Vets4Vets Staff
Staffed primarily by veterans from different services and military specialties. Founded in 2005 by a Marine Corps combat veteran of Vietnam, Vets4Vets is a place for veterans of today's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to use peer support to help each other through speaking and listening. Many of today's new veterans are coming home with an overwhelming amount of emotional obstacles in readjusting to life after the hardships or horrors of war. We believe that these veterans have fought for and deserve the right to any and all support that can be afforded to them.
Abel Moreno Abel@vets4vets.usAbel Moreno served 7 years in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division 307th Engineer Battalion as a L.E engineer. He served one deployment in Afghanistan and one deployment in Iraq. He supported the 3rd Brigade Combat team along with L.E support with Charlie Company 307th Engineer Battalion. Duties performed were fortification, engineer recon, convoy security and demolitions. He received the Combat Action Badge, three Army Commendation medals, and two Army Achievement medals. Abel is the Community Development and Media Director.
Johnny Elvis Fajardo johnnyelvis@vets4vets.usJohnny Elvis Fajardo served as a Marine in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was attached to 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve. 6th ESB was responsible for fueling and providing water purification supplies for coalition forces as they moved northward through Iraq. Marines of the 6th ESB constructed the longest fuel line in the history of the Marine Corps. Corporal Fajardo was a tactical telephone systems technician. Throughout his time in Iraq he was in charge of setting up communication equipment and transmitting vital information via encrypted communication networks. Johnny Elvis is the Development Director.
Anthony Canzonieri Anthony@Vets4Vets.usAnthony Canzonieri served as an Intelligence Analyst and Water Treatment Specialist in the US Army from 2004-2008. He was deployed in 06-07 to Mosul, Iraq as part of the 4th BCT, 1st CAV Division out of Ft. Bliss, Texas. Anthony is the Director for Vets4Vets in Southwestern Pennsylvania, focusing primarily on Westmoreland and Fayette Counties.
John Gonzales John Gonzales served 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a First Sergeant. During his service he served through multiple combat tours in Panama “Operation Just Cause”; “Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm”; Somalia “Operation Restore Hope”; Iraq “Operation Iraqi Freedom”; and Afghanistan “Operation Enduring Freedom.” He earned the Combat Infantryman Badge; Combat Action Badge; Combat Jump Wings, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with “V” device (for Valor). John is serving as the South Texas Vets4Vets Director.
Bill Grieshaber Bill Grieshaber served as a Medic for the 325th Combat Support Hospital in Tikrit, Iraq. Duties included clinic and ER support for one of the largest trauma hospitals in theater. Multiple overseas deployments. Qualifications include 101st Air Assault Rappel Master, Airborne, EFMB. Bill is the Director for Central Texas, based in Houston, TX
Lee Cothren Lee Cothren served as a PSYOP Team Leader in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006-2007 and 2008-2009. He is currently a Team Sergeant and is a member of the 345th PSYOP CO in Dallas, Texas. Lee is happily married with four children. Lee likes to fish, camp, and hike, and loves to take trips to attend Vets4Vets workshops. Lee is the Director for Vets4Vets in North Texas.
Rick Castillo Rick Castillo served as an infantry forward observer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment. He participated in several operations in the cities of Fallujah, Ramadi, Habbaniyah, as well as the western Baghdad area. His primary responsibilities included indirect fire support planning, weapons & explosives search/seizure missions, and crater analysis for incoming indirect munitions. Rick is the Director for Vets4Vets in Northeastern Florida.
Jim Driscoll jim@vets4vets.usJim Driscoll served as a Marine Corps infantry platoon commander in Vietnam from 1968-1969. He left his job as a college professor in 1982 to work full time in the movement for social change. As a vet himself, Jim knows that peer support is an important tool for healing from thoughts and feelings associated with combat. He founded Vets4Vets to bring the tools of peer support to Iraq and Afghanistan (post-9/11) veterans.
Terri Keovorabouth Terri@Vets4vets.usTerri is the Adminstrative Director.
