Veterans find new missions in helping other veterans

METRO DETROIT — Veterans Pat Daniels and John Adams are working to help other local veterans get the benefits they deserve and any other help they might need.

Daniels, 70, of Clinton Township, better known as “Too Tall,” served as a radio operator in Vietnam after enlisting in the U.S. Army at the young age of 17. After leaving Vietnam, Daniels served as a drill sergeant at Fort Knox and left the military in 1971. He said that Vietnam vets were frowned upon and often not allowed to join veterans organizations. Because of this, he founded the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 in Mount Clemens with his brother-in-law, Bob Edwards, and friend, Steve Starr, in 1984.   

“Me and two others tried to find a Detroit Chapter meeting and couldn’t find it, and we said this is ridiculous. We need to go back home and see how to start our own (chapter),” said Daniels.

The Mount Clemens chapter is now the fourth-largest chapter in the country, according to Daniels. The chapter also helps to run the Macomb County Veterans Support Center. The center was opened in 1991 when Daniels was president of the chapter, and it actively helps veterans still today. The center includes a food bank, service officers and a ministry, among other things catered to veterans.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that a veteran doesn’t walk in there and get some sort of help,” said Daniels.

He said the vet center was started to help all veterans.

“I don’t care who you are or what war. You need help, we are going to find a way to help you,” said Daniels.

The center is located on 15 Mile Road, between Kelly and Garfield roads. It is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Daniels said the center is there to help bridge the gap that veterans are facing with struggles to pay bills, acquire food and more.

He said he was inspired to create the chapter and help veterans because Vietnam vets were considered to be outcasts for years after the war.

“For 20 years we all came home and didn’t talk about it, and none of the VFWs, the WWII or Korean (War) guys wanted a whole lot to do with us. We were like the bastard children. They didn’t want us around,” said Daniels. “That’s why the Vietnam Veterans of America started, because no one else wanted to take us in.”

Daniels also served on the Veterans Affairs Commission for the county and recently stepped down from his position as chairman, as he is now spending six months a year in Florida.

He was given an award for his service to veterans three years ago, and the commission now gives the Pat Daniels Macomb County Veteran of the Year Award annually to a veteran who has made significant contributions.

Daniels said he suffers from many health issues as a result of his service and agent orange, but he continues to work to serve veterans.

“I do it because it has been my therapy. My post-traumatic stress stays in check because I stay involved with the veterans,” said Daniels. “That’s what’s kept me here, if you know what I mean.”

He said that now as the Vietnam Veterans are aging, he has met several Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are excited to carry on the legacy by continuing to help veterans.

John Adams, 47, of Ortonville, aka “Professor,” served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as an F-16 mechanic and instructor in the U.S. Air Force. He said he aspires to be the Pat Daniels of Oakland County and works to help veterans in his community obtain the benefits that they have earned. He met Daniels through the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.

“I’ve been helping veterans and trying to learn what Pat does, because Vietnam vets are slowly disappearing,” said Adams. “If the Iraq and Afghanistan guys and whoever else don’t start helping, then the benefits are going to go away. Like, the vet center is going to disappear and the VFWs are going to disappear, and I’d hate to see that happen.”

Adams said he really enjoys helping veterans. He said he was able to help a couple of guys who were on the verge of giving up on obtaining their rightfully owed benefits. He said that they are now 100% covered.

“That’s what it is all about, is these guys are heroes. Anyone who serves in the military, as far as I’m concerned, is a hero and they need to get the rights that they earned,” said Adams.

Servicemen and women signed contracts to serve the military and in turn the government promised to take care of them, Adams said. He said he works to make sure veterans get those benefits. He said he will make sure they get what they deserve and need, be it food, medical coverage, shelter or anything else.

“The only thing we owe our veterans in this country is everything. We take a lot of things for granted, and without the veterans and their willingness to stand up and fight for this country, we would have nothing,” said Daniels.

Adams said that if any veterans are in need of help, to contact him at (586) 222-1148 and he “will be honored” to assist them.