Leonard

When Leonard left the military in 1983, he quickly learned that his fight wasn’t over. He went from job to job until he became ill. Life on the home front was a battle of its own.

A Norfolk native, Leonard graduated high school and joined the Marine Corps in 1971, serving as a combat engineer. His military service took him all over the world, including a tour in Japan where he joined the Marine Corps track team. After leaving the Marines, Leonard chose to continue serving his country and joined the Army. During this time, he got married and had three children but the marriage failed and he returned home to live with his mother.

For Leonard and other veterans like him, finding a job after leaving the military was a difficult task. He started out working on a farm while living with relatives. For the next two decades, Leonard worked various jobs, trying to make ends meet. His home front battle became much more difficult when he became ill and received upsetting medical diagnoses of arthritis, hepatitis and cancer

Leonard became too ill to work and when his mother passed away, he lost his home. Fighting serious illness and grief, and without a fixed income it proved impossible to find housing that he could afford. Terribly, stories of veterans like Leonard are not rare. 35% of men who receive services at The Union Mission are veterans who have risked their lives to protect our country.

Upon arriving at The Union Mission in 2016,  Leonard had his immediate needs of food, clothing and shelter taken care of. “This place is a blessing. It’s where I got close to God.”  Next, Leonard started working with a Case Manager to get back on his feet. Through our Wellness Program, he received vital health care that he desperately needed. “I love The Union Mission. There’s a lot of people here who don’t appreciate what they give to you. Their eyes and ears are closed but they need to open their eyes and ears to God.”

Thanks to the generous support of the Hampton Roads community, Leonard is winning his battle on the home front. Leonard secured housing through a government veterans housing program, a process that was guided by his Case Manager. “I’d like to stay here, but now I’m getting my own place and can take care of my grandchildren.” One of Leonard’s six grandchildren is following in his footsteps and serves in the Air Force. “I thank God for this place and thank y’all for helping me. I’m just so thankful.”