ERIC DUDASH NAMED ALABAMA VETERAN OF THE YEAR

Eric’s family has a long history of military service. His father served for 28 years, and a great-uncle was in World War II. His great-great-grandfather served after coming to the United States from Hungary. “To hear their stories of patriotism inspired me,” Eric says.

Eric was involved in conflicts beginning with Desert Shield and continuing through Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan, along with multiple other engagements including hostage rescue and drug interdiction. He has some good memories about serving with fellow airmen who became like brothers and sisters. And he saw some unspeakable things.

As his retirement loomed, Eric became anxious, unsure about how he would handle life outside the Air Force. He smiled through it, though, and those around him had no idea of the difficulty he was experiencing. “When you’re still serving, you’re going 100 miles per hour, and then it’s like you hit a brick wall when you get out,” he says. “Transition is tough.”

As is the case for many veterans, Eric’s mind was his worst enemy, and the most unexpected things triggered his anxiety. He suffered from night terrors and flashbacks. At the grocery store, he picked up a bag of sugar, and that bag felt like a human arm to him. “I would feel like I was somewhere else,” he says.

Smells also triggered memories he would rather have forgotten, but he felt the need to keep things together outwardly. “You still don’t want to show the slightest amount of weakness,” he says.

Then, depression set in, and Eric began to wonder if the world would be better off without him. He was retired for about a year when he knew it was time to seek help. He contacted the U.S. Veterans Administration and visited doctors in Birmingham and Rainbow City for treatment.

They also suggested he apply for a service dog. “All I could think was that I didn’t need a service dog because I have all my limbs,” he says. “I was the biggest naysayer for service dogs unless there were physical disabilities.”

He worked with Warrior Freedom Service Dogs based in Flintstone, Georgia. The service dogs assist combat-wounded veterans who suffer from brain injuries and PTSD. Phantom’s original owners donated the German shepard to Warrior Freedom so he could be used as a service dog, and he passed the initial evaluation at 6 weeks old and was placed in training. Eric didn’t choose Phantom. Instead, he says, “he chose me.”

Beginning in February 2020, they worked together for nine months before the final test, and Eric had Phantom by his side all the time. Phantom holds four certifications and provides nine service tasks.

During Phantom’s training, when Eric awoke from a night terror, he immediately soaked cotton balls in his mouth and sent them to be used for Phantom’s training process. The dog learned to detect Eric’s scent, which changes up to 30 minutes before a night terror occurs. That same scent occurs when Eric’s anxiety increases, and Phantom knows to react. “He also reminds me to take my medicine,” Eric says.

Even though Eric initially thought having a service dog was unnecessary, he is a firm believer in the benefits now. The amount of medication he takes has gone down by 63% since he’s been working with Phantom.

A Fellow Warrior

Phantom is always at Eric’s side, whether they’re visiting a classroom or meeting with fellow veterans who are going through some of the same things Eric experienced. “If I hadn’t have gotten him, I wouldn’t be able to do this,” Eric says of his advocacy work.

After more than a year with Phantom, Eric continues to be an advocate for other veterans as he shares his patriotism. “I tell groups that you don’t have to have been in the military to be a patriot,” he says.

Eric is a Life/Bronze Legacy Veterans of Foreign Wars member and serves as the VFW Department of Alabama junior vice commander. He also serves with DeKalb County VFW Post 3128. Being a servant leader to other veterans, he understands the complexity of the transition from military to civilian life, along with the benefits veterans rightly earn.

He has a master of arts degree in education, with a concentration in adult education and training. He resides in Mentone, with his wife, Barbara. He has three children, Zachary, Brooke and Adoree.

Along with Phantom, Eric mentors other veterans in the Warrior Freedom Service Dogs program, helps veterans receiving hospice care, is a member of the Fort Payne Patriots Park Board and speaks to students and business groups throughout the state about teamwork, resiliency and servant leadership.

In addition to being named the 2022 Alabama Veteran of the Year, Eric was recently honored with the 2022 Top 20 Community Leaders in DeKalb County, 2022 Spirit of the Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of America/Alabama and Liberty’s Learning Foundation 2022 Super Citizen Award.

“The military teaches you to bloom where you are planted,” Eric says. “I hope to do just that. It’s my goal as a veteran to never stop serving.” 