The Book Lost & Found
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About US Air Force Veteran Matt Davison's Book
Additional Information
Matt Davison served six years in the United States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS) as an Intercept Operator, both ground and air, from 1956-1962. He's more than a Veteran but also a passionate champion of homeless, displaced, and incarcerated Vietnam Veterans.
He entered the Air Force straight out of high school; went through basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas; and received technical training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi.
After receiving his tech training, Matt spent two years overseas at Misawa AFB and Wakkanai Detachment in Japan, where he served as a ground and intercept radio operator. He then spent his last year of active duty at Otis AFB, Massachusetts. There he flew coastal surveillance missions and ran their MARS station.
Matt holds an executive position with one Veteran service organization and belongs to five others, The American Legion, AMVETS, VietNow, Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America, Cold War Veterans Association, and Freedom Through Vigilance Association.
He left what was for him the unrewarding world of business to work full time in Veterans services. "What we do, in a nutshell," Matt said, "is to outreach homeless and incarcerated Veterans. We get them into transitional housing and off the streets, provide job training and employment assistance, feed them, clothe them, get them into recovery on site, get them into PTSD treatment, and into VA Healthcare if required. He also listens to them in a non-judgmental way, offering one on one counseling. I got into this work because working in the business world did not feed my spirit. Besides, I have a great empathy for the Vietnam Vet especially.
Since Matt began his work in Veterans services, he has received six awards for his outstanding work and achievements, including one for the Veterans Support Group at the Federal Corrections Institution at Terminal Island. The first award Matt received was the June 2002 Associates Vietnam Veterans of America Member of the Year for the State of California.
In March 2003, he was also presented with the Beacon of Light Award by Terminal Island for his Veteran Support Group. On July 31, 2003, Matt was presented the Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Humanitarian Award and the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America (National) Member of the Year. There have also been various Certificates of Appreciation given by the Employment Development Departments within the Los Angeles area and Operation Confidence's Tribute to Disabled Veterans held aboard the Queen Mary 2016.
On the weekend of 13 September 2003, Matt spent the weekend in Fresno, with the California State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America, acting as a special consultant to help VVA Chapters statewide put together programs to help homeless and incarcerated veterans. During that weekend, the VietNow Veteran Service Organization named Matt as Chairman of their Veterans Incarcerated Committee. "Seems like the older I get, the busier," Matt mused. It is a privilege to serve these forgotten men and women....If they are ever to come all the way home, it will be their fellow Veterans who bring them.
Matt is also an accomplished writer with articles for Veterans Publications both online and in hard copy. Two of Matt's written works "The Long Way Home" and " Incarcerated Veterans Recognition at Terminal Inland "are available online at the following location SENAA's Web site.
In addition to working long days and nights on behalf of our Veterans, he is also an active advocate of Indigenous American issues. For years, Matt has donated much time and effort to serve as director of SENAA West. Before that, he and Anne, his beautiful wife of 50 years, were supporters of the Black Mesa Relocation Resistance and participated in the related "Adopt a Grandmother" campaign to help provide food and financial aid to and raise awareness of and support for Dine'h (Navajo) elders at Black Mesa, Arizona, who were and still are facing forced relocation and human rights violations at the hands of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), BIA-owned Hopi Tribal Council (not an institution of the Hopi People), and Peabody Coal Company.
In 2001, due to the increased demands of his work with Veterans and to help with the SENAA work load, Matt chose Sara Hayes as co-director of SENAA West. In 2002, he turned over the SENAA West directorship to Sara so he could focus on his Veterans work. Matt remains an active member in good standing of SENAA International's SENAA West division, a member of SENAA International's Executive Council, and serves as consultant and advisor to Director Sara Hayes.
Matt Davison has inspired all who know him. Indigenous Americans were honored and blessed when Matt became a staunch advocate of Indigenous American issues. Matt is keenly aware that Creator is the source of his seemingly boundless energy and often expresses his thanks to Creator for being able to do the work he does. He is as deeply spiritual as he is devoted to the Veterans and Native Americans he champions.
The Rosies, Thanks Plain and Simple
Anne Montague, Vice President and Founder
Anne is known for good ideas and to work to bring them to reality.
Her mother, a Rosie, and her grandfather, a one-room teacher and
carpenter on the C&O Railroads influenced Anne to create ways for
people to do quality work cooperatively, because they believed that
you must use your freedom to advance freedom.
She completed two M.A. degrees without having to finish the B.A.,
which was waived based on her years of professional-level research,
writing and contributions. After graduating from Harvard Univ., she
was a partner in a Boston-area high-tech firm that commercialized
technologies, including working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
to find technologies to clean and use sediments from navigable
waters. Her goal was to learn the many functions needed to create
and manage projects and programs.
She returned to West Virginia after working in other states and
internationally to have a quiet, patriotic place to establish a nonprofit
organization that creates projects that should be done in America,
and to do such a good job that people from many places join in.
She started finding and working with women who did many kinds of
jobs during WWII, such as her mother did. Today, after 15 years of
solid, creative and continuing work, her nonprofit, Thanks! Plain and
Simple, Inc., is launching the American Rosie Movement™.
What is the American Rosie Movement™?
The American Rosie Movemen™t is a new kind of social movement
that gets people working together. The movement highlights Rosies
as unusual, but extremely needed leaders. Stop in at our new
interactive website: https://www.americanrosiemovement.org/ to
see what the Rosies community is up to.
Rosies are leaders because they did a herculean job during World
War II that unified many kinds of people and places. The result is that
we now have the freedom to find a way to unify again.
The American Rosie Movement is a proven process where people do
work that represents unity, quality, and tangible results.
Our job is to work with individuals, such as you, to keep the Rosies'
work ethic and legacy alive.
The impact of the American Rosie Movement will last far into the
future if we pull together now.
See Your Role for ideas to create your way of saying "Thanks!" for our
freedom to make the Rosie Legacy part of America’s identity and
commitment to a workable democracy.
US Army Reserve Veteran Charles Whitehead
Courageous Charles
Charles Whitehead served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1982-1987.
He is an actor, musician, singer/songwriter, composer, and produces/directs/edits movies and music videos. He is also the co-leader of his own band named “Per Se”.
Charles has also worked at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center since 1994 and is the Vice Chairman of the BEAC Commission for the City of Long Beach, sits on Operation Confidence Board of Directors and is a Co-Host of Operation Confidence’s podcast talk radio show titled “America’s Invisible Heroes”, which offers information and resources to help support Veterans.
Although a wheelchair user Charles is the owner of a Trucking Business and encourages everyone to “Keep your head up” and “Refuse to lose” because “Life is good”.
US Navy Vet. Calvin Poole, Blind Veterans Assoc.
(901)304-7440-cell or tasaweb.org.
US Navy Veteran Calvin Poole, Blinded Veterans Assocations
Calvin Poole is past president of the Tennessee Regional Group of The Blinded Veteran Association(BVA).
He is also a monthy segment cohost for Operation Confidence "America's Invisible Hero. Blinded Veterans Helping Blinded Veterans".
Veteran Poole's Journey
Veteran Poole's journey began nine years ago when he was informed that his sight was going bad.
US Navy Veteran Calvin E. Poole, was the sitting president for the Tristate Adaptive Sports Association. Now current secretary/treasurer for the Tenesse Regional Group of the BVA, and Regional BVA Ambassador. He is also the Chairman of the BVA for the Golden Age Games whoes purpose is for blinded veterans helping blinded veterans.
Calvin is Co-founder and president of executive board for the Tri- State Adaptive Sports Association(TASA). The purpose of TASA is to help improve the quality of life for persons who are physically or mentally challenged through adaptive sports. TASA currently offers archery, bowling, goal ball, and tandem cycling. TASA can also provide many adventure sports on demand such as corn hole, bocci, and beep ball, etc.
Calvin's journey began nine years ago when his eye doctor informed him that his sight was failing. As time went along he can say it was true, his sight was at the point where he was declared legally blind. Needless to say, he became demotivated and lacked the will to live the life that he was accustomed to living. The glaucoma spread rapidly to both eyes causing him to develop a sedentary lifestyle. He spent the first couple of years doing almost nothing and his health started to fail. At that point, he decided to get back to living. Calvin was always an avid sportsman, playing various games, so the search began. His vocational rehabilitation specialist introduced him to an adaptive sports group, The Tennessee Association of Blind Athletes. They became the catalyst for his life.
Contact inforation (901)304-7440-cell or tasaweb.org.
BVA Photo Gallery
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US Army Special Forces Veteran Richard Cooks
Honor, Support, and Serve Our Veterans
US Army Special Forces Richard Cooks
U.S Army Special Forces Veteran Richard Cooke, Sr, was a sergeant who fought for our
country for over thirty years, served across the world in places such as Italy, the Hawaiian
Islands, and Haiti. During his service, he had a family and launched a career in
entertainment, hosting a weekly radio show while representing models and actors.
Sergeant Cooks' greatest battle occurred far after he returned from overseas. Out of the
blue, an undetected tumor on his heart caused a massive stroke that required emergency
surgery. While Sergeant Cooks survived, he suffered substantial brain damage that led to
vision loss, body weakness, and aphasia. This marked the beginning of an enlightening
journey to beat the odds and rediscover himself.
On May 20-23, 2023, Richard participated in The National Veterans Golden Age Games in
Des Moines, Iowa.
Founded in 1985, the National Veterans Golden Age Games serves Veterans ages 55 years
and older. Through its “Fitness for Life” motto, the Golden Age Games offers sports
competitions and health education sessions to demonstrate the value that sports,
wellness, and fitness provide to assist senior Veterans live an active and healthy lifestyle.
The National Veterans Golden Age Games is a qualifying event for the National Senior
Games.
The Book
Sergeant Cooks also has a book on Amazon entitled I Was Once Whole, that will inspire youto never stop reaching for your goals.At Operation Confidence , our mission is to honor, support, and serve our veterans in every way possible. We believe that the sacrifices made by our veterans should never be forgotten and that they deserve our gratitude and respect.
