. There were always photos on display that illustrated his pride in military service. He also taught us that the Pledge of Allegiance was a sacred obligation and that our nation’s wars were to be borne by all, and the lives lost should be honored by all. During my childhood, you could likely find me with ‘camouflage’ mud smeared on my face, crawling through bushes, playing Army hide-and-seek with my friends. From the earliest age, I was inspired by my father’s military service, which he always credited with making him a better man.”
As high school was drawing to a close, Reese knew his family didn’t have the financial means to pay for him to attend college. With both parents consenting, he proudly enlisted at his school’s career fair in mid-1984. His father encouraged him to view it as an adventure and to use the opportunity to see the world, not just the United States.
“Taking his advice, I ultimately signed a three-tier contract, volunteering for Basic, Infantry, and Airborne training as part of a new style of unit called COHORT (Cohesion, Operational Readiness, and Training), which kept units together from basic training to advanced training and combat deployments. I was part of the famed 82nd Airborne Division and was off on an adventure of a lifetime,” Reese recalled. “Over the next decade, I had the opportunity to train throughout the U.S., Panama, Egypt, Italy, England, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, former Czechoslovakia, and Turkey. I was part of Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia and Operation Desert Storm in Iraq. Following the war, I served as an elite ‘Black Hat’ instructor at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It was there that an earlier parachute accident, which had caused a disabling back injury, worsened over the years and ultimately led to the end of my Army career.”
It was a hard season, he admitted. Unbeknownst to him, Reese found his new purpose while navigating the challenges of transitioning from soldier to civilian before he was ready.
“During a routine physical prior to reenlistment, the back injury I sustained earlier in my service had worsened to the extent that I would no longer be authorized to remain on Airborne status. I knew that remaining on active duty would mean a desk job for me, and I made the hard and painful decision to leave military service in January 1995,” he explained. “During a transition briefing as part of the Army’s Career Alumni Program [now known as TAPS], I first learned about Disabled American Veterans through its local counselor at Fort Bragg. A couple of weeks later, I visited the DAV Service Office, co-located within the Fayetteville VA Medical Center, to review my service treatment records and file a VA claim for disability benefits. I didn’t know it at the time, but that would be a major turning point in my life’s journey.”
As Reese transitioned, he felt his life was dull and without purpose compared to his time as a soldier. He frequently questioned his decision to forgo the desk job, which would have allowed him to stay in uniform.
“During my visit to the DAV, I was offered an opportunity to apply and interview for a job as a National Service Officer. This was a great relief, as I thought it could be a chance to stay connected with the military community I loved and to serve others like myself who had their careers cut short by injuries,” Reese explained. “My new adventure began in March 1995 when I was hired by the DAV. I felt reinvigorated and excited to invest myself completely in this new mission and have never looked back. Although it has now been over 29 years since I joined DAV, it feels like only yesterday when I couldn’t imagine any life other than in the Army.”
Though Reese remains proud of all the work he’s done at DAV, it’s the personal connections and support he provided to transitioning troops that mean the most to him. He has loved being part of the DAV Night Out Program.
“It provides dinner excursions for our injured troops, their families, and caregivers from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Fort Belvoir Hospital. It may seem small compared to the enormous benefits the VA provides veterans, but bringing these men and women together to share meals with others in similar circumstances and letting them know they are not alone in their journeys never fails to inspire and energize me,” Reese added. “I truly feel that my career with the DAV was God’s will, and I’m a proud servant of this mission. I’m grateful every day for the opportunities afforded to me to deliver for our nation’s military and veterans.”
He attributes all of his work to the team and mission at DAV. As Reese reflected on a lifetime of service to our nation and its heroes, he mentioned one of his favorite quotes.
“In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.” — José Narosky.
He also had a moving message for any struggling service member or veteran reading his story.
“You are not alone. There are millions of other veterans who have traveled the same path before you, and they have laid the foundation that can support you not just to survive, but to thrive. I would say, if they would let me, welcome to the DAV,” Reese said. “Simply put, the brave service and sacrifices of our military and veteran communities can and should be honored with your thanks, time, skills, and expertise as gifts in kind. They stood tall in defense of this nation throughout its history; now we need to stand up for them.”