Operation Homefront Support Helps Marine Veteran Care for Disabled Father
Marine veteran Alexander Tettey Jr. recently completed training to become an emergency medical technician but before he could start a job, the global pandemic made the work too risky. Alexander is a caregiver for his disabled father, who lives with him. With his father being high risk for contracting COVID-19, Alexander could not take the chance of bringing it home.
However, losing work opportunities because of the pandemic and incurring some unexpected costs have made keeping up with their bills harder. Alexander knew about Operation Homefront through his friend Jordan, another veteran. During the pandemic, Alexander has twice reached out for help and received support through Operation Homefront’s Critical Financial Assistance (CFA) program.
Alexander received assistance after his uncle, on his father’s side, died. The extended family lives in Ghana, West Africa. Alexander and his father paid for the majority of the funeral and burial expenses.
Thanks to Operation Homefront’s generous donors, Alexander was able to catch up on several housing costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The assistance was a great help,” Alexander said. “It took the pressure off so we could catch up. That was really what we needed to get back on track. The other resources, like financial coaching, helped to shore up our future finances.”
After serving his country for 11 years, Alexander wants Operation Homefront’s donors to know he is grateful for their support.
“I’m incredibly appreciative,” Alexander said. “I do hope (donors) understand how vital it is just to have that one piece of help that can fill a gap that can allow me to care for my dad. If we didn’t get that assistance, I don’t know what would have happened. The financial assistance came at a pivotal fork in the road, and I’m glad it was there to steer us in the right direction.”
Alexander was not even out of high school when he signed up for the Delayed Entry Program. It was six months after the Sept. 11 attacks. He served as a tactical vehicle mechanic, a combat marksmanship coach, and a Marine Corps martial arts instructor. He deployed twice, once to Eastern Africa, and once to Western Iraq, along the Syrian border. He was honorably discharged in 2014.
Operation Homefront’s Critical Financial Assistance program helps military families start strong and stay strong, providing support when it is needed most.
