Homeless after 30 years of service? Who is at fault and what should be done?

SGM Clarence Zarnes — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 08:24:09 -0500

From the Pentagon to life in a van
By Julie Zauzmer, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: January 06, 2014

After a 30-year military career in which he earned three graduate degrees, rose to the rank of colonel, and served as an aide to Pentagon brass, Robert Freniere can guess what people might say when they learn he's unemployed and lives out of his van:

Why doesn't this guy get a job as a janitor?

Freniere answers his own question: "Well, I've tried that."

Freniere, 59, says that his plea for help, to a janitor he once praised when the man was mopping the floors of his Washington office, went unfulfilled. So have dozens of job applications, he says, the ones he has filled out six hours a day, day after day, on public library computers.

So Freniere, a man who braved multiple combat zones and was hailed as "a leading light" by an admiral, is now fighting a new battle: homelessness.

"You stay calm. That's what we were trained for when I went through survival training," he said recently in King of Prussia, where he had parked his blue minivan, the one crammed with all his possessions and held together with duct tape.

As of January 2012, more than 60,000 veterans were homeless, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Reducing that number has been a priority for the Obama administration - and the number of homeless veterans dropped 24 percent nationwide from 2009 to 2013. In Pennsylvania, however, it jumped 46 percent, to more than 1,400.

Joblessness among returning service members is even more common. Freniere describes a monthly lunch he has attended in Washington, a hushed tradition that he says attracts about 200 veterans. After they eat, the men and women who are unemployed stand up one by one to recite their service records, hoping someone else in the room will hire them.

Many, he says, are highly accomplished.

Like Freniere.

"He's done a lot of things; he's been a lot of places. . . . He's got the gift of gab. Very smart," said Adm. James Hogg, who officiated at Freniere's retirement ceremony in 2006.

Last month, Freniere teared up as he asked Hogg for advice on finding a paycheck. Hogg was stunned.

"That's crazy," Hogg said in an interview. "With all his experience, especially in intelligence, there's got to be a spot for him."

Spots are hard to come by. Freniere, like many of his fellow down-on-their-luck veterans, does not match any hat-in-hand Hollywood image of homelessness. He receives an annual pension from the military of more than $40,000.

His struggle to find a job after retiring from the Air Force collided with the end of his marriage nearly two years ago. Unable to return to the home he shared with his estranged wife, and faced with expenses including bills for two sons in college and debts that mounted when he maintained a nicer lifestyle, he took up a nomadic existence.

Between spells on the couches of friends in multiple states, he sleeps occasionally in motels and other times in the dented blue van.

On Veterans Day, he found himself in King of Prussia. He had paid for a motel room the night before, to be near his younger son, Eric, a student at Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne.

But Freniere could not afford another night, so he was packing his belongings into his minivan.

A motel guest who noticed Freniere's Air Force cap and packed van struck up a conversation, and ended up paying for Freniere to stay another night.

That same week, Freniere agreed to share his story with an Inquirer reporter who had heard about his plight.

Over chips and salsa at a Baja Fresh in King of Prussia, he spent more than four hours engaged in a rambling conversation in which he quoted Dante, Andrew Jackson, and the novelist Leon Uris. He touched on his hobbies, from painting to playing guitar to learning new languages.

Freniere, who said he had been found to have dyslexia and attention deficit disorder, said he earned the nickname "Lightning" in the military for his constant motion and ability to talk anyone's ear off.

"Lightning" mentions the screenplay he wrote about astronauts going to the moon, and the beginning of a romance novel. He describes competing in sailing regattas with friends. He says he once tried to start a business with his wife and mother selling football-themed stuffed ducks.

Some of what he says is not easily or independently verifiable. But the bulk of his story - and one that is confirmed by military records - is a story of service.

A career dream
It's a story that goes back generations. In one of the many boxes in his van, Freniere holds on to letters written from France during World War I by a great-grandfather who, according to family lore, lied about his age so he could still fight at 60. Freniere's father served in World War II and Korea, then raised his family on Air Force bases all over the world.

Freniere was born in 1954, the third of five children. He says his oldest brother served in Vietnam; his sister is a retired Navy nurse; and two more brothers are retired colonels.

Freniere and his two younger brothers became Eagle Scouts together, then went together to the Citadel, he said. Military records confirm that he joined the Army in 1976. His first post was in Schweinfurt, West Germany, where troops were then on guard against a Soviet attack.

There, Freniere said, he was tapped to lead an investigation into drug trafficking by soldiers on the base.

"All I had ever wanted to do was be in the Army," Freniere said. "The Vietnam War had just ended, and the military really was very down on itself."

In the drug investigation, he found a sense of purpose. "I didn't know anything about drugs, because I'd never used them. I was a goody-two-shoes boy," he said. "I finally felt like I was really doing something for my country, because I was getting rid of these bad guys."

He said that his role in arresting members of his own platoon caused tension with his superiors. He left the Army for the Air Force, where he pursued his newfound interest in investigation as an intelligence officer.

As he moved through the ranks, he served in combat zones in Somalia, Panama, Haiti, and Kuwait, Freniere said. He also married his childhood neighbor, had two sons, and earned master's degrees in political science and criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati and a master's in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.

Records show that Freniere moved to the Pentagon in 2000. He said he was there when it was hit by terrorists Sept. 11, 2001.

Two years later, he became special assistant to Gen. Stanley McChrystal, then the vice director of operations of the Joint Staff.

In 2005, Freniere said, he volunteered to go to Iraq. "Everybody thought I was nuts, especially my sons," who were 15 and 13 at the time, he said. "But I'm a counterterrorism guy. That's what I do."

But as he was preparing to deploy, he said, he felt his legs go numb one day. He had suffered from back pain since he was injured in his 20s, when a soldier he was training to operate a tank fired the gun too soon.

Three days after the numbness began, Freniere underwent back surgery. Instead of flying to Iraq, he spent a year and a half convalescing, he said. In 2006, he retired from the Air Force.

The struggle for work
After his retirement, Freniere said, it took him a year to find work. Like many retired servicemen, he turned to jobs with defense contractors. Twice, the work took him to Afghanistan, he said.

When he came home, he had nowhere to go after separating from his second wife. (In an interview, she said that he does not help her pay the mortgage on their home.)

Freniere said he had not been able to find a contracting job since August 2012. He blames the federal sequestration for squeezing contractors of money and of the confidence to hire people. He has not lasted long at other jobs, as a substitute teacher and an executive in a company writing proposals for government grants.

One of his complaints about the latter job was that it took him too far from his sons - Bobby, enrolled at a community college in Virginia, and Eric, at VFMA.

Eric, 21, plans to follow in his father's military footsteps. "My dad's the most motivated person I've ever met in my whole life, and he's living out of his van," Eric said. "A full colonel with three master's degrees? I don't get it at all - it doesn't make sense to me. If he had a job right now, we'd be fine. We're not fine right now."

Freniere says dyslexia makes focusing on a computer screen difficult. Online applications are so hard for him, he said, that tears well in his eyes as he describes his days at public libraries.

"How many applications can you fill out in a day? And it takes you six or seven hours, and then you don't hear from any of them. You start getting hopeless," he said.

But Freniere said that he had not lost hope, that he returns to tropes he learned back in survival training - "stay calm," "get the job done" - when he needs comfort.

"I'm a military guy. I'm mission-oriented. You don't give up," Freniere says. "I've got a lot of good experience. I've got two beautiful sons. I've got a van. I don't know how long it's going to hold up, but I've got it. I've got a lot of things to be thankful for."

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Article Link:
http://articles.philly.com/2014-01-06/news/45885460_1_veterans-day-homeless-veterans-hogg?goback=%2Egde_4058911_member_ [login to see] 248733187#%21

Response by SFC Robert Trodahl made Jan 16 at 2014 8:03 PM

SFC Robert Trodahl — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:03:06 -0500

I've heard a little about this on the news, thank you for posting a more in depth look on what has happened to him and the circustances regarding his situation.  I really to hope his job prospects turn around for him as he was in the news and can get back to a sense of normalcy.

Response by Sgt Daniel V. made Apr 18 at 2014 5:40 AM

Sgt Daniel V. — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 05:40:11 -0400

When I separated I found one thing that may help a lot of veterans and retirees. Look into starting your own business. This Colonel could have started his own consulting firm on leadership and given speeches and lectures on advancing your career. I personally saw a need and filled it in my area. Complacency kills warriors. If the job market isn't giving you a break, give yourself a try. You just may be the best boss you ever had. You worked hard for pennies and answered to a hundred different bosses. You have the work ethic all you need is an idea. If you are short on ideas or cash there is help out there through the VA and banks looking to invest into veterans. Google is gonna be your number one resource on this one. Go to youtube and start looking up self employment help and ideas and funding. Then when you are the boss hire some vets and dominate your industry. 

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made May 13 at 2014 10:36 PM

SSG Mike Angelo — Tue, 13 May 2014 22:36:25 -0400

I believe we all have choices, born of free will and conscience of our own capacities nurtured during military service. Key word here is "service"...

Being a part of that system, now retired, some of our habits still move toward that direction with perpetual motion.

How do we change that. How did I change that? I moved forward and away from those old life habits, and in time this movement allowed me to create my own system that I can live with. Its a tough gig, living independently, but we have choices.

In the case of Freniere...I get it. He will either change or die trying to stay the same.

My advice to like-minded Freniere people. Challenge yourself to live independently, become a self-starter and look for ways to change your habits, while keeping your values.

Collaborate with other veterans and friends of vets. Look for opportunity to serve your local community, while seeking help in self-improvement.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 11:20 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 23:20:43 -0400

I would recommend people not be judgmental or try to extrapolate as to the whys. I am sure there are factors that we cannot understand and rather focus on that we focus on him and others like him. Let us not use his rank against him because but by the grace of God go I.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2014 12:40 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 May 2014 00:40:10 -0400

SGM Zarnes,

I worked with a veteran headhunter colleague to try to help Col Freniere.
I tracked him down but email and calls were returned by an intermediary.
Promises were made for contact with us; but no reliable communication.
This makes it difficult to update resume and market him without any fee.
It also raised concerns on part of my colleague re headhunter reputation.

If anyone can establish reliable communication with followup we are here.

Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2014 9:46 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 May 2014 09:46:58 -0400

I admit, I didn't read the Article completely but this is what I think of the situation.

His military retirement alone would range between $745 and $6705 based off the HRC calculator. I don't know how many points he earned (see the link for reference) but I would venture to say that he is closer to the max of $6705 which is more than my active duty base pay. That figure also does not include any disability that he receives. So to blame anyone other than him would just be ridiculous. I could find a very nice place to live with that kind of money every month.

https://www.hrc.army.mil/calculators/retirementcalc.aspx

Response by MAJ Dallas D. made May 14 at 2014 11:11 AM

MAJ Dallas D. — Wed, 14 May 2014 11:11:14 -0400

This is a sad story no matter what the circumstances are. IMHO No Veteran should even be homeless.

Response by SFC Matthew Parker made May 27 at 2014 1:08 PM

SFC Matthew Parker — Tue, 27 May 2014 13:08:09 -0400

I see this post was four months ago but this has been a pet peeve of mine for years. We have Army housing on old Ft Ord in California that was turned over to the city when Ord closed. How many vets could we place in that housing?

There are retired bases all over the country and we tear down the housing or turn it over for commercial development. Why? Col F could have been placed into officer quarters on Ft. Devens Mass if it was still available.

His pension could pay for the utilities and he would be responsible for repairs if needed. But instead private commercial interests purchased the homes and sold them for big profits.

We have space in old barracks and housing so lets use it. The Colonel like every veteran is still one of us, active, reserve or retired we are part of something so lets act like it.

Response by PFC James (LURCH) Janota made Jun 19 at 2014 8:57 PM

PFC James (LURCH) Janota — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 20:57:40 -0400

What have we done with any war? Homelessness with our veterans is a battle, yes, but we all need to pool our resources to make a way so that we can all contribute. I may have a solution not just our veterans but the civilians as well. We can't be separated any longer. Please message me if you are interested.

Response by PO1 Walter Duncan made Jun 29 at 2014 12:24 PM

PO1 Walter Duncan — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 12:24:37 -0400

I for one, after 12 yrs of service was discharged for medical condition. I had to make a choice for the safety of my men, I could not place them at risk because of my affliction. I was guinea pigged then discharged, fought tirelessly with the VA for over 10 yrs. Worked at a factor while attending college full time, then took a custodial position at the USPS because I felt the factory was going to let me go because of 2 surgeries related to military service. I felt the USPS hiring a DAV would provide stability, because the custodial position was created for DAVs. While at USPS my condition slowly worsened, but my wife then attended college and received her teaching degree at the same time I finally graduated with an accounting degree. I received a job in the finance office which was better for my RRMS, but I was not diag until 2003. While it actually began back in the 80's. Working with MS was a significant challenge, then they closed the finance office and tried to medically retire me because of my knees. They were unaware of my MS. When I fought it they said they would make me a letter carrier, because they had no other positions. Which they did. Eventually I was on graveyard back as a custodian, 2 years later, medically retired. 100% VA, Small amount Postal and it took an attorney and almost 16 months and 3 tries for social security. If it was not for the second income of my wife, we would have been desolate. So I know how it can happen and government agencies have no bones or ties to letting a DAV go. When it comes to cutting jobs, we go first. American with Disabilities Act is just that, an Act. Sorry, I thank God I survived the trial. But I see so many others that don't. They took Champ VA from my daughter when she turned 23, left her with no medical insurance. Obamacare said all insurance companies will cover until 26, but the loophole they put in ChampVA for us and other Federal Agencies is they say it is a benefit not insurance, yet it has to meet all of the same requirements that all of the insurance companies of the affordable care act. Weird Huh? Sorry so winded, but the process out of the military with all of the change and ill preparedness when disabilities are involved mental or physical can lead to the situation of living " In a van down by the river", mostly because of the failures of improper departure guidance and follow up with the VA and failure of the civilian communities acceptance of Veterans with disabilities

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 22 at 2014 10:17 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 10:17:50 -0400

Before we give this Colonel any grief, please remember that we don't have all the facts. This is one of those articles that is going to instantly strike nerves and inflame passions. Stuff happens! I don't care how much you make as a military member. If you are used to paying X-dollars and then you go to having to pay for 2 households, IT IS GOING TO HURT FINANCIALLY!!!! Add to that people who have the spouse handle the bills and having access to all the funds. Before yu can get a good divorce attorney, those savings vanish and vehicles get laid claim to. The court will order that all bills keep getting paid and sometimes all the money that is used to pay them is suddenly gone! The judge orders YOU to get tem caught up! Now a few months goes by and you and finance have a new bank account for your retirement pay. Well, get ready to have half of that taken away! However, if the spouse is not working, the bills are getting paid by however the judge decides. It is easy to go through $40,000 in a divorce with kids and a lifetime in the military. EASY!!! Add a judge who disregards federal law and forces a 100% disabled veteran who just got surgery to pay $1,640 (yeah, I'm describing me) and you can say how unfair and ilegal things are, but that doesn't keep the Sheriff from evicting you if you fall behind with the rent. Add $1,250 a quarter in cancer treatments for a loved one and eventually, that money is gone. Now, if someone wants to pay for 2 new BMW's so the kids will have a transportation "worthy of a Colonel", then by all means boo and hiss, when 2 hoopties with no payment will do. If he is paying for their college vs. having a roof over his head, then I say "GET STUDENT LOANS KIDS!!!!" Point being, money coming in easily surpasses money going out under some situations. Most of us are only 2 disasters away from being homeless. A lot of us are at risk as I type this rant. I will say that this economy is absolutely horrible and I am still desperately looking for someone to scrutinize this divorce judge of mine.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Sep 22 at 2014 11:36 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 11:36:29 -0400

Now what is the Paul Harvey of this story? I think there is something missing? Over 30 as an O-5...where is the retirement money? Not saying it will make you rich, but it keeps you off the street?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2014 7:44 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 19:44:05 -0400

I'm wondering what this colonel is doing with his retirement pay. The article says he receives an annual retirement pay of $40,000? What? No way. An O-6 over 30 years made $6,630 per month ($79,560 annually) in retirement pay. I guess his ex is getting half his retirement?

It is, indeed, hard to believe that COL Freniere is homeless. I think there's probably more to the story that we are not hearing.

Response by SGT Robert Johnson made Oct 5 at 2014 9:02 PM

SGT Robert Johnson — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 21:02:51 -0400

This is a sad commentary. This gentleman has some great skills that employers need. Its a real shame that we have soooo many companies that don't understand what a veteran brings to the table. I'm not sure what the answer is here.

Response by SP5 Rod Cross made Nov 10 at 2014 10:52 AM

SP5 Rod Cross — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 10:52:22 -0500

Waste Management, Inc offers a wealth of employment opportunites for qualified personnel tranisitioning from the military. Candidates interested in seeking employment should visit our website at http://www.wmcareers.com. They may also contact Rod Cross at [login to see] .

Response by Cpl Pat Huntley made Nov 19 at 2014 9:35 AM

Cpl Pat Huntley — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 09:35:50 -0500

Out here in Suffolk County, New York, we have the highest rate of veteran homelessness in the State of New York. For years, I have commuted over five hours each day to go to work and just recently, I was hired as an Employment Specialist for a SSVF program a few minutes away from my house. When I transitioned out of the Corps, I left all my buddies and my network in the military. Big mistake. We have to keep the buddy system going on and check up on our buddies even if we are in different places, etc. People in the civilian world keep their network going. Some even take former co-workers with them when they get promoted, we have to do the same. You know your buddy, who would you want to cover your rear if it needed covering???? Are there any Vets in New York that need assistance.

Response by SSgt B Mac made Dec 8 at 2014 2:45 PM

SSgt B Mac — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 14:45:21 -0500

This is an unfortunate story but I agree with many of the comments, there appears to be more to the story than the article provides. Things don't add up.
In comments, I see 75% retirement mentioned, personalty disorder theory and a lot of other possibilities.

As an Intel Officer he should have little problem finding work. When the US economy was taking a hit Intel jobs were still strong, there is always a need for Intel. The article mentions contracting in Afghanistan and budget cuts. This is true, I have seen salaries drop more than 50% out here, but they are still paying better than NOT getting paid.

We all hope to make it. I'm very confident none expect to ever be homeless. The fact that it does happen is enough for me to fear for my future. Although I'm secure for now, if I didn't have my job how many years could I last until everything was gone? I could do alone but supporting a family it's just not an option. I CAN NOT FAIL.

For the case in this article I think there was poor planning. Some factors were out of his control but majority I believe is on him. His estranged wife possibly has half or a majority stake on his retirement check. Although what's left is probably still more than enough to live on. Wife claims he does not help with the mortgage, so there is a mortgage and someone is paying it. I don't take his situation lightly, I've spent a short time in his shoes and I know I put myself there. There are things this guy needs to let go of. First, it sounds like he isn't willing to relocate too far from his family. He's still paying for his kids school, sorry kids. If i were in his situation at his age I would find the cheapest place I could live on the income I had coming in. Even if that meant moving to Mexico, Thailand or any other cheap expat country.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2014 10:38 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 10:38:00 -0500

has anyone verified that he is in fact a 30 year veteran? seems the homeless community is awash with homeless "veterans" the numbers do not bear out.

Response by SSG Dwight Amey MSA, MSL, BS, AS made Jan 5 at 2015 2:34 PM

SSG Dwight Amey MSA, MSL, BS, AS — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:34:13 -0500

SGM Clarence Zarnes, first thanks for your service. This article is difficult to read. My older brother was not diagnosed with dyslexia until he was a star running back at a college in De Mons Iowa. Unfortunately, up to then he was treated like a lazy and punk trouble maker. I believe the condition might have a role but not entirely. Kind of like taking down a giant one chunk at a time. Our society has little forgiveness for the well off. This is unfortunate. Reminds me of the survival of the fittest. The concept to me is a smoke screen that some use to mask their own personal greed and self preservation. I wonder how many military members he helped out when they were down on their luck. I can tell you this, especially in Germany the DUI hammer would be spared on the ones that was a major asset to the battalion.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2015 7:48 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:48:11 -0500

We have little idea the reasons for this situation and by that I mean the psychological toll that that kind of life leads to. By all reasonable standards it seems illogical but if you are like SGT Michael Glenn and others of us, the picture becomes clear and just having an opinion is fine but leads nowhere in figuring out the whys.

Response by SPC Leisel Luman made Jan 8 at 2015 8:08 PM

SPC Leisel Luman — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 20:08:45 -0500

HUDVASH no veteran should be homeless!! Each area has a number of HUDVASH Vouchers they will pay the rent for you. You don't have to be clean or sober. It's designed give you your own place to stabilize in . I don't know the financial requirements. I googled it and found the PowerPoint presentation on the new updated guide lines and contacts for each region. Their is a homeless veterans outreach. Lots of vets previously denied the vouchers are now qualified under the new guidelines. It's worth a shot.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2015 9:55 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 09:55:03 -0500

Acknowledging that we don't know all the specifics to the story and etc, I think this article and the comments written this far highlight something I've started to notice. From my foxhole, it seems that a good deal of those who have been in the military a long time do sort of live in a financial bubble, and in that bubble live beyond their means. I can't count the number of senior officers I've known of who at O-5 and O-6 and higher make way more money than I do and still seem to struggle to make basic month-to-month financial decisions, much less long term financial decisions. Everything--every decision, every purchase--has a financial cost. Want to have a bunch of kids? They might go to college, and that might be expensive. Think because in the Army as an O-5 you were given a giant house that you should be able to afford a giant house once you leave the Army? That house is going to cost, for a long time, a lot of money. All of these sorts of life decisions represent real costs as well as opportunity costs. As active duty, we're lucky because the military provides so much and takes care of so many basics needs. This may have a negative impact, though, because while we're on active duty we seem to forget that all those benefits we get cost money in the real world, and there will need to be a serious adjustment period upon transition out of the military or to retirement. The other negative impact is that there is very little understanding of personal financial responsibility inside our military system, because so much of what we get by way of benefits does not come out of our paycheck. Do the math---except in circumstances like some of the ones others on this thread have noted, anyone that reaches full military retirement at 20 years should have had the opportunity to amass a great deal of personal wealth and savings (probably in the range of around a million dollars in savings and investment), if only by saving some small percentage (10% to 20%) of their pay every month. With the addition of retirement pay, and all the benefits that go along with that, financial difficulty (outside of special circumstances) mostly seems to be a matter of poor personal financial choices, living outside one's means, and the like. What does all of this say to me, in terms of thoughts on personal finance for military members:
1) Save, save, save, save. There are so many studies on how much we should save per month. Here's a good one: https://corporate.morningstar.com/ib/documents/MethodologyDocuments/IBBAssociates/NationalSavingsGuidelines.pdf. Bottom-line answer: save something, and try to save as much as you can, every month. Advice seems to be save between 10% and 50% of your monthly paycheck. The more, the better.
2) Live within your means. This goes hand-in-hand with the save, save, save point above. As servicemembers, we probably really can't afford that $60,000 sports car (I know, I bought one once) or that $500,000 mini-mansion on the outskirts of DC or wherever. Living beyond your means creates debt, which limits your ability to save, save, save. Home-buying seems to be the one thing that gets people in trouble. Buying a home has always generally been a good investment. It might still be, for someone who is going to live in that house for a long time. But it might not be for servicemembers, or for others, for that matter. See, for example, http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiehopkins/2014/09/25/why-housing-is-a-bad-long-term-investment-and-why-you-should-buy-anyways/. The major risks for servicemembers regarding homeownership seem to be that frequent re-assignment comes with a risk of not being able to rent the house out or of taking a major loss on selling the house. I've seen way too many senior folks struggle month-to-month to cover mortgage payments for their dream house once they get assigned somewhere else, and they're no longer able to pay their new rent/mortgage and their old rent/mortgage, or when they get assigned overseas or to government quarters and their paycheck then has to cover their mortgage. To me, the message is "don't buy a house" while on active duty. I bought one once, and got lucky to escape with only a minor loss; it could have been much worse. (I do of course recognize that some very few, very lukcy, very skilled servicemembers that I’ve known or have heard stories about have bought a house at each duty station, and at or near the end of their 20-year military career owned six or seven or more houses and made a lot of money renting them out; this seems to be a tiny little majority, though.)
3) Be healthy. Health and wealth are related, either causatively or by correlation. See http://business.time.com/2012/06/18/what-comes-first-wealth-or-health/. Some argue that the best investment in wealth one can make is to commit to a healthy lifestyle. While we can't control many things about our health (because things like accidents and genetics and such are beyond our control), we can control what we eat and drink and how much we sleep and the type and amount of exercise we do. The Army is finally, finally getting a clue on this topic; see http://armymedicine.mil/Pages/performance-triad.aspx.
The issue of veteran's homelessness is perhaps a different matter. A large number of homeless veteran's are disabled, mentally or physically (as seems to be the case with the subject of this particular article). See http://nchv.org/index.php/news/media/background_and_statistics/ for stats.

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly 8% being female. The majority are single; live in urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. About 12% of the adult homeless population are veterans.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 10 at 2015 8:30 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 20:30:02 -0500

There but by the Grace of God...

Some dismiss "luck". They claim that we make our own "luck". I'm not so certain that is true.

I have written on my website about the role of "luck" in determining the outcome of an entrepreneurial endeavor. Napoleon is reported to have said that "luck" was a prime characteristic that he sought in selecting his generals.

The simple truth is that many have done everything correctly and still experienced a bad outcome. It seems that the colonel described in this story has had more than his share of bad luck. But he also seems to have the right attitude and keeps on trying. We all know that he won't be a loser until he quits.

Sadly, many of the homeless don't try. They have lost.

In my belief system, I hold that most of the homelessness would be eradicated in a flourishing economy that cannot prevail until government gets out of the way and stops sucking the money out of the market in vain attempts to fix everything. Sadly though, even with full employment, there would be homelessness. There are those too broken to take care of themselves even while others flourish around them.

Yes, there is no one simple answer to the problem.

Personally, I finally got off my can and joined the VFW and American Legion to help other veterans. I avoided the posts where the old warriors sit around drinking and swapping war stories, and found those where veterans were actively helping others.

You should try it...

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Mar 31 at 2015 5:55 PM

SPC David Hannaman — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 17:55:40 -0400

Three days ago I was talking to a friend who owns a commercial Air conditioning business. He has a respect for veterans that is borderline fan-boy. He also has real problems finding mature, dependable employees.

I mentioned hiring Vets... his response was "I'd love to, but 'I'll do anything you want me to' isn't enough... they have to have the mentality that they're going to go out after something, and every vet I've interviewed just wants to be told what to do"

Response by SN Trevor Sanchez made Apr 29 at 2015 5:02 PM

SN Trevor Sanchez — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 17:02:20 -0400

His retirement pay would be just over $5000 dollars a month. I take home $2500 dollars a month in disability pay. I own my own small horse ranch in Montana, a 2013 Ultra Limited Harley Davidson, 5th wheel travel trailer, 2005 Yamaha 450 Kodiak 4X4, a 2002 Ford Diesel 4X4 Super Duty, 1996 Geo Tracker, and working on a private pilots license and have a lot more "stuff". I bought everything I own while on disability by making payments most of which have been long paid off. I will trade my income with his income any day. The reason he is living in a van is for sympathy. I think it denotes a possible mental disorder which maybe prospective employers have discovered during the interviews. There is no financial reason this man is not living a fantastic retirement somewhere. There are towns in Wyoming that are begging for people to move there and even where I live in Montana. Most of the folks close to me are retired government or Military folks of differing pay grades. On his resume he should only list one Masters Degree. The one that would help him get the job, and list a mail drop as his address. He should NEVER say that he is living out of his van. Today with everyone having cell phones, a home address or home phone is no longer relevant. The fact that he was in Intelligence and has three Masters degrees could be somewhat intimidating to those who do the hiring. that's why I would only list one of them on applications. Plus his wanting to work as a janitor is a no go. There is quite a learning curve to be a janitor/maintenance person. Employers would know that as soon as he was offered a better job he would be gone and the firm would have to rehire and retrain another person costing it money.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 22 at 2015 3:05 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 15:05:41 -0400

I blame society and the VA. The VA never did give homelessness until just recently.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2015 1:27 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 13:27:16 -0500

After 30 years of service, the military is paying him his pension. They have done all they are required to do. It is not the military's fault he made poor financial decisions or had "bad luck"