KINGSVILLE, Texas — For some of the sailors, it's an opportunuty to give back to the community they now call home.
For others, it's a chance to get acquainted with their new community.
As for U.S. Air Force veteran Ronald Greif -- he's grateful for their efforts.
“I’ve been watching them and it makes me feel good watching them,” he said.
Looking outside from the screen on his front door, Greif watched with joy as a group of sailors and veterans from NAS-Kingsville, along with other volunteers, built this disabled veteran a ramp.
“I’m getting worse and worse on my getting around,” he said. “I knew it was going to have to be done.”
Retired master chief petty officer Randy Foust was the project's foreman.
“He can get out and live his life like he needs to,” he said.
Foust's said he has built 29 of these, and with his guidance, this group from NAS-Kingsville's chief's mess and First Class Petty Officer's Association measured, cut and assembled the ramp.
Working as a team, the project was done in a matter of hours.
“From the time they showed up, they’ve just been working together,” Greif said. “That’s the way I remember it.”
Greif served in the Air Force and is a Vietnam Veteran.
“It taught me a lot about depending on and working with people, that’s for sure,” he said.
Helping people work together takes Foust back to his 30 years in the Navy.
“I feel very blessed, very humbled having the opportunity to work with young sailors,” he said. “During my active duty time, that was my love and my passion.”
Now he shares his other passion with sailors, and his community, and for him most importantly it’s a chance to give back to a fellow veteran.
“If I have an opportunity to give back to just one, that in and of itself is a blessing to me,” he said.
With his new ramp, Greif believes he's the one who's blessed. “I’m very grateful for them to be out there,” he said.
The project was funded by donations through various organizations in Kingsville, including the Navy League and First United Methodist Church.
More Veterans In Focus stories are available here, along with resources for local veterans.
Contact Veterans In Focus reporters: Greg Chandler at greg.chandler@kristv.com and Pat Simon at pat.simon@kristv.com
