Legion, Soldier's Wish make Green Beret's dream come true

From the outside, Master Sgt. George Vera's room at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center looks like every other room in the facility. His door, made from a maple-colored wood, is decorated with a hand-painted drawing of an American flag. Unlike many of the other rooms, his is filled with laughter that spills out into the hallway – even from behind the closed door.

Inside his room, Vera – a Silver Star recipient – laughs and jokes with family members and close friends who come to check on him while he recovers after sustaining gunshot wounds in Afghanistan in August of 2015.

The reunion with Vera was bittersweet for Legionnaire Mark Ochsenbein, a volunteer director with Soldier’s Wish. The pair, both assigned to 7th Special Forces Group during different eras, grew close after Soldier’s Wish and The American Legion found out Vera and his family were in need.

As a smile flashed across Vera’s wife Angela’s face, she expressed how thankful she was for all the help the family received. Shortly after Vera transitioned to Walter Reed, his family experienced difficulty moving their personal belongings to Maryland from Florida. That’s when Soldier’s Wish stepped in to help provide new furniture for the family so they would not have to incur out-of-pocket expenses to move their belongings.

“We were finally able to have something that was our own,” Angela said. “We didn’t have to worry about renting furniture. We already had enough to worry about with [George’s] recovery. I’ve never seen anyone fight as hard as he has.”

In town from Oklahoma to lay a wreath for Soldier’s Wish at Arlington National Cemetery, Ochsenbein said he felt it was only right to stop by and check on Vera. The last time the pair saw each other was back in May at the Tree Town Music Festival in Forest City, Iowa. The American Legion is the official charity of the country music festival.

Ochsenbein, acting on behalf of Soldier’s Wish, and Legion representatives from the departments of Iowa and Minnesota presented Vera with a new track chair during the festival. He stressed the importance of the relationship between the two organizations. “This would not have been possible without the American Legion,” Ochsenbein said.

As Vera recalled memories from that day, he remembered how great he felt hearing the deafening cheers from the crowd as he addressed them during the presentation. “It made me sit there and think, ‘Hey what happened to me kind of sucks, but the warm welcome from all these people made everything feel okay,'" he said. "I am just grateful for my wife and family being there for me and all of the people that made this possible.”

Vera’s new track chair made by Rocket Mobility bears the red flash insignia of 7th Special Forces Group and was customized specifically for him. It is also adorned with other modifications, including a holster for Vera’s rifle.

“It gives me a lot of freedom," he said. "I like doing a lot of things outdoors – from the woods to the beach. I remember talking with a friend when I first found out I would not walk again. The first thing that ran through my mind was if I would ever be able to go to the beach again. I said to my buddy, ‘Man I wonder if I can get a track chair,’” he joked.

Vera and his wife expect to remain at Walter Reed for the next two to three months while he completes his rehabilitation. His family and friends said he continues to uphold an optimistic attitude while his condition progresses.

“He has been through hell and back, and he’s doing well,” said Ochsenbein.