Veteran 1 15 2015

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VOL. 3/ISSUE 11

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Homeless veterans get help Patrick McCallister FOR VETERAN VOICE

patrick.mccallister@yahoo.com

Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer Bob Drexler takes the pledge of allegiance during a ceremonial opening for the temporary home he is living in through House-A-Vet.

MARTIN COUNTY — Homeless vets in Martin County have a new help and hope: House-A-Vet’s Lundberg-McMahon Home in Stuart. Palm City volunteer, Pete Ellis, said his housing is secure, so why’d he spend hours helping to prepare the home? “Pay it forward,” Ellis said. Works every time.” Ellis was in the Air Force from 1955 to 1962. The house for temporarily helping homeless veterans was dedicated on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The first resident, who was living there as work was still under way, was Bob Drexler. Drexler was doing well when he moved to Florida’s Treasure Coast about 15 years ago. “I had money in the bank, sold a building, and came here,” he said. Shortly after getting to the Sunshine State, the now 80-year-old Army veteran, who’d served in the Korean War, found out about a hot investment opportunity — Enron. He took out a mortgage on the house he bought with cash and dropped big dollars into the company Fortune named “the most innovative” several years in a row. What could go wrong? As Enron started collapsing under the weight of fraudulent business practices in 2001, which ended in a 2004 bankruptcy, all of Drexler’s

fortunes seemed to go with it. Even a flea market business he’d started to make ends meet crashed due to circumstances beyond Drexler’s control. “I got sick,” he said. “The (Department of Veterans Affairs) hospital saved my life three times.” Drexler pulled up his shirt, to show that his torso looks like a 3-D jigsaw puzzle with vertical and horizontal scars, giving credibility to his medical claims. “I lost my business, and could not pay taxes on the house,” he said. The former beauty-supply corporate rep was evicted and found himself on the streets. “I was running around looking for handouts,” he said. “I am usually the guy that gives.” Drexler was reduced to living at a makeshift homeless camp, so he made his way to Tony Reese, Martin County’s Veterans Services supervisor. Reese called Kevin Donahue, co-founder and director of House-A-Vet. “We weren’t ready yet,” Donahue said. “I asked the guys, ‘Can we get it done?’” Work sped up to get enough of the Lundberg-McMahon Home ready for Drexler. Work progressed as Drexler lived there. Reese said he’s grateful the house is opened about two miles from his office. “A homeless veteran comes into my office, and my first question is, what can I do

See HOMELESS page 3


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