K9s For Warriors celebrated the graduation of its first-ever Vietnam War veteran during a ceremony earlier this month.
David Wood, 73, and his new service dog, Loose, graduated on Nov. 18. Wood is also the 700th veteran to graduate from the program.
“Coming to K9s For Warriors and receiving Loose has been the best experience of my life,” Wood said.
Wood shattered his left leg on May 6, 1968, during a firefight in Vietnam. Shortly after, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Infantrymen's Badge for his sacrifice. His older brother, Darrell, was killed in Vietnam in 1970. After numerous tours, ranks and positions he retired in 1995 as a lieutenant colonel.
The Purple Heart recipient suffered in silence from PTSD for decades following 28 years of active service in the Army. Desperate for an alternative solution to combat his PTSD symptoms, Wood turned to K9s For Warriors.
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“I experienced a lot of emptiness over the last five years,” explained Wood. “I was within the VA system seeking therapy and medication. I was looking for an alternative, and that alternative led me to explore dogs first. I then discovered the world of service dogs. I went online and found K9s For Warriors, and I immediately sensed it was genuine.”
Loose is named after another Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient John Loosen. Loosen was an advocate for veterans and instrumental in raising funds for K9s For Warriors over the years. He died in early 2021.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’, pre-9/11 era veterans are disproportionately affected by suicide. In 2018, veterans aged 55-74 accounted for essentially as many suicides (2,587) as those aged 18-34 (874) and 35-54 (1,730) combined.
The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. nonprofit opened its program to all-era veterans earlier this year and the organization now serves older veterans in its effort to end veteran suicide.
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“This milestone tells us, not only is our program working but it’s desperately needed. Since we started ten years ago, we’ve served more than 700 Warriors struggling with invisible wounds of war,” said Rory Diamond, CEO of K9s For Warriors. “Lt. Col. Wood’s story shows us veterans of all eras can find hope again with a service dog.”
As of this month, K9s For Warriors has served 704 warriors and rescued roughly 1,500 dogs.
Stryker Corporation, a longtime supporter of K9s For Warriors, also presented a $55,000 donation from the proceeds of its MiLB “Own the Walk” campaign during the ceremony. The Dogtopia Foundation also supported the training and care of a graduating service dog as part of its “Fetch it Forward” initiative.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.