4 | Summer 2025
Camp Jack: A PLACE OF HEALING
As the old warrior placed another log on the crackling campfire, he felt a sense of calm he hadn’ t known in a long, long time. His stress, anxiety and hyper-vigilance, constant companions since Vietnam, had taken the day off. Laughter erupted as a veteran who served in the Iraq War finished telling a funny story about bootcamp. As the evening wore on, the five veterans bonded as the sights, sounds and rhythms of the Ozarks helped them reconnect with the world around them.
Healing doesn’ t always begin in a therapist office. Sometimes it starts under the stars surrounded by others who have walked a similar path. These proud veterans thought they were just going fishing, but in the process unconsciously formed a support group that was helping heal their invisible wounds. Nature-based therapy is only one of the many programs offered to veterans and their families by the Jack Williams Veterans Resource Center( Camp Jack) based in Harrison, Arkansas.
Five-years ago the Commanders of the local posts of the American Legion, Veteran of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans met to discuss how to better assist local veterans and their families. They knew far too many veterans were falling through the wide cracks of the Veterans Administration and were suffering needlessly. These brave men and women who had
Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce sacrificed so much to defend our freedoms deserved better. After months of research and evaluating options, they came up with a unique plan.
“ The concept was to bring access to all federal, state and local veteran resources under one roof,” stated Matt Russell, Marine Vietnam veteran and Camp Jack Executive Director.“ Far too often, veterans have no idea that assistance is available and when they do try to get help, they quickly get lost in a complex maze of paperwork and regulations till they finally give up. Our trained volunteers streamline the process and assist them every step of the way.”
Camp Jack offers a wide variety of assistance to veterans and their families. They help with things like VA benefits, healthcare, military records, job assistance, housing, food, clothing, medical devices, education and handicap ramps. They also provide Internet access, support groups, wilderness outings, financial assistance, end-of life planning and much, much more.
“ One thing that makes Camp Jack unique is the speed at which we respond to a veteran’ s needs,” Russell continued.“ The government often takes months and even years to process a request. By eliminating red-tape and empowering our volunteers, we can respond immediately in most cases. In addition, we focus on helping veteran families who have also sacrificed so much. Our goal is to not only provide assistance, but to let these warriors know they are not forgotten.”
Russell went on to explain that many veterans returning from deployment are faced with a new kind of war- an invisible one. It is a battle with the government to get the medical treatment and other benefits they were promised and have earned. There is also an internal war battling with the