DAV volunteer logs over 7,000 hours, 186,000 miles driving veterans to and from their medical appointments.

Marine veteran and DAV Volunteer driver James Childers with his wife Linda at their home in North Carolina.
Marine veteran and volunteer driver James Childers with his wife Linda at their home in North Carolina.

Unmatched dedication is a moderate way to describe James Childers, a 26-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps who logged thousands of hours volunteering for the DAV Transportation Network.

John Bryant, the commander for Childers’ local DAV chapter in Jacksonville, N.C., recalled the time James fell and broke his hip after departing a volunteer event.  “He wasn’t upset about his hip,” Bryant said. “He was upset because it meant he would have to call a veteran and tell them he wouldn’t be able to drive them to their appointment the next day.”

Despite the injury, Childers and Bryant still got that veteran to his medical appointment. But that’s the kind of dedication one can expect from a man who has single-handedly driven over 186,000 miles transporting veterans to and from their medical appointments. That is the equivalent of 26 trips “from the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli,” a popular verse in the Marine Corps Hymn.

“I have never met in my life a more dedicated Marine, man or chapter member who gives so much of himself to others,” Bryant said. “He shows us how it’s supposed to be done. Jim is the type of person that gives 150 percent to veterans.”

A life member of Chapter 16 for 38 years, Childers said he volunteers because he believes it’s the right thing to do.

“I’m helping a fellow veteran get to an appointment they so richly earned and that they deserve,” Childers said. “That’s why I volunteer.”

In total, Childers has spent over 7,000 volunteer hours on the road helping nearly 1,500 of his fellow veterans make their medical appointments.

“James is a very dedicated veteran trying to ensure that veterans receive the medical treatments that they deserve by providing them transportation,” said James’ wife, Linda Childers.

Beyond James’ involvement with the Transportation Network, DAV is a family affair in the Childers’ household. His wife Linda is the DAV Auxiliary Commander for the Department of North Carolina, and also serves as the commander of Auxiliary Unit 16 in Jacksonville.

“Linda supports him 100 percent,” Bryant said. “Between the two of them they just stay on the go.”

“It’s nice to know that your wife is behind you all the time,” Childers said.

Both his wife and Bryant say that James is the backbone of the chapter and DAV’s local volunteer efforts.

“He is a staple of the chapter,” Bryant said. “He is one hard charger and gets the job done. It’s unbelievable what this man has done.”

In 2013, Childers received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the most prestigious award the North Carolina offers. It is only bestowed upon individuals who show extraordinary service to the state. His name resides along such winners as Maya Angelou, Michael Jordan, Dale Earnhardt, and The Blue Angels to name a few.

“My reward is when we arrive back in the parking lot and the veteran says ‘thank you for the ride,” Childers said. “I have been paid 10 times over for the job.”

If you or anyone you know had interest in driving for DAV’s Transportation Network please visit https://www.dav.org/help-dav/volunteer/drive-a-van/.

*Editors note: During the writing of this piece, the Childers’ family tragically lost their home and all of their belongings in a house fire. The family is safe, and DAV’s disaster relief team responded quickly with $500 in aid. We continue to keep the family in our thoughts. For more information on DAV’s disaster relief program and its eligibility please visit https://www.dav.org/veterans/outreach-programs/disaster-relief/.