Nick has always believed in stepping up when someone in the community needs help. Decades after serving in the Army, he still does—supporting those around him with the same commitment he showed while in uniform.

There’s no doubt that Nick’s Army service was a long time ago. Like “during the Eisenhower administration” a long time ago. He joined when he was just 17 years old, after two of his older brothers had enlisted and served from 1956-59 repairing helicopters both in the States and Germany. “I enjoyed my job in the Army,” Nick said. “It was good duty.”

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Nick remains proud of his time in the military and was happy to have the opportunity to see some of the world, but he never planned on making the Army his life. So, when his service time was up, he came back home to Minnesota to figure out what was next, which turned out to be more than 30 years working for Ford Motor Company. He married, divorced, and remarried. He had kids and grandkids. He coached baseball and softball and was a Boy Scout leader.

But decades after his time in the Army, his service would benefit Nick once more. Almost 10 years ago he began having problems with foot drop and shooting pain in his muscles, but visit after visit to different doctors did not come up with the reason. So, as a veteran, Nick turned to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where he was diagnosed with ALS and connected with an ALS clinic to meet his care needs.

For unknown reasons, veterans like Nick are twice as likely to develop ALS than those who did not serve in the military. The VA recognizes ALS as a service-connected disease, which means that the VA provides financial and medical support to veterans with at least 90 continuous days of active duty.

Nick also connected with the ALS Association and became a regular member of a support group in Minnesota, where he found a different way to be of service to someone in his community.

During a support group meeting, another group member shared that he really wished he could purchase an accessible van, which Nick related to since he still enjoys the independence that his van provides for him.

He decided right then and there what he was going to do. “We went and had lunch with him, and then I sprung it to him, that I was going to pay for this,” Nick said. “It's the first time I've done that, but I just knew that he needed help.”

Nick’s act of kindness allowed his friend to travel across country to visit his sister, a trip that would have been impossible without the van Nick helped provide. “I decided to help him out, and it's changed his life so tremendously,” Nick said.

Even though he hung up his Army fatigues decades ago, Nick continues to step up when someone in the community needs help, supporting those around him with the same commitment to selfless service he embraced while in uniform.

As we honor Nick and all who served this November 11 on Veterans Day, we remain dedicated to providing resources that will improve the lives of all veterans living with ALS. Learn more and find resources HERE.

To learn more about the disease and follow stories about people living with ALS in the community, subscribe to receive our weekly blogs in your inbox HERE or follow us at als.org/blog.

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