“We need a compassionate place to heal.”
Peter Guidry’s aspirations to join the military began as a boy. Looking up to his grandfathers who proudly served, Peter was compelled to enlist in the Air Force. He served as a Security Forces Team Member, working on the flight line, protecting personnel and property. Due to injuries, he was then cross trained to work on vehicle maintenance control and analysis, responsible for the upkeep of 1200 vehicles at Nellis Air Force base.
For Peter, the military afforded him lifelong friendships, a chance to travel, opportunity and excitement. The military taught Peter Service Before Self, honor, respect and discipline, principles which underpin his outlook on life today.
Upon being medically discharged from the military, Peter has had to endure chronic pain and continues to battle with the physical and psychological impact that active service had on him. In a landmark case, a decision was overturned by a military Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) that awarded him Retired Air Force status to ensure he and his wife will now receive medical support for the rest of his life. Through his own adversity he recognised that the care he required was not solely going to come from the Veterans Administration where he thought it might, and so, Forgotten Not Gone was born.
FNG is predicated on Peter’s belief in service before self. “We need a compassionate place to heal from our military service, to be around people respectful of our cultural differences.” As an African-American (Israelite) veteran, Peter recognises the barriers that can face veterans from all walks of life and believes passionately in the transformative power of community, faith, Veteran Peer Support, Outdoor recreation and integrity.
Peter and his wife Kelley, whom he refers to as “the best gift from his military service”, are committed to leading a Veteran service organization that champions people of color and want to prove that the management and boards of these organizations can and should be representative.
“FNG gives me a reason to get up in the morning and press past the pain, it has brought me closer to my wife, closer to my faith, and closer to the life I want to lead. I’m starting to enjoy a quality of life and now I’m happy to be alive.”
Keep The Faith
Retired Air Force Veteran #FNG Trike commando
Peter V. Guidry III “Kepha Yisrael” 1 Corinthians 12:14-26
