Veteran receives helping hand: New deck built after storm damage

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) – A local organization has come to the aid of an 86-year-old Korean War veteran who was struggling to enter and exit his home.

Junior Swift, head of the Veterans and Fallen Heroes Poker Run of Southeast Missouri, said a neighbor of the veteran reached out for help after a tree fell on the veteran’s deck during recent storms.

“The neighbor next door here moved in, she came to visit, saw it and called us and said, “hey you guys do this stuff can you check it out?” So we came out here and looked at it and we got a game plan together and got a crew out” says Swift.

86-year-old Korean War Veteran Dean Coffin suffered some recent health issues that landed him in the hospital according to Swift. He says they want to have the old tree removed, and a brand-new deck built, along with a ramp ready for when he comes home.

Swift saying this is what Veterans and Fallen Heroes’ Poker Run is all about.

“Veterans they’ve all served our country, they’ve all lost stuff to serve our country to make sure that we can be here today to do the things that we do and so we’re at the point where a lot of them cannot help themselves or do things for themselves anymore so that’s what we do” says Swift. “We get people together and help those that helped us.” 

Swift says this was only made possible through a joint effort of many local organizations and All Types of Constuction construction company.  

“So the Veterans and Fallen Heroes Poker Run we’ve donated to it, the Cape Girardeau VFW Post 3838 they’ve donated money to it, and then also the American Legion in Jackson they’ve also donated” says Swift. “Everyone’s helped with the funding to purchase the materials that we needed to build this project.” 

 Swift and a crew from All Types of Construction rallied together to build a new deck with a ramp for the veteran, who is currently recovering in the hospital.

Crews have been working all day and are almost finished with the new deck.

For more information on Veterans and Fallen Heroes Poker Run including upcoming events.