Author: Joan Sittingbull
Speaking about: SGT Rick Brewer, USAF (Veteran)
When you start down the path of a charitable organization—talking with people, working with people—you come across stories that take you in directions you never expected. Such is the case with my relationship with Rick Brewer.
Rick was the person we selected early on to build our website and help us get better organized in that regard. But the more we got to know Rick, the more we learned about his military service and the mobility challenges he’s faced over the years because of it.
We call Rick a forgotten warrior. His time during the Gulf War – otherwise known as Desert Storm – falls into a period of history that often doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Many organizations, quite frankly, skip over the fact that the Gulf War was even a thing. Because of that, veterans like Rick have encountered challenges when dealing with the VA and seeking assistance elsewhere. His main struggle is dealing with the effects of Gulf War Syndrome. Many big name organizations simply didn’t want to help because of when Rick served, but that didn’t stop him.
Rick has never been content to sit and wait for help. He looks for ways to be productive, and when he can’t find them, he creates them. Over the years, he’s owned a business, served in public safety as a chaplain, pastored a church, worked in the auto industry as a parts and service advisor, and raised four children alongside his wife of 39 years. In the last 12 years, he retrained himself in web development, graphic design, social media management, search engine optimization, and other skills that make him a valuable resource to many.
When I say “Gulf War Syndrome,” what do I mean? Gulf War Syndrome – also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – is something many Gulf War veterans still experience, even decades after the conflict ended. It robs them of clear thought, often called “brain fog,” and impacts their mobility so severely that they cannot walk long distances without help. Sometimes that help comes from a cane, sometimes a walker, and in more advanced cases, a wheelchair. Not all veterans have access to these resources.
Rick will tell you he’s been incredibly blessed to work for companies over the last 30 years that looked beyond his mobility limitations and focused on where he could contribute. But not all veterans have been so fortunate. Many have spent years in endless VA lines, battling paperwork, only to be turned away by major charities that don’t extend assistance to veterans of that era. This is why we call them forgotten warriors.
Even the military still doesn’t fully understand what causes Gulf War Syndrome. Three decades later, they remain perplexed by how these conditions persist. Without a clear diagnosis, the VA’s ability to help veterans regain mobility is limited.
One challenge for thousands of veterans who served during that time is that they weren’t actually “boots on the ground” personnel in the Gulf. Rick’s career field was as an air transportation specialist. He moved cargo and personnel on aircraft carrying toxic materials, including chemical weapons and depleted uranium from shells used in the Gulf for target practice. This cargo was transported back and forth to military bases across the U.S. Those who handled it – particularly in the Air Force and Navy – were directly exposed to these toxins. As a result, they developed the same ailments as those who served directly in the Gulf. This fact has both perplexed the VA and complicated the benefits process, often leading to additional paperwork and denial of claims.
I’ve learned that Rick doesn’t let his disability slow him down. He doesn’t focus on what he can’t do – only on what he can. In addition to his work for us and many other clients, Rick is a songwriter. Several of his Americana – based songs are featured on our website. They speak to the challenges he’s faced and allow him to express himself in ways that words alone cannot. Music, as we know, can heal the soul. Rick has been a blessing to us – helping shape the Chrysalis Vision and continuing to work with us on many projects moving forward.
I encourage everyone to get to know Rick through his songs and his workmanship on our website. Learn the stories of our veterans, watch our YouTube channel, and sign up for our newsletter for more inspiring stories like Rick’s. He doesn’t let limited mobility define him. Instead, it’s just a chapter – a footnote – in a much bigger story of perseverance, character, and service.