Veterans Airlift Command to Fly a Wounded Warrior to Be with His Family
(PRWEB) August 09, 2015 -- Today Andre Bohy, a Veterans Airlift Command volunteer pilot, will embark on another mission. This time the mission is to unite a decorated veteran, Sgt. Samuel Schoenheit, with his family in an annual family reunion held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The duo will be flying out from Nashville, Tennessee, a three-hour flight traveling over 470 miles.
The Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) and its country-wide network of volunteer pilots and aircraft owners, make it possible for wounded military personnel, veterans, and family who cannot travel long distances on their own, to be airlifted, free of charge, for medical care or to be reunited with family and friends to celebrate significant life events.
Andre Bohy, President of Omni Financial, who flies out of the Danbury, CT Municipal Airport and is a veteran of many VAC missions as well as rescue flights for “Pilots N Paws,” has again volunteered his time, personal aircraft and fuel, which was donated by Omni Financial, to fly Sgt. Samuel Schoenheit back home.
Serving three deployments in Afghanistan, Sgt. Samuel Schoenheit was an accomplished Marine. During a routine snatch and grab mission Schoenheit’s team was ambushed, attacked from all sides. After an intense half-hour fire fight that seemed an eternity, Schoenheit’s team was victorious but at a great cost. During the heat of battle Samuel was unaware that he had suffered a bullet to the head. With the adrenaline rushing throughout his body, he started to realize that something was wrong. Samuel was thinking clearly but was unable to speak. The words he was forming in his mind were not coming out properly at all. Schoenheit knew something was wrong, but by the time he realized what had happened he had already collapsed.
Schoenheit woke up two weeks later due to having a stroke. It was a long journey to recovery but the Sergeant was determined to pull through. Being fully conscious and aware of his surroundings Schoenheit couldn’t speak. He needed to learn all over again how to talk and practiced word-by-word every day. By two months he was able to give one or two word responses, and by six months he was fully articulate. During this time he was also attempting to regain the feelings in his legs. Schoenheit was determined to walk again, and he did.
As tough of a battle as this was, Samuel had amazing support from his loving parents. Both dedicated many months at his bedside. Once the Sergeant had recovered, he was offered a job in Camp LeJeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. While working there Samuel was also granted a full scholarship to attend Washington University in Nashville, NC. Samuel graduated four years later with a Bachelor’s degree in History. Sgt. Samuel Schoenheit has walked a rugged path but with every trip or fall he has gotten up and continued the journey. He has overcome every challenge thrown at him and has excelled in every area of his life. Omni Financial's President Andre Bohy is humbled by the opportunity to grant this man a smile on his face by flying him to his family in Myrtle Beach.
Mele Mathieson, Omni Financial, +1 (914) 365-6021, [email protected]
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