Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Whatever happened to an old military friend?” We form special bonds while serving side by side in the U.S. Armed Services. Sometimes those friendships are able to stand the test of time, but other times, life gets in the way and we lose touch.
If you would like to find an old brother or sister in arms, or just want to keep in touch with your military colleagues, check out www.vetfriends.com.
VetFriends is an online community with more than 2.2 million active users, all of whom are veterans or active duty military members. According to its website, the company’s mission is to “reconnect, honor and support you, our U.S. Veterans and military brothers and sisters.”
Veteran reunion sparks idea
Dale Sutcliffe, a marine who served during the first Gulf War, created the platform in 2000. The idea came to him during a conversation with his father-in-law David Mozingo, who is a Korean War veteran. Sutcliffe asked his father-in-law if he would attend a hypothetical military reunion.
“I’d be on the next plane to see those guys,” Sutcliffe remembers his father-in-law saying. Sutcliffe realized how powerful the bond military veterans share and got to work creating VetFriends. Since then, the company has experienced tremendous growth and helped vets reconnect all across the world.
Vietnam veteran J. Armstrong said he had been looking for an old service friend for 36 years.
“One night I was surfing the web and came across a veteran search site,” Armstrong said. “I posted an ad under “Buddy Finder” and within 2 months I heard from him. A great feeling finding someone after so long…”
Sutcliffe expanded the business into merchandise, offering his own t-shirt line, and currently employs 27 people. He says he expects that number to double by the end of the year.
For more information on VetFriends, or to sign up and start finding your old brothers and sisters in arms, visit http://www.vetfriends.com.
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