Have you heard the saying, “There are two types of people in this world, the givers and the takers?” Givers, characterized by their willingness to support and help others, do so without expecting anything in return. Takers focus more on personal gain, sometimes at the expense of others.
I sport a multi-decade career in corporate America and consider myself to have given back throughout my adult life. Over the last 16 years, I have volunteered primarily to support America’s service members and veterans, including a dozen years devoted to the Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation. That involvement plus exposure to seven WWII veterans in my family have enabled me to see patterns. In short, I have become amazed at the collective of givers in the military veteran circle who have bridged duty to community and service beyond service.
I recently embarked on a quest to find out what inspires these individuals to dedicate their valuable, irrevocable time to transform from grit to grace, fighting for a cause one moment, connecting with donors and beneficiaries the next.
4 Profiles of Service
Major General Kent Hillhouse, U.S. Army (Ret.) is a highly decorated two-star general who fought in Vietnam and was wounded multiple times. Despite his near-death experiences, he went on to serve in the military for 35 years. He assisted with peacekeeping operations in Sarajevo and battled the very violent drug wars in Columbia, and then he reported to the Pentagon for his four-year final assignment. Following retirement, General Hillhouse led multiple veterans-related nonprofits including assuming the responsibilities of president for the Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation, to which he has devoted time and effort for over a decade.
(Giordano private collection / Printed with permission from the Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation)
Duino Giordano retired as chief master sergeant following a 30-year career with the Air National Guard. He also had a 34-year career with the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department, where he advanced to the rank of captain. Post-retirement, Capt. Giordano volunteers his time to the American Red Cross as a post-disaster responder, a position that requires extended travel for weeks to support disaster relief. He supports the Los Gatos Community Foundation and is a Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation board member.
Colonel Raymond Watts, U.S. Army (Ret.) joined the California Army National Guard, where he held positions of increasing responsibility over a 37-year career—culminating as a brigade commander. Col. Watts had assignments in Baghdad, Iraq, and was responsible for the Strategic Plans Directorate in Sacramento, supporting missions in Ukraine and Nigeria. Amazon presently benefits from Col. Watts’s expertise, as he works there full-time. COL Watts volunteers as president of the Military Officers Association of America’s Silicon Valley Chapter (MOAA), and previously led the United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County as president.
Colonel Raymond Powell, USAF (Ret.) is a 35-year veteran of the US Air Force. He was deployed to the Philippines, Japan, Germany and Qatar, and had combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. COL Powell worked three tours of duty in the Pentagon as the US air attaché to Vietnam and as the US senior defense official, and defense attaché to Australia. Today, Col. Powell is the founder and director of “SeaLight,” a maritime transparency project of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. Col. Powell “gives back” as the treasurer for MOAA’s Silicon Valley Chapter and is the Commander of American Legion Post 375 in Palo Alto.
I asked these four, “Why do you volunteer your retirement hours?” Kent Hillhouse replied, “Having been close to soldiers for 35 years of service, I feel it is only natural to maintain contact with soldiers and veterans now that I am retired.”
Duino Giordano responded, “Our country and my community have always been great to me and my family, so I try to show my appreciation by giving back.”
Colonels Watts and Powell work full-time, so volunteer hours are at a premium. Col. Watts aligns well with MOAA’s motto: Never stop serving. “Volunteering for MOAA provides a sense of purpose and allows me to serve a cause larger than myself while positively impacting the community. Continued service has had a positive effect on me and my mental health by enabling social connections and opportunities to stay active and engaged.”
COL Powell cites the benefit to society: “In today’s highly polarized civic and political culture, a strong veteran’s community still has the capacity to draw our fragmented society together and remind us of our long-held national ideals.”
How it Shakes Out
Military careers do not rank high on the pay scale compared to corporate careers. Yet the risks are far more significant than with any corporate pursuit. America’s soldiers make a profound “blank check” commitment to the United States upon enlisting, putting everything on the line, including their lives.
Most military members view the decision to join the armed forces as a “calling with a mission”—an alternative to securing a “job.” Whether veterans are in civilian employment roles, working as contractors, or volunteering with a veteran’s organization, continuing to serve helps them preserve that sense of purpose.
The military often becomes a significant part of one’s identity and community. Those with a military background share a common language and experience that creates a natural connection and bond. Furthermore, continuing to serve allows retirees to stay connected, maintaining part of their identity.
Retired military and first responder personnel possess skills that are invaluable in many roles, including those that uniquely support related fields, such as defense contracting, training, or (as in Captain Giordano’s case) disaster recovery. Some veterans desire to mentor the next generation by providing helpful insights learned from their experiences.
Veterans have a strong sense of commitment to their country. Their devotion to veterans’ causes is a natural extension of their unwavering dedication to their communities, which makes a positive impact beyond the call of duty.
Life is all about choices, and fortunately, for America’s communities—and our country’s sake—many veterans believe that the mission continues.
Ellen Manzo’s career in sales and marketing with Fortune 100 companies led her to New York, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Texas, Tokyo and Paris, including as a regional director for the Asia Pacific region at AT&T. Ellen has never served in the armed forces, though she had plenty of exposure to it, thanks to stories told to her by her WWII veteran father and her six uncles (one of whom was killed in action). She would go on to visit military bases to serve steak dinners as a way of expressing gratitude to America’s service members. She is a co-founding board member of the Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation.
