Veterans helping veteran build home in Washington County
BROOKTON – A non-profit organization for veterans dealing with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and mental health issues has put boots on the ground in Washington County.
In October 2019, Vietnam veteran Phill Stoffer, better known as “Poppa Phill” suffered a brain aneurysm while trying to build his home.
“I’m 66 years old, busted up, broken up body,” said Stoffer. “I can’t even pick up a coffee mug in the morning anymore, I gotta wait for the meds to kick in.”
He wasn’t expected to survive. Doctors told him he’d be unable to finish the house.
When word spread of this veteran’s misfortune, Poppa Phill said his faith and prayers were answered.
“Along your way, you better be doing something for someone else ’cause you’re going to reap what you sow, otherwise these gentleman would not be here,” said Stoffer. “I didn’t know Sonny was watching me in the background.”
After hearing about Stoffer’s health issues, it was time to mount up and hit the road.
“We just deployed and we got a bunch of guys together and headed up to Maine to help him out,” said Sonny Levins.
Levins is the Sergeant at Arms for FX3 inc. and he started the project #BuildingDreams.
But he’s not alone — veterans Dennis, Daniel and Jim have traveled to U.S. Route 1 near Brookton from different parts of the country.
FX3 inc’s primary mission is helping vets in need and to help anyone they can in dealing with PTSD.
“It’s tough to watch people hurt and this kind of took off because we see it,” said Levins. “Just because it’s happening and you’re not saying it, we can still see the pain in people.”
They’ve got a lot of obstacles to overcome, starting with man power and resources to finish what Poppa Phill started.
“The cavalry is here, reinforcements have arrived,” said Stoffer. “Back up, get some chow and get some rest, let them do what they do.”
The journey has just begun, along with the stories it holds.
For more information, you can visit the FX3 website or follow their adventure on twitter.
We plan to keep you updated and follow up with #BuildingDreams.
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