Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran ShaDonna McPhaul, who founded an organization dedicated to helping homeless Veterans.
February is African American History Month. Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay served in Afghanistan.
ShaDonna McPhaul’s family has a history of military service. Her grandfather, stepfather, aunt, uncle and cousins all served in the military. When McPhaul graduated from Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1996, she continued the family tradition of military service by joining the Air Force.
During her 20 years of service in the Air Force, McPhaul served as an administrative professional. She found resources to solve problems for peers, subordinates, and leaders in her chain of command. Her first assignment was Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. McPhaul also served at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, Joint Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. She deployed overseas to bases in South Korea, Germany, Kuwait, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.
In 2013, while she was stationed in Hawaii, McPhaul saw homeless Veterans in the streets and was concerned about the situations of Veterans. She started to use her skills as an information specialist to help homeless Veterans fill out paperwork for their post-service benefits. Working with the Veterans inspired her to start an organization dedicated to helping Veterans with the struggles of homelessness and navigating civilian life. She started Mo’s Heroes while in the service. Mo’s Heroes provides services to reintegrate homeless Veterans into the civilian labor force and help Veterans overcome the challenges in the transition to civilian life.
After retiring from the Air Force in December 2017, McPhaul returned to Fayetteville works as a customer service contact representative.
Thank you for your service!
Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
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I am female SGT E5 medically retired in 2018 bilingual Spanish and English trying to get a Job so I can have a purpose in life but I haven’t found one because of my PTSD I haven’t been able to come out of my house for the past 2years I feel like I have no purpose no mission useless guilty of what I could of done better to save the lives of my soldiers the guilt of all my soldiers that have die burns my heart I am still struggling with the dark memories and nightly nightmares, is good to see in this blog that there is more like us suffering from PTSD.
Michelle, I’m sorry to hear that! If I were you, I would find an elected official that you believe in and work on his or her campaign. They also need people who can help them connect.
ALOHA ShaDonna McPhail
WE ALL MISS YOUR PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES ACROSS THE MILES
CONGRATULATIONSFOR YOUR AWESOME
SERVICES GOALS & MINDSET FOR LIFE
THANK YOU ALWAYSShaDonna
FOR EVERYTHINGWINNERVETERAN
ENJOYYOUR FUTURERETIREMENT
MAHALO
Thank you for your service – ShaDonna McPhaul.