Battle buddies

EPHRATA — Sometimes, when Johnny comes marching home again, the war marches along with him. Thousands of American veterans commit suicide every year, according to the Veterans Administration, and countless more go on living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. American Legion Post 28 in Ephrata wants to decrease that count one dog at a time. 

The Legion and the Legion Auxiliary will hold a fundraiser dinner Aug. 10 to raise money for Northwest Battle Buddies, a Washington organization that trains service dogs for military veterans. It will include dinner, live and silent auctions, door prizes and drawings. 

Northwest Battle Buddies came to the attention of the Post 28 Auxiliary in 2019, when Army National Guard veteran Kris Hemmerling of Moses Lake was having counseling for his PTSD and his counselor suggested a service dog. Hemmerling served in Iraq 20 years ago and he was there the night his comrade, SPC. Jeremiah Schmunk of Warden, was killed near Baghdad. Hemmerling’s experiences kept causing him trouble even after he retired from the service. 

“I honestly didn't think I was having that big of an issue,” Hemmerling said. “And then I tried to go back to work, and things would just compound the problems. Along with some other medical stuff, it just ended up compiling … One of my counselors brought up the question, have you tried working with a service animal and that's it came up. Because we'd been trying for years under certain medications under certain activities, and a lot of it just never worked.” 

Hemmerling got in touch with Northwest Battle Buddies, based in Battle Ground, Wash., near Vancouver, which trains service dogs for veterans like him who are struggling with PTSD.  

“Northwest Battle Buddies’ service dogs provide safety and independence, alleviating the isolation and hyper-vigilance common in PTSD,” the organization wrote on its website. “They help veterans go to places they'd avoid alone, wake them from nightmares, and stop panic attacks. Similar to medical alert dogs, they detect adrenaline spikes during anxiety or fear episodes. Our service dogs offer safety and act as social barriers and can even provide balance assistance. Studies show that the veteran will experience oxytocin peaks within minutes of pressure therapy from their service dog. Oxytocin can have a powerful effect. It can lower the heart rate and blood pressure and may also lead to reduced levels of stress, enhancing the overall well-being of our American heroes.” 

Northwest Battle Buddies trains the dogs for five months or more, then matches them up with a veteran, according to the website. There’s no cost to the veteran, but they do have to go to Battle Ground for four and a half weeks to train with the dog and get the dog bonded to its new owner. And that was the catch for Hemmerling. 

“I was a single parent at the time,” Hemmerling said. “And trying to come up with all the funds to stay away that long, it just was not feasible. So, I got in touch with a veteran liaison, and he put me in touch with Jane (Montaney, with American Legion Auxiliary Post 28 and a past president of the state Auxiliary) and they were actually able to help.” 

“Kris was eligible to receive a service dog, but he didn’t have the funds for the lodging or the food for the weeks that he needed to be there,” Montaney said. “And we were really lucky that we had enough in our poppy line item.” 

When Legion members distribute poppies on Veterans Day or Memorial Day, Montaney explained, the donations they receive have to be spent on improving the lives of veterans. That money couldn’t be given to an organization like Northwest Battle Buddies, but it could go to Hemmerling for his expenses. 

Hemmerling received his dog, a St. Bernard mix named Dallas in 2019, he said, and Dallas has made a huge difference in his life. 

“Because of some of the stuff I have going on, I shut down,” Hemmerling said. “I seclude myself. He forces me out of that comfort zone and puts me back somewhat in society.”  

Dallas was able to identify some medical issues Hemmerling was experiencing before his doctor did, Hemmerling said. 

The Legion was able to help another veteran after Hemmerling get a service dog, Montaney said, but now they want to go a step further and help out Northwest Battle Buddies in providing help to veterans. Unlike the poppy fund, the money from the Aug. 10 fundraiser can be donated to an organization. Tickets are still available, Montaney said, but need to be purchased in advance so the organizers know how many of what meal to prepare. All the cooking and the auction are done by Legion and Auxiliary members, she said, so more money can go to Northwest Battle Buddies. 

“The mission of the American Legion Family is to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of veterans, to include the military, and their families,” Montaney wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. "Frankly, the members of Post and Unit 28 felt what better way to enhance the lives of veterans than to give him/her the confidence, provided by the service dog, to fully participate in activities of his/her family or individual interests.” 

American Legion Post 28 dinner and auction 
August 10, 2024 — 4 p.m.
American Legion Hall
276 Eighth Ave. NW, Ephrata
$15 individual, $25 couple
Tickets available at the Legion Hall
or by calling 509-760-1433. 

Northwest Battle Buddies
P.O. Box 2511
Battle Ground, WA 98604
office@northwestbattlebuddies.org