How one veteran’s legacy will change lives for years to come

Editor’s Note: Daniel, the subject of this story, asked to keep his last name private to keep the focus on the veterans he supports through his charitable giving.

As an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, Daniel knew he wanted to include veterans organizations in his estate planning.

That’s why he chose DAV as a beneficiary of one of his financial accounts.

“My hope by donating to DAV is that I am doing the most good for the most amount of people,” Daniel said.

Having faced his own health challenges and witnessed the struggles of fellow service members, Daniel saw firsthand the impact DAV had on the lives of ill and injured veterans. He also saw the critical role DAV plays in ensuring the Department of Veterans Affairs provides veterans with the care they deserve. He knows just how important that is—because the VA saved his life.

Daniel was at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center for a routine physical when a nurse practitioner insisted he get an ultrasound, leading to the discovery of a life-threatening condition. Though he felt fine at the time, medical staff immediately wheeled him in for further testing.

“They took me down to get a CT scan, then to vascular surgery, where they discovered I had an abdominal aortic aneurysm,” Daniel recalled. “I was lucky to still be alive.”

Although they couldn’t get him into emergency surgery right away, they monitored him closely.

“They couldn’t get an operating room until the next day, so they took care of me and fixed me up until I could go in for surgery. They saved my life,” he said.

But Daniel’s challenges weren’t only physical. Like many veterans who served in Vietnam, he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder long after returning home. During a VA Agent Orange evaluation, Daniel was sent to the psychiatric department, where he realized he needed treatment for PTSD.

His nurse encouraged him to seek help from DAV to file for disability benefits. When he reached out for support, DAV guided him through the claims process and stood by him, even when his PTSD benefits were denied. After later being diagnosed with leukemia, Daniel received the benefits he earned due to the VA recognizing the diagnosis as a result of Agent Orange exposure.

Daniel said he hopes the funds he is leaving will help DAV continue to provide veterans with access to the same lifesaving care, benefits and advocacy that made such a difference in his own life.

By taking advantage of the DAV Personal Philanthropy Program, like Daniel, you can help ensure that no veteran faces their challenges alone and can leave behind a legacy of service and care for those who have sacrificed for our freedom.