Frank enlisted in the Air Force in 2004 at age 21. He served as an aircraft technician before being embedded with the Army during the Iraq campaign from 2007-2010. After six years of service, he returned home with an honorable discharge—and challenges he didn’t talk about. “I penalized myself by keeping it in,” Frank reflects.
Frank pursued his passion, studying Animal Science and landing his dream job as a veterinary technician. For a while, it worked. Until it didn’t. The physical demands became overwhelming, and unresolved PTSD affected his ability to cope. He had to walk away from the career he’d fought so hard to build.
What followed was a spiral: His health deteriorated. Relationships fractured. Twice, Frank found himself homeless. The Veteran who once served in a war zone now struggled to keep himself afloat.
After years of struggle, Frank made his way to Seattle and found a pathway toward healing. Today, he works the night shift at Compass Housing Alliance’s Blaine Veterans Center, helping veterans experiencing homelessness navigate challenges he knows intimately.
His approach is rooted in hard-won wisdom. “Don’t be ashamed of who you are,” Frank tells veterans. “Acknowledge who you are. Learn to cope with it, so that you can move forward.” In helping others fight battles similar to his own, Frank discovered something unexpected: “By working here and working with these veterans, I am helping myself as much as I am helping them.”
On November 9th, Frank’s purpose took center stage when Boeing and the Seattle Seahawks recognized Compass Housing Alliance with the “Honoring Our Heroes” award. Frank and his colleagues will hold the U.S. flag during the national anthem at Lumen Field—a full-circle moment from serving his country, through homelessness and struggle, to now helping other veterans find their path forward.