El Dorado, KS Veteran and his family get a car
Click Here for their story: http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/50089017.html Their Story: 3 years ago a young couple moved in next door, Jon, Kasey and their son Chase . It turns out this couple was origonally from here (El Dorado) and had left because Jon was in the Military. They had moved back from New Mexico where Jon was stationed but was then sent to Iraq to fight in the war. Kasey and son Chase waited each day to hear from Jon, he was able to contact her every few days and was able to come home for a visit but returned back to Iraq. A month or so later Kasey found out she was pregnant with there second son (Gavin). 3 weeks from Kasey's due date Jon was retired from the Military for a health condition he developed while in Iraq(COPD).
In that 3 weeks they moved back to Kansas found a home and their second son Gavin arrived. Kasey, Jon, their boys, me, my daughter Rachel, and my boyfriend Brian began to get to know each other. It turned out they were just a few years ahead of me in school and had been friends with my older brother. We had dinners at each others houses, borrowed eggs or milk when needed and gave each other a call before leaving the grocery store to be sure one of us didn't need anything. After being back in Kansas Jon struggled with finding a job and making ends meet. Kasey stayed at home with the boys while Jon did landscaping for a family member, soon the nice spring and summer days went by as well as work on yards. Kasey started looking for a job. It didn't take long and she began working at Walgreens and taking classes to become a Pharmacy Tech. Jon was hired as a Medical Assistant for a doctor in Wichita. Being short finatially they had to purchase a second vehicle to get Jon to and from work. They found a 1980-something Toyota for $500. That was more than a year ago and every other morning I see Jon adding a quart or two of oil and a new bottle of power stearing fluid as I'm walking to leave for work. He has joked about having to put as much oil in as he does gas, which really wouldn't surprise me. As he starts it there is usually a good amount of blue smoke and it sounds like it could explode any second. Kasey and I get home at the same time every evening and hangout in the front yard playing with the boys and my daughter. Jon is about 15 to 30 minutes later than us, but we always know when he is about a block away. The Toyota is so loud the boys even hear him coming and get excited. Jon gets out and
looks like he ran all the way home and smells like exauhst. Having no A/C is no fun but smelling exauhst for a 30 minute drive home doesn't make it any better. Still Jon does not complain. Kasey recently enrolled in college to become a Pharmacist, while still working full time. Therefore Jon plays Mr. Mom 5 nights a week and his hopes of getting a better vehicle are yet again put on hold. And Jon does not complain. I've gotten to know Jon, Kasey and their boys, Chase, 3 and Gavin, 2. They are a great family and if I could buy them the vehicle that they need I would, but I can't. So driving to work yesterday I heard the radio add for the car giveaway to a hero and thought of Jon. I truely beleive that Jon is that hero. Not only for being in the Military but for sacraficing other things and being a father to his boys, a husband to his wife and an all around "Good Guy". He doesn't just deserve this opportunity he needs it. This would raise his head and remind him that there is more than just the Toyota that smokes 2 quarts of oil and guzzles steiring fluid as much as it needs gas. Jon is more than a great canidate for this car give away and I could not think of anyone else that would be more deserving and greatful.












