Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire A tribute for one of our own

Dave_in_WV has courageously let us know what happened to his son, Chad.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/9966770/High_Brass

Chad was one of us (High_Brass), and he served his country honorably in the United States Marine Corps. I contacted Dave because I knew what happened to Chad. This post is made with Dave's blessing.

I want to think that the Campfire could and would do something in his honor and his memory. Folks around here have done a ton for other folks in need; could we do something to honor one of our own?

The official stats are that we lose 25 veterans per day to suicide from PTSD and other issues. That's more than one per hour. That's a rate on par with any conflict the U.S. military has ever been in. And yet, we do nothing about it.

Well, this tragedy has come "home" to the Campfire as we lost one of our own.

Can we pull together to do something to honor Chad? It's too late to help him, unfortunately, but perhaps we can do something to help the next vet.

If you all are willing, I'll work with Dave to find the right organization to receive the Campfire tribute and we'll figure out how to get it done.

We lose more than one per hour, every day. We've lost one of our own. Can we honor him in trying to take care of the rest and prevent this from happening again?

Dave's family had donations in lieu of flowers at the memorial service sent to the Wounded Warrior Project.

I set this GoFundMe page up to have all donations sent to the Wounded Warrior Project as well:

http://www.gofundme.com/w2kns4

Feel free to donate as you see fit, pass it along, share, etc.

Chad's gone but there are still so many more like him out there that need our help. In his honor and his memory, I hope the Campfire will do something good.

I hadn't opened that post because if my allergies. (Allergic to sadness).

I feel just horrible now, highbrass was a lot of fun to chat with in the keyboard world here. What a horrible loss, I will miss him.

Keeping my eye on this post to see what sort of plan develops.

I'm in.

Post an address...

I deal with ptsd on almost a dailey basis. One a family member from vietnam days, an air force guy, and a marine that just can't seem to reintegrate into civilian society. He keeps wanting to go back to the middle east.
It's extremely frustrating for me, double so for those dealing with it.
I had one of these guys sitting in my passenger seat of my truck one day as we were going through a fast food line and at the window he just about climbed over me to get to the food service worker because he was upset about the fries.
The marine guy swears he is going to quite drinking, he hasn't, and i do know he let a round off into the floor of his apt. His shrink visits through the v.a. are few and far between.
He has not been able to put a collar on that part of his life.

i don't know of anyone that is affected by PTSD, but it would be an honor to help. will be looking forward to seeing this effort develop.

May God bless you Dave, and your family,

keith

If I could write a poem it would be titled "The smile that hid so much pain".

The pic of us in our home with snow outside was the day he moved back from NC. One of our happiest days.






The day he moved back to West Virginia.


Training for the job he loved.

His last deer, Thanksgiving Day 2015
[img]http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o23/chk1953/last%20deer_zpsuinkmaxa.jpg[/img]

I have lost a son too, due to breast cancer. Just about every year i go up to where we hunted a lot, to listen to the wind.
I think it's kind of an empty spot, like loosing an arm. Time softens the hurt, but it doesn't take it away.
One way of looking at it i guess, is the good Lord takes them home early, rather than having to spend many years fighting the issues here.

Please count me in.

Regards,
Jason

I can imagine a parent losing a young son or daughter having lost a 27 y/o brother in Nepal in '83 and watching my folks go through hell on earth for awhile. These wounds do heal but there are scars forever.

My best to the family and these efforts.

High Brass shooting the 22 match at my house (he won) w/ Ras & Odessa



RAS shooting , High Brass observing



High Brass inspecting one of RAS's Savage 99s




I have $50 I can chip in , let me know where to send it.


Mike

Fellas, thank you.

We're gonna run this through about Veteran's Day to make sure that we do this right. I'm talking with Dave right now about organizations to best reflect Chad and to best serve the vets that desperately need help.

Once that gets square, I'll make sure that there is a secure donation option set up for folks to do what they feel is best and that the funds will ONLY go to where they will honor Chad and in his name.

Sean, thanks so much for jumping on this. I can't tell you how much I appreciated your help with my Nephew Pete. He was able to use some of the contacts you mentioned, and is coping much better now.

I'm in, for whatever plan y'all come up with

Best news I've had in a while. I was thinking about him a lot when news of this broke.

All in here. Horrible news to lose a vet and worse to lose one with connections here.

I'm in Sean... just post the info when it comes together.

I'm in 4,

I know how I feel right now, I can't imagine how Dave feels. God Bless you and your family Dave.

You are a good man 4. I'm in.

I'm in for whatever gets decided, keep us posted on what is decided. Might as well post the info on the forum so that all can see and your inbox don't fill up.

Dave, Blessings to you...

Dave's family had donations in lieu of flowers at the memorial service sent to the Wounded Warrior Project.

I set this GoFundMe page up to have all donations sent to the Wounded Warrior Project as well:

http://www.gofundme.com/w2kns4

Feel free to donate as you see fit, pass it along, share, etc.

Chad's gone but there are still so many more like him out there that need our help. In his honor and his memory, I hope the Campfire will do something good.

Thanks Sean.