My name is Joe Steele and I was medically retired after 17 years of service with the military. I deployed twice in my career and was wounded in Iraq in 2007. Complications from being wounded lead to my early retirement and lifelong disabilities which I never thought that I would have especially at the age of 35. It is because of situations such as mine and others that veterans feel like the only way out is suicide. There are so many other ways to deal with the issues and complications that veterans have.

I reached out to an organization known as Operation Dog Tag which is a non-profit ran by Joe Scheffer who is a combat veteran from Vietnam. Through Operation Dog Tag Joe trains service dogs for veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other disabilities. I have been with Operation Dog Tag for several months now with “Freya” my amazing battle buddy.  

Freya is a German Shepherd that loves to be near me and has totally changed my outlook. When her training is complete, she will be able to go with me everywhere. She is extremely alert and allows me to relax in places so that I no longer need to be hyper-vigilant. The multiple TBI’s that I endured while in service have led me to have severe Migraines, and Narcolepsy with Cataplexy on top of the PTSD. Freya is also going to be trained to notice the onset of migraines, and narcoleptic or cataplexic attacks so that I can get to a safe place.

Freya has been the best thing for me and has completely changed my life for the better. I urge any veteran dealing with Post Traumatic Stress or other disabilities and are feeling hopeless or helpless to reach out to Joe Scheffer at Operation Dog Tag. It will change your life, it did mine.  

Joe Steele