Guiding Others to Water in the Desert

Vietnam Veteran Bill Goodreau is On Fire For Good.

“When you’ve been blessed to know where the water is in the desert, you can’t help but guide others to it.” -Bill Goodreau

What do we do with memories that sear? How do we cope with losses from our past? And how do we heal from scars we still bear?

After returning from war, Bill Goodreau wrestled with these questions. In discovering an answer, he ultimately discovered not only a good life for himself, but one that could be used for good to elevate others.  Let me explain.

Bill Goodreau didn’t want to fight in Vietnam. Still, at age 19, the self-described hippy found himself boarding his first ever airplane, taking him from his hometown to basic training as a US Army draftee. His second flight would take him to a raging war in Vietnam. While there, Bill fought for the guys next to him, lost many dear friends in battle, and struggled mightily through the entire experience.

Once his deployment was over, Bill returned home to a country where many did not welcome him back. Adrift in his community and uncertain where to turn for support, he wrestled with bitterness over the draft and his subsequent life-changing experiences in Vietnam. Eventually, though, he found the antidote to his pain in a group of WWII veterans.

These men offered a safe space for Bill to share his experiences and express his feelings. They understood and acknowledged his sacrifices and supported him in his return to civilian life. Most importantly, at a time when Bill felt hopeless and alone, they helped him identify his path forward and walked with him on it.

Recognizing the important role these men played in his life, in the decades since, Bill has followed their example. He has taken leadership roles as a local American Legion commander, has served as a board member for Combat Veterans of Hope, has lobbied in Congress on issues such as PTSD, and has volunteered at the VA hospital in his native southern California.

And fifty-three years after that very first flight, Bill is still boarding airplanes for official Army business, but this time in service of another goal: to celebrate the profound act of service committed by our country’s veterans aboard Honor Flights.

When asked about what drives him to serve, Bill shares a message that should resonate with us all.

“When you’ve been blessed to know where the water is in the desert, you can’t help but guide others to it.”

My friends, our traumas, insecurities, and fears are often not visible. On our own, those wounds can quietly fester. And yet, when someone comes along and makes an effort to meet us where we are, it not only reminds us we aren’t on our own, but also that better days are ahead.

Bill has been doing that for veterans for decades.

The man who found himself in a desert of despair, now leads others to discover the renewing waters of life.

It was a gift he received from those who served before him. It’s one he shares with those who served after him. And it’s a reminder to us all that those who have been guided to the waters are called to guide others, too.

This is your day. Live Inspired.

P.S. Learn more about Bill’s story and hear directly from him about his work with veterans and Honor Flight during our next Live Inspired Together Call on Monday, July 15 at 4:00 p.m. Central. Register here!