A veteran from Monmouth County has made it his mission to provide aid to fellow combat personnel through his involvement in two organizations.
George Karatzia of Marlboro, who is a Vietnam War veteran, serves as the senior vice commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Freehold Chapter 74 and as the national chairman of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA).
The DAV was created in 1920 following World War I as veterans organizations came together to help veterans file claims and obtain medical assistance, and to provide outreach to the public about veterans’ issues. The chapter focuses on providing assistance to veterans who are filing claims with the Veterans Administration, among other services it offers to veterans.
AHEPA is a national organization and Karatzia is a member of AHEPA Chapter 517, which is based in Holmdel and is involved in multiple causes. He spoke about the chapter’s Service Dogs for Warriors program, which donates service dogs to veterans.
“Dogs help alleviate problems,” Karatzia said. “The dogs help veterans get off their medications and get out in their world. The dogs get veterans out of their nightmares.”
Serving alongside Karatzia on the AHEPA Service Dogs for Warriors board are National Vice Chairman Bob Fourniadas, National Treasurer Demetri Orfanitopoulos, National Secretary Dimitri Dimitriades, National Assistant Secretary George Haralampoudis and Senior Advisor Phil Vogas.
According to information from AHEPA Chapter 517, the organization donated its first service dog to a veteran in Virginia in 2016. The program has since become a national project.
Each service dog costs $15,000, according to Karatzia.
From his own experience in the armed forces, Karatzia is familiar with the long-term effects war has on veterans.
“It takes time to understand you are not the same person when you come back. The movie keeps playing in your head,” he said, explaining that when he returned home, people did not understand post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
One in five veterans battles PTSD and one in six veterans will attempt or have suicidal tendencies, according to AHEPA Chapter 517. An average of 22 veterans commit suicide every day.
Karatzia said he believes the DAV and AHEPA are worthwhile organizations that help veterans.
“Both organizations are doing God’s work,” he said. “I am happy to have one foot in both the DAV and AHEPA. We in the DAV are the lucky ones to come back. It falls on us to help veterans and to educate the public. The members of the DAV are great guys with big hearts and AHEPA is a great organization that is giving back in so many ways.”
