Stories, Experiences, and Insights

from Military Life

For too many veterans, the phrase “THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE” rings hollow. These words cannot encapsulate the profound sacrifices and hardships faced during and after their military service. The brave men and women who served our country often carry the weight of their experiences long after their duty ends, grappling with memories of conflict and the challenges of reintegration into civilian life. Homelessness and substance addiction are not uncommon struggles among our veteran community.

At iHEART Veterans, we believe in sharing the authentic voices of our heroes. VetLife is a dedicated space where veterans share not only their stories but also their experiences and candid reflections on military life. From tales of camaraderie and bravery to the personal battles faced off the battlefield, VetLife brings to light the multifaceted lives of our veterans.

We are proud to partner with two exceptional nonprofits — Soldier On and America Salutes You — to support veterans in need. Soldier On excels in helping homeless veterans regain their footing, boasting a success rate of over 85% with their innovative three-stage rehabilitation approach. America Salutes You, through initiatives like Guitars for Hero’s, raises funds that are entirely directed to veteran nonprofits.

We understand that the divide between military and civilian life is vast and often challenging to bridge. iHEART Veterans is dedicated to supporting this transition. Together, we strive to honor and uplift our veterans, ensuring their voices are heard and their sacrifices are recognized.

Join us with VetLife to delve into the authentic experiences of our veterans, gain insights into military life, and connect with the stories that shape our understanding of service and sacrifice.

VetLife Story — Dan

Dan’s story is heart touching.

As a 13-year-old, he was dropped off to a boys reform school by his parents. Dan spent over 4 years doing labor on a farm — working 7 days a week, and 10 hours a day. At 17, Dan joined the Army. Dan spent almost 10 years in the Army, including tours to Vietnam.  After leaving the Army with an honorable discharge, Dan was surprised just how poorly he was treated as a Vietnam Veteran and he gradually became homeless. Dan spent over 20 years on the streets sleeping under bridges and park benches until Soldier On and Dan found each other.

Dan now lives in a small self-contained apartment at Soldier On. He is one of the success stories. He is substance-free and independent.

Dan is very articulate but always a little shy. He is a huge NASCAR fan. There are models of 30-40 NASCAR cars in his apartment, which he is very proud of.

One of the first Random Acts of Gratitude will be to get Dan to a NASCAR event. He will meet some of the drivers and get some autographed pictures for his apartment. 

The story of Dan is FULL CIRCLE. His apartment at Soldier On is in the same building that used to be a boys reform school where he was dropped off at age 13. The building went through changes — first, a working boys home, then a state police training facility, to being abandoned and finally reclaimed and refurbished by Soldier On.

When we first visited Dan in his apartment, he asked us if we could see the green fence across the street as he had us look out the window. We said that we could. Then he said, “every morning for 4 years I walked through that fence and up to the farm to milk cows”.

Help us send Dan to a NASCAR event

and say THANK YOU.

Go to the donate page,

and make a donation.

Then, send out an email to your network

encouraging them to do the same.

Together, we can give a

special THANK YOU

to many, many veterans.