Help an Army Special Forces Family Rebuild After Unimaginable Loss

James (Butch) Nelson dedicated his life to serving our country as a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran. After being laid off from his job in Germany, James made the difficult decision to bring his family back to the United States to return to his military roots near Fort Bragg, North Carolina, hoping for a fresh start.

Instead, the family endured one tragedy after another.

During their journey home, James' mother and his oldest daughter from a previous marriage both passed away. In the midst of overwhelming grief, James, his wife Suzie, their two 9-year-old twin children, and their three beloved family pets spent nearly a year homeless, traveling from place to place while trying to survive.

Then the unimaginable happened. James became seriously ill and passed away, leaving behind his wife of 15 years, Suzie, and their two young children. He is also survived by his daughter Jaymee Vickery ( Nelson.) Suzie and the two kids are in desperate need of this support.

Suzie is not originally from the United States. Having only recently arrived, she had not yet obtained a driver's license, leaving her without transportation. She also had no access to the family's finances and is now trying to locate James' life insurance policies and other important documents without knowing where to begin.

After James' passing, Suzie and the children spent six weeks alone in a hotel while grieving, caring for their pets, and simply trying to make it through each day. With no transportation, she walked to get groceries and other necessities for her children. The hotel stay alone resulted in more than $6,000 in expenses, exhausting what little money the family had left.

Thankfully, Suzie and the children were finally able to leave the hotel, but they still face an uncertain future. Temporary housing, transportation, daily living expenses, and caring for the children remain overwhelming challenges while she works to obtain identification, secure employment, and locate any life insurance benefits that may exist.

If James ever served beside you, if you've worn the uniform yourself, or if you've simply been moved by this family's story, we ask you to consider helping.

No donation is too small. Even $1 can make a difference when many people come together. If you are unable to give, please consider sharing this fundraiser so it reaches others who may be able to help.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping honor James' service by standing beside the family he loved so deeply during the most difficult time of their lives.