Cory's Story
The Strength to Call: Rebuilding Trust, Resilience, and a New Life
The mission of Welcome Home is to answer that crucial question: What happens to veterans who lose everything and have no family left to call?
That need is powerfully embodied in the journey of Cory.
Cory served the country in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1985, dedicating his civilian years to the open road as an independent, over-the-road trucker.
Then, one crushing setback followed another.
Life forced Cory to pull over for good with a devastating set of circumstances: he lost 90% of his vision in both eyes, survived a fight with cancer, and consequently, the bottom dropped out—he lost his job, he lost his home, and worst of all: he lost hope. The final, crushing blow was finding himself sleeping behind a dumpster in Springfield, Missouri.
This was rock bottom. A former serviceman, left invisible and isolated. But when Cory was there, facing absolute despair, he reached for one last lifeline. He made the call that would change his future.
When Cory first arrived at Welcome Home, he was quiet, guarded, and weighed down by profound shame. He had severed ties with his sister and his children, believing he was a burden to them. A veteran who fought and served his country and dodged two major health crises felt he had to disappear from the people he loved.
This is the precise moment where Welcome Home steps in. The staff, who act as a surrogate family for the veterans, did not judge the wreckage of his past. Instead, they earned his trust, day by day, through constant human interaction and consistent kindness. They showed him grace and compassion in his most vulnerable time of his life. Cory often told staff that once he knew he was safe, he could finally let his guard down and forge crucial friendships with other veterans in the program.
He also demonstrated extraordinary resilience. Though he had defeated addiction on his own before arriving, temptation still lingered. He would tell staff about standing right in front of a nearby bar, tormented by the thought of a drink—but he would always turn away. That silent, private victory, staff noted, showed incredible strength. Now, Cory channels that resolve to encourage others struggling with addiction.
The staff witnessed his transformation firsthand and speak of the profound impact he had on the team.
Christina and the team were saddened to see him go, noting that he had a unique way of making them smile, “even in the worst situations.”
But seeing Cory move into his new home and successfully transition into the Supportive Services for Veterans and Families program is the ultimate reward. It means the mission is working. It means Welcome Home provided that safe harbor, that “family” he needed until he had rebuilt the resilience to reclaim his life.