Kendall Agency Gives Veterans a Place to Turn

Ed Dixon's job is an emotional roller coaster.

"Some days I say I feel really good about myself, that I helped people," said the superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kendall County. "There are other days that cause you to see the dark side of things."

Dixon knows a lot about that dark side. A retired Vietnam War veteran, he understands the trials that come when trying to acclimate back to civilian life.

The VACKC is a government agency operated by accredited veteran service officers for honorably discharged veterans, spouses, widows, and qualifying military personnel from Kendall County, according to the organization’s website. Agency staff will process VA claims for health care, pensions, home loans, education and other benefits.

“Our office is really the best-kept secret in town,” Dixon said. “The veteran has all these benefits available to them and they either don’t want to take advantage of them because of pride, or they don’t know about them.”

Dixon said World War II veterans are especially hesitant to seek help.

“They’re Depression-era people that were taught, ‘If you want it you have to work for it — ain’t nobody going to give it to you.’ In some cases they look to it as a handout,” he said.

Of the 5,764 veterans living in Kendall County, according to the last census, only 1,254 have sought help from the VACKC, said Steve Barrett, a Vietnam veteran and the assistant superintendent for the commission.

“Basically we know one out of every five,” he said. “There are usually two reasons. Either they didn’t need us for anything or more likely they don’t know that we’re out there.”

Of all the veterans that pass through the doors of the VACKC, Dixon said it’s the ones that are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan that cause him to get the most emotional.

“They make me cry,” he said. “I thought (with Vietnam) we were in bad shape. These kids now are having to do double, triple duty. They’re getting deployed, coming back to the states and getting redeployed. It’s a terrible situation.”

Dixon said the suicide rate among veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan “is way up compared to Vietnam veterans.”

"Wives are coming up here in tears saying 'That isn't the guy I sent away,'" Dixon said. "A mother will come up and say, 'He's locked in the room with a case of Jack Daniels and won't come out.'"

That’s another reason why the VACKC is so important, he said.

“We can hook them up with single and group therapy and family therapy,” he said.

Plano resident Johnny Steen, a reservist who served from 1975 to 2001, has been able to take advantage of some of the services offered by the organization.

The VACKC has helped him provide a home for his son.

“I found out about (the VACKC) four years ago,” he said. “I was very shocked to know it existed and pleased to know money is going to help veterans after they have served in a time of need. They’ve helped us to maintain our household.”

Dixon is glad the VACKC is helping his fellow veterans.

Despite the dark times, “This is the best job I’ve ever had,” he said.

For more information, visit the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kendall County website.