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VFW Auxiliary raises funds to help provide service dogs for veterans

By LARRY SHIELDS Staff Writer WASHINGTONVILLE — Robert Galloway Jr. spent 23 months of his six years in the U.S. Army in Iraq. Two tours with the 3rd Infantry Division about 25 minutes south of Baghdad where “we were under pretty much constant mortar and rocket fire in the Triangle of Death,” he said. After leaving the army, the Youngstown resident was eventually diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for his time with the 3rd ID’s 2d Brigade Combat Team. He was an artilleryman, “but due to the shortage of patrol people we were divided into three sections,” Galloway recalled. One fired artillery, one patrolled the local area of operations, and the third was a forward observation base. “We mostly did patrols,” Galloway explained, “I was good at it ... had a knack for it, but I was actually a pretty lucky guy. I could feel it coming and a lot of guys wanted me on patrol with them.” There was more to it than patrols. “We worked with the Iraqi army handling prisoners, suspected snipers and/or people placing IEDs (improvised explosive devices) in the ground. We did a lot of patrolling looking for anyone planting IEDs. “We patrolled and tried to avoid collateral damage against civilians. There was a total of 13 in my unit who received Purple Hearts,” he said. After returning in August of 2009, Galloway sought mental health treatment. “I didn’t feel comfortable in my uniform and I was having anxiety attacks. I was diagnosed with PTSD in December of 2009,” he said, after being in the hospital for 31 days. After leaving the army, a doctor recommended a service dog. “The dogs help some veterans eliminate or distract them from symptoms of night terror, flashbacks, confusion and anxiety,” Galloway explained. He got in touch with “The Together Journey” and with his newly obtained dog, Luna Azul, a german shepherd, he entered the organization’s program that provides service dogs and training for individuals with disabilities while deferring costs through fundraising and grant writing. The Together Journey was founded in 2015 by Katie Costello of Hubbard and Jean Dammann, a volunteer with the organization from Vienna, said the aim of the non-profit organization is to provide 100 percent funding so veterans can have a dog. Dammann, a Gold Star Mother, said the dogs are something that “affects the vet’s life now.” Joy Brozman, who owns the Pet Spa Salon on Western Reserve Road in Boardman, became aware of The Together Journey when Costello stopped in and dropped off some brochures. Brozman’s husband, John, is president of the VFW York Drexler Post 5532 auxiliary in Washingtonville. “I love pets and vets,” Brozman said, and after wondering what she could do for them Costello happened to come in — and just three months the VFW auxiliary raised $3,000 toward the $5,000 cost of training a dog. Dammann said The Together Journey is linked to the Canine Campus & Wellness Center, a professional dog training facility in Hubbard that was also founded by Costello. It recently opened a second facility at 5944 1/2 Market St. in Boardman. “They’re taking applications now for the next service dogs,” she said, and information can be obtained by calling 330-716-3051. She explained that Costello gives away one “Toni” dog a year in honor of her dad who was a veteran. There is a GoFundMe page at veterans-service-dog-program and they no longer obtain dogs from shelters or pounds. “If the vet doesn’t have a dog, they will pick out a suitable dog,” Dammann said. For more information, visit The Together Journey on Facebook. lshields@salemnews.net

WASHINGTONVILLE — Robert Galloway Jr. spent 23 months of his six years in the U.S. Army in Iraq.

Two tours with the 3rd Infantry Division about 25 minutes south of Baghdad where “we were under pretty much constant mortar and rocket fire in the Triangle of Death,” he said.

After leaving the army, the Youngstown resident was eventually diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for his time with the 3rd ID’s 2d Brigade Combat Team.

He was an artilleryman, “but due to the shortage of patrol people we were divided into three sections,” Galloway recalled. One fired artillery, one patrolled the local area of operations, and the third was a forward observation base.

“We mostly did patrols,” Galloway explained, “I was good at it … had a knack for it, but I was actually a pretty lucky guy. I could feel it coming and a lot of guys wanted me on patrol with them.”

There was more to it than patrols.

“We worked with the Iraqi army handling prisoners, suspected snipers and/or people placing IEDs (improvised explosive devices) in the ground. We did a lot of patrolling looking for anyone planting IEDs.

“We patrolled and tried to avoid collateral damage against civilians. There was a total of 13 in my unit who received Purple Hearts,” he said.

After returning in August of 2009, Galloway sought mental health treatment.

“I didn’t feel comfortable in my uniform and I was having anxiety attacks. I was diagnosed with PTSD in December of 2009,” he said, after being in the hospital for 31 days.

After leaving the army, a doctor recommended a service dog.

“The dogs help some veterans eliminate or distract them from symptoms of night terror, flashbacks, confusion and anxiety,” Galloway explained.

He got in touch with “The Together Journey” and with his newly obtained dog, Luna Azul, a german shepherd, he entered the organization’s program that provides service dogs and training for individuals with disabilities while deferring costs through fundraising and grant writing.

The Together Journey was founded in 2015 by Katie Costello of Hubbard and Jean Dammann, a volunteer with the organization from Vienna, said the aim of the non-profit organization is to provide 100 percent funding so veterans can have a dog.

Dammann, a Gold Star Mother, said the dogs are something that “affects the vet’s life now.”

Joy Brozman, who owns the Pet Spa Salon on Western Reserve Road in Boardman, became aware of The Together Journey when Costello stopped in and dropped off some brochures.

Brozman’s husband, John, is president of the VFW York Drexler Post 5532 auxiliary in Washingtonville.

“I love pets and vets,” Brozman said, and after wondering what she could do for them Costello happened to come in — and just three months the VFW auxiliary raised $3,000 toward the $5,000 cost of training a dog.

Dammann said The Together Journey is linked to the Canine Campus & Wellness Center, a professional dog training facility in Hubbard that was also founded by Costello. It recently opened a second facility at 5944 1/2 Market St. in Boardman.

“They’re taking applications now for the next service dogs,” she said, and information can be obtained by calling 330-716-3051.

She explained that Costello gives away one “Toni” dog a year in honor of her dad who was a veteran.

There is a GoFundMe page at veterans-service-dog-program and they no longer obtain dogs from shelters or pounds.

“If the vet doesn’t have a dog, they will pick out a suitable dog,” Dammann said.

For more information, visit The Together Journey on Facebook.

lshields@salemnews.net

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