TMF Ambassador Spotlight: (Ret.) Sergeant Jeffrey Hemenger
Travis Mills Foundation Ambassador Sergeant (Retired) Jeffrey Hemenger served in the U.S. Army for 13 years as a 68W Combat Medic Soldier.
During his time in service, Jeffrey earned the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Star, and the Army Service Medal.
SERVICE
While Jeffery was on a deployment to Baghdad, Iraq in 2007, he experienced a traumatic injury.
“During a raid in Baghdad, I was getting equipment out of the Humvee,” Jeffery said. “I fell back and dislocated my ankle and suffered from a TBI (traumatic brain injury). My foot sat out of place for 10 hours as the raid continued.”
Jeffery was a limb salvage for four and a half years before having an amputation.
“My family helped greatly in my recovery,” Jeffrey said. “My wife was there for every appointment, traveling back and forth for surgeries from Fort Campbell (Kentucky) to West Point (New York) where my surgeon was.”
TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION
In 2020, Jeffrey and his family were given the opportunity to attend the Travis Mills Foundation Veterans Retreat in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine.
While at the Retreat, the Hemenger family took part in various activities such as ice fishing, massages, and sledding.
“[I enjoyed] watching the kids ice fish for the first time and sledding down the hill,” Jeffrey said.
Since being recalibrated, Jeffrey was able to take part in ice fishing for the first time.
“While cold, it was fun,” Jeffrey said. “We did not catch anything but seeing my kids have fund made it worth it.
At the Travis Mills Foundation Veterans Retreat, the incredible team of programming staff strives to make the Retreat enjoyable for the entire family while making it fully adapted for recalibrated veterans.
“The Travis Mills Foundation was a great experience, my family got to spend time together and experience new activities. We were greeted by amazing people who really care and want the best for us. It was an amazing Retreat and I felt rested the whole time.”
ABOUT THE TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION
The Travis Mills Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports post 9/11 veterans who experienced life changing injuries while in service to our country. The Travis Mills Foundation Veterans Retreat offers our nation’s recalibrated veterans and their families a week-long, barrier free, all expenses-paid experience at its world-class retreat in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine. It offers various programs that help these brave men and women overcome physical and emotional obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation. The Foundation also offers Warrior PATHH (Progressive & Alternative Training for Helping Heroes) for combat veterans and first responders, the nation’s first of its kind program designed to cultivate and facilitate post-traumatic growth. Learn more >>>