Special Forces group helps families in darkest hours

Last week, my husband, Brendan, and I had the opportunity to go to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. We were there for a promotion ceremony of a friend of ours. The wife and I are very close friends and it was wonderful to see recognition given to a family that has given a lifetime of service.

The weather was beautiful in Tampa, which is probably always the case, so my husband and I took the opportunity to poke around the beautiful bay area. Of the many places that we could have visited, we decided to make our first stop the Special Operations Warrior Foundation Headquarters. There may be more important work out there, but, to us in the Special Operations community, the people at SOWF are lifelines and security blankets.

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation began in 1980 as the Col. Arthur D. “Bull” Simons scholarship fund. Col. Simons is a legendary Special Forces soldier who risked his life repeatedly on rescue missions. The fund originally was set up to provide college educations for the 17 children of the nine special operations men killed or incapacitated in the Iranian hostage rescue attempt.

In the years to follow, and with the mounting actions such as Operation Urgent Fury, Just Cause, Desert Storm and Restore Hope, The Bull Simons Fund combined with other Special operation funds to create the Special Operations Warrior Fund.
Three-tiered approach

The SOWF has a three-tiered approach to helping families that have lost a loved one while serving within the special Operations community:

They offer college scholarships to the children of lost Special Operations soldiers. These scholarships provide funding for up to a four-year college degree.

They also offer wounded warrior support in the amount of $2,000 for the families’ immediate needs when a soldier is severely wounded and hospitalized. These monies help defray the costs of family travel and stay while a loved one is in the hospital.

The foundation offers family service. The SOWF is more than a grant-writing organization. They offer psychologists to help the family during the critical times immediately following a soldier’s death. This relationship continues through the years and offers help and guidance for the families in whatever capacity they may need.

I am sad to say that I have a growing number of friends who are seeking the benefits of this marvelous organization. It is without a doubt one of the greatest organizations to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of deadly actions and wars. Special Operations soldiers go into battle knowing that if something should happen to them, then their families will be well-taken care of and be treated with respect and dignity during their darkest hours.

The men and women who work for the SOWF are truly unsung heroes. It should be no surprise that so many of them come from military backgrounds themselves. Their past military experiences gives them a better understanding of the delicacy of these families and their unimaginable situations.

Tampa was beautiful and the promotion ceremony of our friend was a celebratory occasion affording us the opportunity to see old friends. We even managed to sneak in a dinner on the water as we watched the sun set silently into the waters of Tampa Bay. The two days there passed by far too fast for our liking. We will always remember the beauty of Tampa and our little getaway, but our visit to the SOWF will continue to be the highlight of our trip.

Having seen the direct results of the foundation in the lives of many of our friends has given us a better perspective into what this wonderful organization does for the men, women and children of the Special Operations community.

If you wish to make a donation to the SOWF, there are many ways to do so. You can call the foundation toll-free at (877) 337-7693, or you can visit the Web site at www.specialops.org.

People are always asking how they can donate or help the military. This is one of the many organizations out there that really makes a difference. Take a moment and donate to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. You will feel better knowing you helped make a family’s life a little less stressful during their darkest hours.

Thanks for your help, and, as always, peace to all.
Margaret O’Connor can receive e-mails at military@fayobserver.com or 486-3585.