As I write this article, my service dog “Tank” is next to me, he is with me everywhere I go and helps me with everyday tasks. I have realized I will never be the same, and do all the things I could do before, but working with Tank I have learned to deal with my disabilities. I served in the A

rmy from 1978 to 2002, 24 years in Combat Arms as a Tanker. When I was 100% medically retired from the Army, I was the operation SGM for 1st Armored Division.

A couple of years ago, I got very sick and nearly didn’t make it. It was during COVID, but it wasn’t from COVlD, I needed surgery to stop an infection. I told the Doctors to be careful while moving me, because of my disability from the military. After surgery, I was in a lot of pain, but I was sent home anyway. A week later I started to lose my ability to walk, I could not sleep in my bed or use the bathroom without help. My wife took me to the Emergency Room when I was told my back was severely broken and I needed surgery to place metal bars in my back, I was also told I could be paralyzed.

It took over a year of rehabilitation and I never fully recovered. During this time, I had over 10 visits to the ER, one of those was for a Staph infection from surgery and they had to reopen and wash the hardware and infection. Later one of the bars broke in my back, I felt useless and began to have severe PTSD symptoms, which I did not realize was PTSD at the time.

I see a psychiatrist for my anxiety, feeling hopeless and for my nightmares. I was unable to go to the Doctor without anxiety and could not be in a closed room. I had to leave a light on at night, and the door open to sleep. Things that happened to me in the military came back to me, things that I had planned to never talk about. A few times I thought about suicide. My wife stopped working so she could take care of me as I was unable to do things I took for granted.

Our Care Coordinator asked if I had ever looked into getting a service dog, I never thought I would need one. I did some research and realized there are many Veterans like me working with service dogs. These service dogs helped veterans to deal with PTSD, become more social and perform daily tasks that they may struggle with. The dogs became their “Battle Buddy” or as we say in Armor, their “Wingman”.

We had just recently rescued a dog from the local animal shelter and my daughter came up with the name “Tank”, he was a handful as a pup, at the time I did not know if he was even an option to be a service dog. I was told about an organization called “Operation Dog Tag’’ and I gave the Director, Joe Scheffer, a call. We set up a meeting with Tank and I, but the initial meeting did not go well. I became worried that Tank did not have what it takes to be a service dog. Joe gave him a second chance and we never gave up on him. He is now my Wingman as we go together to appointments, activities and restaurants, he is always by my side. I have become more social and feel safe when I am with Tank, he can also help me with some of my disabilities. I have also had the chance to meet other veterans in the Operation Dog Tag training program as well.

I am not sure where I would be without Tank as my Wingman, I hope to continue this journey with Tank and see where it takes us! Learning to train my own service dog is not easy and requires lots of time & patience, but it has been life changing. I have learned to be patient, and with repetition and reward, both Tank and I are learning together. This program is a life saver and needs to be available to all Veterans in need.

Thank you, Edward Wilson
SGM, USA, Retired