Your Gifts In Action
The Legion Fund exists solely to support the 5th Group community.
“The Legion Fund has been an extraordinary game-changer in our ability to care for the Soldiers and Families of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
For a unit that has been in continuous combat for 19 years, going above and beyond for its members is always the goal.
The Legion Fund continues to be a critical component of caring for those who have committed their lives to caring for us, and in protecting our nation. Since its inception, The Legion Fund has always answered the call. Always.”
– Brig Gen(Retired) Scott Brower, former Commanding Officer, 5th SFG(A)
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“It would be impossible for anyone to spend time with members of the 5th Special Forces Group and not leave with an absolute belief that they represent the very best our country has to offer.”
A Legion Fund donor
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“The Legion Fund has been an extraordinary game-changer in our ability to care for the Soldiers and Families of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). For a unit that has been in continuous combat for 19 years, going above and beyond for its members is always the goal. The Legion Fund continues to be a critical component of caring for those who have committed their lives to caring for us, and in protecting our nation.
Since its inception, The Legion Fund has always answered the call. Always.”
Brig Gen(Retired) Scott Brower, former Commanding Officer, 5th SFG(A)
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“I am without the appropriate words to adequately express our appreciation. But I will gladly, yeah even eagerly stand and testify before any governing body to affirm my conviction that the gracious out flowing of support from you [the Legion Fund] has made the difference for us many times. When we have reached the end of our own means to care for our own, you have provided an open hand with that rare sense of urgency. When we have run against walls preventing adequate support for Legionnaires, you have crossed the barrier to carry that effort.”
5th Group Senior Commander (name withheld for security reasons)
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“I again find myself unable to articulate the Legion Fund’s impact upon the Members, Families and Missions of 5th Group.
Simply listing your contributions and instances of your care might please the mathematician in me, but fails to paint the alternative story which could have broken our people — but for the gracious and discerning support at the critical time and space.
From injuries to cancers, emergency travel to reunions with Gold Star Families, to protecting the benefits of Survivors and even college, The Legion Fund provides the means to meet these needs and more.”
COL (retired) Rick Prins - Former 5th Group Deputy Commanding Officer
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"The Legion Fund is the gold standard of charitable donations and has had a direct and life-changing impact on the Soldiers and Families of the Legion, arguably the most deployed force in the history of our Republic. The remarkable citizens who contribute to The Legion Fund should be extremely proud and know they are truly making a difference in ways that are timely, humbling and permanent."
5th Group Chief Warrant Officer 5 (ret) Jamie Korenoski
Legion Fund monies were used to assist a 5th Group Soldier’s wife who miscarried while her husband was deployed in a war zone.
A 5th Group Soldier (name withheld for security reasons) deployed in a combat zone learned his wife had miscarried and that he would be unable to get home for several days due to the complexity of travel in a hazardous war zone.
Although she was not in medical danger, the concern was for his wife’s state of grief and their other two children.
Quick intervention and funding allowed the wife’s mother and sister to travel from Oregon to the Fort Campbell area within 48 hours.
(As a side note, it took the Soldier 10 days to arrive home to his family due to his remote location and the complexity of transport.)
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“I cannot begin to express our most sincere gratitude for the assistance you provided during our family’s time of need; however, I do apologize that it was brought upon due to my clumsiness. I was floored when [a unit rep] told me that you would assist with the child care needs. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!”
A 5th Group Wife
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“It is impossible to fully express our gratitude. The gift you sent meant so much to our family, as it allowed us to be together in a time of need, without having to weigh any second thought to the financial costs. This proves that while the men in Group always go the extra mile for their Soldiers, The Legion Fund is always willing to go above and beyond, where they can, to make a situation better for ‘The Legion Family’. We are incredibly grateful and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
A 5th Group Wife
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“I cannot begin to express our most sincere gratitude for the assistance you provided during our family’s time of need; however, I was floored when [a unit rep] told me that you would assist with the child care needs. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!”
5th Group wife (name withheld for security reasons)
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"Your gift of $1,750 provided three weeks of childcare for a Fort Campbell-based wife of a deployed 5th Group Soldier whose younger child was in Vanderbilt Hospital for a serious medical procedure."
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“Your gift of $560 provided emergency childcare for the two children of a Surviving Spouse of a 5th Group Fallen “This funding allowed me to fulfill my work commitments, otherwise I would have had to take these days off without pay.”
5th Group Gold Star Spouse
A Gold Star father of a 5th Group Soldier is provided a wheelchair.
Through SFA Chapter 38, Legion Fund monies were used to provide emergency support to the elderly father – a Russian immigrant alone in a nursing home – whose 5th Group Soldier and son had been killed in action in Iraq in 2014.
Mr. Yuri is a Russian immigrant of limited means who lives alone in a community nursing home in New Jersey.
Vivid proof that 5th Group looks after its Gold Star families forever:
When neither Mr. Yuri nor his healthcare provider was able to afford a much-needed motorized wheelchair, we were there to help.
After careful research, and in close consultation with the health care provider, Mr. Yuri’s new wheelchair arrived within 10 days.
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“How sad to think that one of our own, whose son gave his all for this nation, found door after door closed to his simple request. This episode showed the reach of the Legion family. The key was a simple letter from an outgoing commander to a Gold Star Father reminding him that the unit never forgets and to ask for help any time. Amazing.”
Mike Cunningham - Retired Command Sergeant
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"Your gift of $3,000 provided critical need for a 5th Group Soldier after he returned from Deployment to find his wife had abandoned their children to the neighbors and had emptied out their joint checking account. Although his needs were greater, this Soldier refused to take more than $3,000. His kids and he are doing fine today."
A 5th Group wife received childcare assistance after she was injured and needed help caring for her special needs child.
A 5th Group Soldier (name withheld for security reasons) is married with two kids, one of whom has special needs requiring him to wear a safety helmet while his cranium develops.
The issue arose when his mother stumbled going down their porch stairs and broke her lower left leg, resulting in surgery with multiple screws.
Her lack of mobility made it impossible to keep up with the child with special needs.
The Army does have a system to provide in-home child care in such but the red tape is difficult and hardly timely.
Legion Fund monies, with the coordination of Chapter 38, solved the problem until the Army was finally able to help.
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“I can’t say thank you enough for the passion you have for digging to find the root of the problem. So few are willing to look for the hard answers and too many are willing to stick a Band-Aid over the problem. I am sure there are countless people out there who have benefited from your tireless efforts!”
Wife of injured 5th Group Soldier (name withheld for security reasons)
This 5th Group Green Beret, along with his wife and young son, were able to swim with sharks just months before he died of cancer.
SFC Mark was a weapons sergeant with 5SFG(A) when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer in February 2015. The Army paid for his treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
His wife Sarah could not afford to travel with him. Legion Fund monies were used to cover his wife’s travel expenses.
We also made it possible for Mark, Sarah, and their young son to attend a recreational therapy event—”Swimming with Sharks”—in Atlanta.
Barely four months later, Mark passed away.
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"Your gift of $3,000 provided critical need for a 5th Group Soldier after he returned from Deployment to find his wife had abandoned their children to the neighbors and had emptied out their joint checking account. Although his needs were greater, this Soldier refused to take more than $3,000. His kids and he are doing fine today."
18-year-old daughter of 5th Group Green Beret needs cancer treatment at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis
Legion Fund monies were used to provide lodging, travel and food on multiple trips to St. Jude for an anxious family with limited resources.
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“First and foremost, I would like to thank you for your support during my time of family crisis. Your support has helped alleviate the stress associated with my day-to-day life activities. My daughter is still undergoing chemotherapy and will start radiation soon. We are hopeful that these rounds of chemotherapy will be effective. The previous sessions failed to work, but the doctors have since changed her treatment plan. St. Jude Hospital has been remarkable in every aspect, and they do a great job of alleviating the stress on my wife and daughter. My daughter is currently in her senior year of high school. She is bright, smart, beautiful and sassy and anyone who meets her, instantly falls in love with her.”
Richard, Father and experienced Green Beret
