[Blindvet-talk] Veteran helping veterans

Sun Nov 11 14:57:49 CST 2007

Blind  Army vet looks to help others

Blind Army vet looks to help  others
RACHEL BYRD
November 9, 2007 - 6:45PM
VICTORVILLE - Sgt. Major  Jesse Acosta's service to his
country did not end when he was blinded during  a
mortar attack serving in Iraq.

He is now devoting his life to  helping returning
soldiers who have been injured. Through his Thank a
Vet  program, he will raise money for returning service
men and  women.

"Once they come home and their medical needs are
attended to,  the government has done its job in their
eyes," Acosta said. "That's where  nonprofits step
in. My role in life from this point on is to help
these  people coming home."

Acosta, a 30-year Army veteran, has served in  Germany,
Central America and Iraq. He enlisted when he was 18
to fulfill  his dream of serving his country
in uniform.

After completing his  seven-year obligation in the
Army, he was honorably discharged, and went home  to be
with his wife of seven years, Connie.

"My wife was tired of me  traveling," Acosta said.
"There's always hardships. You're away from  your
family, so you miss birthdays and holidays. But I have
no  regrets."

Acosta took a two-year break, but felt that he  could
continue serving his nation while balancing life at
home, and  enlisted in the Army Reserve.

In October 2005, he was sent to Iraq during  Operation
Iraqi Freedom and was assigned to the largest support
base in  Iraq, Anaconda in Balad. In January
2006, he lost his right eye and vision in  his left eye
during a mortar attack on the base.

Acosta returned home  to Santa Fe Springs, in Los
Angeles County, where he adapted to getting  around
town without sight - but he no longer needs to do  it
alone.

Acosta trained extensively in October with seeing-eye
dog  Charlie, and the two are settling into each
other's routines.

"It's  like starting all over, this time with a dog,"
Acosta said. "He's getting  familiar with the living
surroundings and I'm riding buses around town  with
him now."

Tired of being less active since his injury, Acosta  is
preparing to return to work at Southern California Gas
Co., where he  was hired in 1986, and he is
going to take a computer class through Junior  Blind of
America.

"I don't need to work, but I'm not going to just  sit
at home," Acosta said.

Acosta is also devoting his time to getting  his Thank
a Vet program started. He hopes to host events, such
as concerts  at Dodger or Anaheim stadiums, and
donate the proceeds to veterans.

He  is grateful for the help of fellow veterans, who
are already getting the word  out.

"Regardless of the branch of service, we tend to bond
to help  each other out," Acosta said.

Acosta will be the guest speaker at the  Victorville
Veteran's Day ceremony today.

************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
-------------- next part --------------
Blind Army vet looks to help others
Blind Army vet looks to help others
RACHEL BYRD
November 9, 2007 - 6:45PM
VICTORVILLE - Sgt. Major Jesse Acosta's service to his
country did not end when he was blinded during a
mortar attack serving in Iraq.
He is now devoting his life to helping returning
soldiers who have been injured. Through his Thank a
Vet program, he will raise money for returning service
men and women.
"Once they come home and their medical needs are
attended to, the government has done its job in their
eyes," Acosta said. "That's where nonprofits step
in. My role in life from this point on is to help
these people coming home."
Acosta, a 30-year Army veteran, has served in Germany,
Central America and Iraq. He enlisted when he was 18
to fulfill his dream of serving his country
in uniform.
After completing his seven-year obligation in the
Army, he was honorably discharged, and went home to be
with his wife of seven years, Connie.
"My wife was tired of me traveling," Acosta said.
"There's always hardships. You're away from your
family, so you miss birthdays and holidays. But I have
no regrets."
Acosta took a two-year break, but felt that he could
continue serving his nation while balancing life at
home, and enlisted in the Army Reserve.
In October 2005, he was sent to Iraq during Operation
Iraqi Freedom and was assigned to the largest support
base in Iraq, Anaconda in Balad. In January
2006, he lost his right eye and vision in his left eye
during a mortar attack on the base.
Acosta returned home to Santa Fe Springs, in Los
Angeles County, where he adapted to getting around
town without sight - but he no longer needs to do it
alone.
Acosta trained extensively in October with seeing-eye
dog Charlie, and the two are settling into each
other's routines.
"It's like starting all over, this time with a dog,"
Acosta said. "He's getting familiar with the living
surroundings and I'm riding buses around town with
him now."
Tired of being less active since his injury, Acosta is
preparing to return to work at Southern California Gas
Co., where he was hired in 1986, and he is
going to take a computer class through Junior Blind of
America.
"I don't need to work, but I'm not going to just sit
at home," Acosta said.
Acosta is also devoting his time to getting his Thank
a Vet program started. He hopes to host events, such
as concerts at Dodger or Anaheim stadiums, and
donate the proceeds to veterans.
He is grateful for the help of fellow veterans, who
are already getting the word out.
"Regardless of the branch of service, we tend to bond
to help each other out," Acosta said.
Acosta will be the guest speaker at the Victorville
Veteran's Day ceremony today.

See what's new at http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170 AOL.com
and http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169 Make AOL Your Homepage
.
-------------- next part --------------
An embedded message was scrubbed...
From: REPCODDS at aol.com
Subject: Fwd: [Nfbf-l] Veteran helping veterans
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:32:38 EST
Size: 40164
Url: http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/blindvet-talk/attachments/20071111/c3ac0af6/attachment.mht 