Kevin Rumsey served over 10 years in the Navy Reserve. During his service, Kevin served two tours in Iraq as a Religious Program Specialist (aka Chaplains Assistant) where he provided security for the Chaplains Corp. On his last tour, the convoy that Kevin was riding behind was was struck by an IED. From the explosion, Kevin now suffers from TBI and PTSD. The long-term effects of the injuries have caused the Rumseys a financial hardship, the Heroes Fund was happy to assist them with some financial assistance to help them get back on their feet.
Kevin is currently employed by the Boy Scouts of America and the National Reserves. Kevin and his wife, Trish are parents of seven children and five grandchildren.
E-4 Craig Milton Singletary
E-4 Singletary joined the Marines in 2002 and served in Iraq from March 2005 to October 2005 where he completed over 100 missions as a Vehicle Commander of a Personnel Security Detail. From his service in Iraq, he currently suffers from PTSD and back and knee injuries. Since being honorably discharged from the Marine Corp, he has been attending UNC Charlotte as an undergrad. The Heroes' Fund was proud to assist E-4 Singletary with a partial scholarship to UNCC
Ulysses McDonald
PO3 (ret.) Ulysses McDonald is an Iraq War Navy Veteran that served in the Navy for 8 years. Mr. McDonald, his wife and two teenage daughters recently relocated from Tampa, Florida to Dunn, North Carolina to be closer to his wife's family and to the Fayetteville VA where he is seeking treatment for PTSD, TBI and other physical conditions.
The move, accompanied with his inability to work due to his disabilities, has placed Mr. McDonald and his family in a financial hardship. The Heroes' Fund was proud to assist the McDonald family with their rent and deposit on their new home.
SSG Steven Lamonds
SSG Steven Lamonds served two tours of duty in Iraq, his first in 2003 and his second from November 2005 to November 2006. During his second tour of duty, SSG Lamonds was exposed to numerous IED explosions which resulted in memory loss, TBI, PTSD and headaches. One of SSG Lamonds' best friends died in his arms in Iraq where Lamonds was the assisting combat medic.
Upon his return home, Steven has been receiving attention from the VA in Fayetteville as well as Perry Point. Due to his mental and physical injuries that he incurred while in Iraq, Steven has been unable to perform in a normal setting, rendering him unable to seek civilian employment. Steven needed assistance getting his phone service turned back on, as the VA monitors him remotely through TeleHelp - a system that operates on a land-line that monitors Steven's well-being everyday. The Heroes' Fund assisted Steven with his cell and land-line phone bills as the phone service is imperative to his health and well-being.
North Carolina has six major military installations and the fourth largest number of military personnel in the nation, including more than 30,000 National Guard and Reserve members who live throughout the state.
Kevin Rumsey served over 10 years in the Navy Reserve. During his service, Kevin served two tours in Iraq as a Religious Program Specialist (aka Chaplains Assistant) where he provided security for the Chaplains Corp. On his last tour, the convoy that Kevin was riding behind was was struck by an IED. From the explosion, Kevin now suffers from TBI and PTSD. The long-term effects of the injuries have caused the Rumseys a financial hardship, the Heroes Fund was happy to assist them with some financial assistance to help them get back on their feet.
Kevin is currently employed by the Boy Scouts of America and the National Reserves. Kevin and his wife, Trish are parents of seven children and five grandchildren.
E-4 Singletary joined the Marines in 2002 and served in Iraq from March 2005 to October 2005 where he completed over 100 missions as a Vehicle Commander of a Personnel Security Detail. From his service in Iraq, he currently suffers from PTSD and back and knee injuries. Since being honorably discharged from the Marine Corp, he has been attending UNC Charlotte as an undergrad. The Heroes' Fund was proud to assist E-4 Singletary with a partial scholarship to UNCC
PO3 (ret.) Ulysses McDonald is an Iraq War Navy Veteran that served in the Navy for 8 years. Mr. McDonald, his wife and two teenage daughters recently relocated from Tampa, Florida to Dunn, North Carolina to be closer to his wife's family and to the Fayetteville VA where he is seeking treatment for PTSD, TBI and other physical conditions.
The move, accompanied with his inability to work due to his disabilities, has placed Mr. McDonald and his family in a financial hardship. The Heroes' Fund was proud to assist the McDonald family with their rent and deposit on their new home.
SSG Steven Lamonds served two tours of duty in Iraq, his first in 2003 and his second from November 2005 to November 2006. During his second tour of duty, SSG Lamonds was exposed to numerous IED explosions which resulted in memory loss, TBI, PTSD and headaches. One of SSG Lamonds' best friends died in his arms in Iraq where Lamonds was the assisting combat medic.
Upon his return home, Steven has been receiving attention from the VA in Fayetteville as well as Perry Point. Due to his mental and physical injuries that he incurred while in Iraq, Steven has been unable to perform in a normal setting, rendering him unable to seek civilian employment. Steven needed assistance getting his phone service turned back on, as the VA monitors him remotely through TeleHelp - a system that operates on a land-line that monitors Steven's well-being everyday. The Heroes' Fund assisted Steven with his cell and land-line phone bills as the phone service is imperative to his health and well-being.
Retired Staff Sergeant Spaulding served in the National Guard for 31 years, while serving in OIF from 2004 to 2005. During his 31 year tenure, SSG Spaulding also worked in a civilian job for 28 years at Georgia Pacific in Whiteville, NC. After having surgery and with a combination of being laid off and being unable to draw unemployment due to lack of medical clearance, the Spauldings were put in a temporary hard place. David and his wife Julia also maintain full custody of their two granddaughters. After SSG Spaulding's more than three decades of service to our country, the Heroes Fund was more than willing to assist the Spauldings with their mortgage payment as well as a few other bills to help ease the burden that was placed on them.
Sgt. Bret Pchelka served for almost 15 years - 10 years in the army and almost 5 in the National Guard. Sgt. Pchelka was injured in April of 2004,when the truck he was riding in struck an IED. in support of operation Iraqi Freedom, in Iraq, and his injuries have progressively worsened over the past few years.In January of 2009, Sgt. Pchelka was forced to retire early - three months short of his 15 year eligibility for early retirement. This placed a financial strain on him and the Heroes' fund stepped in to prevent his house being foreclosed on.
Sgt. Pchelka and his 11-year old daughter reside in Tarboro, NC. Sgt. Bret Pchelka has been awarded a financial hardship grant.
Lt. Quick joined the Air Force in 1995 and deployed to Iraq in 2004 as NCOIC of the Air National Guard. He currently still serves in the Air National Guard and in his civilian employment he works for the VA at the Vet Center to provide combat veterans in NC who are suffering from PTSD and re-adjustment issues with assistance.
Lt. Quick received his undergraduate degree from North Carolina A&T university. He is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Management and Leadership from Montreat College and has a 3.66 G.P.A with hopes to finish school in February of 2010. His ultimate goal is to use his degree to assist fellow veterans who are suffering from PTSD and other service related issues.
The North Carolina Heroes' Fund is proud to offer Lt. Quick a partial scholarship to Montreat College.
Specialist Sanders was a member of the 105th Engineering Battalion and was stationed in Iraq in 2004. During his time in Iraq, SP4 Sanders contracted bacterial meningitis, which caused nerve damage in his lower back and legs. In addition, SP4 Sanders suffered other combat-related problems, which include hearing loss and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. SP4 Sanders has received a 30% disability rating from the VA.
Upon his return from Iraq, Sanders was employed as a correctional officer at a local penitentiary. However, due to the meningitis and the PTSD, he was forced to quit his job in 2007. Sanders is married, and his wife is 7 ½ months pregnant. The North Carolina Heroes Fund was proud to assist SP4 Sanders and his wife with a financial hardship grant.
Ezekial Overbaugh's father, GySgt Kenneth Overbaugh, is a 20 year veteran including a tour in Iraq. Throughout his twenty year career he received various injuries leaving him 70% disabled. While Kenneth was in Iraq, his family suffered major financial burdens due to home repairs and medical surgery. Ezekial is ranked 12th in his class with a 3.59 GPA at Dixon High and is attending North Carolina State University in the Fall of 2009. The Heroes Fund is happy to award Ezekial a partial scholarship to NC State University.
E-6 Reynolds has over 18 years in the Active Reserves and served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006. Reynolds applied to become active army in 2007. He is currently stationed in Wilmington, North Carolina. His wife and two daughters are currently living in Atlanta. The Reynolds' were unable to sell their Atlanta home after Gregory's assignment to Wilmington, leaving them with a rent payment and a mortgage payment - creating a financial hardship. The Heroes' Fund is happy to help relieve the burden of this financial hardship.
Recipients
Kevin Rumsey served over 10 years in the Navy Reserve. During his service, Kevin served two tours in Iraq as a Religious Program Specialist (aka Chaplains Assistant) where he provided security for the Chaplains Corp. On his last tour, the convoy that Kevin was riding behind was was struck by an IED. From the explosion, Kevin now suffers from TBI and PTSD. The long-term effects of the injuries have caused the Rumseys a financial hardship, the Heroes Fund was happy to assist them with some financial assistance to help them get back on their feet.
Ezekial Overbaugh's father, GySgt Kenneth Overbaugh, is a 20 year veteran including a tour in Iraq. Throughout his twenty year career he received various injuries leaving him 70% disabled. While Kenneth was in Iraq, his family suffered major financial burdens due to home repairs and medical surgery. Ezekial is ranked 12th in his class with a 3.59 GPA at Dixon High and is attending North Carolina State University in the Fall of 2009. The Heroes Fund is happy to award Ezekial a partial scholarship to NC State University.