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Veteran's Bucket List Dreams

Roy Dorey

In 1990, at 23 years old, Roy T. Dorey, returned to his home in Battle Creek, Michigan, to see his family because he was leaving the country to fight in Desert Storm. Roy’s father told him that he would buy him a car, so they went to the local Chevrolet dealership. Roy’s father was a devoted ‘GM Man’. As they were looking at vehicles, Roy looked across the street to the Ford dealership and saw the car he wanted… a 1989 Mustang. When he told his father he received a resounding NO. Roy went to Desert Storm thinking about his dream car… the Mustang he knew he may never have.

Roy went on to serve 22 years in the Army; 8 on Active Duty and the balance in the National Guard. During those years he served 5 Deployments: Panama, Desert Storm, two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like many Veterans of multiple deployments, Roy paid quite a price for this service because along the way, his family was permanently damaged, and he returned home to financial ruin.

In 2014 Roy’s father passed away. In the final days of his life, Roy’s father could barely communicate but he managed to tell Roy, "go get that car you wanted." It was obvious to Roy his father had carried the memory of his refusal to buy the car Roy wanted. His final wish was that Roy would have his… a 1989 Mustang.

Roy and his father had worked on cars for most of Roy’s life and in-between deployments. They built a Camaro together, but Roy’s dream remained… he always wanted to build the 1989 Mustang pro street rod.

Roy eventually found the car he wanted in Iowa… same model, same color, identical to the one he wanted back in 1990. The car looked largely stock, but it had been built up as a ‘street rod’. Roy brought the car home and drove it for less than a year when he realized that there were serious problems. The ‘hot rod’ had not been built correctly. Roy found someone who could re-build it, JP Racing in Portland, MI. JP, the owner, agreed to ‘chip-away’ on the project as Roy could afford to pay for it. He estimates that he is 50-60% complete. The car is essentially in storage and Roy’s payments barely covers that. Roy has been in this ‘catch 22’ for quite some time and anticipates another 5 years to complete the project.

Roy Dorey was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. The youngest in his family, he graduated from Battle Creek Central in 1985. Roy joined the Army on delayed entry in 1984. Two weeks after graduation he left for Boot Camp. Growing up, Roy, like many young men, was not interested in sports, but rather his focus was girls, the military and working on cars with his father… ‘fast cars’. They did enjoy building the Camaro, but Roy was always obsessed with that 1989 Mustang. He talked about them while in the Army and so much so, he was nicknamed, ‘Mustang’. Roy lives alone in Olivet, MI, and is employed by the Department of Logistics Agency where he processes Military Surplus equipment.

Roy is on a mission… his Bucket List Dream is to complete this car for his father. He said someday, when the car is complete, he knows that his father will be riding with him.

Sherri Gramlich

Sherri Gramlich is a decorated Army Veteran. She served at the 7 th Infantry Division under LTC
Joseph Andronaco as the Division Surgeon and then at the Division Headquarters working for
MG William Harrison and COL Byrd. Sherri was instrumental in the formulation of the “Hip
Pocket Medical Guide” that was utilized by the field medics in assessing injuries and illnesses.


While serving at Fort Ord CA she received the Good Conduct Medal, Two Army Achievement
Medals and a Army Commendation Medal. When Sherri’s service came to an end, she chose to
continue serving in the reserves until the birth of her twins forced her to become a full time
mom.


Sherri has fond memories of her time in service and now advocates for her brothers and sisters
in arms serving as the Chaplain of the American Legion Post 426. She is a full time Realtor and
Associate Broker, but in her spare time she visits ill members of the Legion, she assists with
funerals and often gets the nod to deliver an invocation at a variety of events.


Sherri also volunteers and assists with fundraising efforts for Downriver for Veterans and for
Victory Gym. Her passion comes from having served, and her family members service as well.
Both her daughter, Lindsey, and Son in-law, Ben, have served in the Navy. Her brother Rob
Lakomy served 28 years in the Army and her brother Donald Cline served in the Navy. Two
grandchildren are currently Marines. Her Grandfathers also served; one in the Merchant
Marines and the other in the Army.


As a full time realtor, Sherri is assisting veterans in buying and selling their homes and donates
10% of her commissions to a Veteran charity of her clients choosing as a way to honor her
clients for their service.

Eugene T Simionescu AKA Dingo

In 1991, Dingo was 17 years old and joined the Army for the first golf war. He served in Assault and Obstacle Platoon for Bravo Company, the 4th Engineers, and a Sapper unit out of Fort Carson, Colorado, from 1992 to 1996.

After that tour, he left the Regular Army for the Reserves in Michigan and served in the 300th Military Police Battalion. In 1999, he learned about the 745th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit out of Camp Grayling, Michigan. He signed his volunteer statement in 2000 and shipped out to EOD school for one year at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. After graduation in 2002, his unit was activated and immediately deployed for 18 months. His unit backstopped deployed EOD units from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Fort Hood, Texas. During that time, he was assigned to President George W. Bush protective detail where he learned “Army guys look good in suits”. 

His unit of 22 left for Iraq in October of 2003 and returned he with 18 close ‘Brothers’. He spent most of that tour in Baqubah, Diyala province. 
In 2004, he received his honorable discharge… the papers arrived on September 11, 2005. After his discharge, he began doing government contracted EOD work until he was hired by the Department of Energy in Aiken, South Carolina. His job there was to develop and execute an EOD program for the new congressionally mandated post 9/11 DOE security structure. In 2008 he joined the Department of Homeland Security Bomb Appraisal Officer program. There, he served out of the Detroit field office as an Explosive Specialist until October 2022. 
His proudest achievement of all is that of being a father. He has two sons, both adults, Caleb and Abraham.

Dingo is married to Shelly Maitland who he says “is the strength of my courage, my rest when I am weary, and my love and light in this unforgiving world”.

Dingo’s family comes first but his second passion is the ‘Brotherhood’ of fellow combat veterans. His favorite thing to do in the whole world is to ride with Foundation 14… a foundation that raises money and provides motorcycles for Veterans. He helps 14 every chance he gets. He supports numerous organizations like; Downriver For Veterans, Bikes and Battle Buddies, the Bedford Township Veteran Center, Operation Injured Soldier, Bucket List Dreams for Veterans, and appreciates and supports all of the great motorcycle clubs across the state. He states that “it is my fellow combat Veterans, my brothers and sisters, who keep me motivated and moving forward.

Bucket List Dreams was established to recognize and appreciate great, inspirational Americans… the people who step and serve in the US Military. Dingo is one of those people. We learned of him through a member of his ‘Brotherhood’ and felt compelled to do something for this fine man. Dingo and his wife will be going on an all expense paid trip to Beaver Island for a fall retreat… ‘a beautiful place for two beautiful people’.

Thank you Dingo for your service and your enduring commitment to your ‘Brotherhood’.

Rob Streeter

Rob Streeter is 44 years old and lives in Tecumseh Michigan. He is married to his wife Dawn of 17 years. He has three children Bailey 20, Shelby 15, and Kevin 12. Rob served in the Army from Feb 1999 to Dec 2011.

Rob enlisted on February 12, 1999, and went to Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA. While at Benning, he also completed AIT and 11Hotel School. He learned how to shoot TOW missiles and after 9/11, was placed on airport security as many national guard were at that time. He had the opportunity to represent the National guard at the governor’s State of the State address and was able to work with the Secret Service for two weeks when the Vice President landed at the airport where he had been assigned. In 2004 Rob deployed to Sinai Egypt with Charlie Company 1/125INF, 46th BDE 38th IN DIV. While in Sinai his company was part of the 18th AIRBORNE CORP. His duties included working with 13 countries in a multi-national force whose job it was to act as observers. The objective was to keep the peace between Egypt and Israel.

Rob returned home from this deployment in August of 2004. Shortly after returning home, he was notified that the correctional facility in Baldwin, Michigan where he had worked was closing. The State of Michigan offered Rob a position at the Chelsea Bootcamp, which he accepted. It was at this time his wife divorced him citing she could not cope with military life and his working in another city. She had refused to move with him because her family was in Ludington.

In December 2005 Rob left the National Guard. He lived in the Saline area while working for the Department of Corrections. In late April of 2006 he received a call from an old friend who was now a company First Sergeant. He asked Rob if he would like to go to Baghdad with his old company Echo 1/125INF… Rob accepted. Knowing how the military system worked he figured he had until July before the Army would reach out to him. Instead, his military file was hand carried through SIPERS and in just 3 days he was contacted by a command Sergeant Major who he had never met. He left for Fort Dix June 1, 2006. This is where he trained and prepared for duty in Iraq. While at the MOB site he completed a 40-hour combat life saver course and he became an Expert Marksman with the M2, MK19, 240B, 249, and M4. He was also able to train on the M24 range in case his company snipers were not available while in combat. About two weeks prior to heading to Iraq he received a Red Cross call that his mother had passed away. He went home, but returned within a week to deploy with the troopers he had trained with. He felt this is what his mother would have expected of him.

While in Iraq his company fought in Sadr City, Baghdad, Zafarnia, and Solomon Pak. The fighting was intense, he said, “we engaged the enemy with everything we had. While on FOB they had 480 impacts from rockets and mortars in a year's time. Rob earned his Combat Infantry Badge after only being there for a month. In November of 2016, while on leave, Rob's friend Brad Shilling was killed by an EFP. After returning from leave, Rob's Platoon was sent on a clearing mission with Bravo Troop 3/61 CAV 2nd Inf Div. An IED struck the Humvee in front of him sending it 15 feet off the road and killing Bobby Mejia, Wilson Algrim, Chad Vollmer. His squad was hit with three more IEDs in the following months. He doesn't know how many firefights he was in… “too many to count.”

To this day, he doesn't like thunderstorms and the 4th of July. He said that he remembers certain days so clearly that it is like he is still there. Unfortunately, he has lost more buddies since he has been home than he did in Iraq. He recently lost his driver in Iraq, Steve Syarto; war just keeps on killing.

Rob returned home from Iraq in August 2007 and has had to fight his “demons,” as many Veterans do, and, like many, medicate against the pain with alcohol.

Rob eventually found out about Team RWB… an organization of Vets helping other Vets. Rob began spending time with his ‘brotherhood’ and this proved to be an outlet for his problems. After about 6 months of driving to Ann Arbor every Saturday, Lewis Major and Rob were able to open our chapter of Team RWB in Tecumseh. Rob has been a leader in this chapter since 2013. He has been able to get other Veterans out and doing things… running, walking, biking, golfing. Along the way, a few Veterans in the group, talked him into running a half marathon with them. He has since run 8 of them, a full marathon and an ultra-marathon. He accomplished this in spite being 90% disabled. Rob sustained injuries to his knees like all infantrymen do, has compressed discs in his back and suffers from PTSD. He reports now that running is too difficult and he is in pain much of the time. This has not dissuaded him from still going out to walk or play golf with other Veterans… his mission, to let other Veterans know that someone cares.

Rob is currently employed with Goodnight Midstream in North Dakota as an Operator working in the oil industry.

Lee

Lee's Story:
October 20, 2023… This is an unusual story about a very special Veteran with an unusual Bucket List Dream. 

This story is written by a fellow Veteran Vet who had his life significantly impacted by this kind and generous man… Lee. Lee was born and raised in Southeastern Michigan. He attended college in Michigan and was commissioned into the US Air Force. His degree was in Psychology and consequently this young Lieutenant was sent to Vietnam. 

For every man in the field in Vietnam there were 50 support people. These people performed every kind of service imaginable… from food, to construction, mechanical support, administrative support… to name a few… and of course medical. One of Lee’s duties was probably one of the most difficult jobs a person could ever be asked to do. War and tragedy go hand in hand. People die, are maimed and in some cases suffer mental breakdowns. These are difficult cases to deal with. To be responsible for a man completely ‘broken’ emotionally is very difficult thing to be charged with. Lee’s job was to get these unfortunate people stabilized enough to be sent to where they could get much needed psychiatric treatment. This was just one of Lee’s duties. Performing such a difficult assignment takes a very special person. That person was Lee. 

Lee returned home as a Captain and was discharged. His work and commitment to Veterans did not end, however. Lee went on to make a career of helping Veterans. There is no doubt in this writer’s mind that Lee saved many Veterans. He dedicated his life to them. He guided them to healthier lives and was able to “bring them home".

 Your writer is one of those Veterans. Lee helped me to work through many issues. I would like to tell you about one such event. I brought home with me a captured Communist SKS rifle. It was picked up off the battlefield with the bayonet stained with blood. The rifle stayed in my gun safe for many years and was rarely touched. To me it was almost dirty because there was no way of knowing if the blood was American or South Vietnamese. To this day I have guilt issues… guilt that I did not do enough over there and guilt for what the American people did to Vietnamese people. The only reason the war was not won, and the Vietnamese people freed was because the American people allowed themselves to be manipulated the Communist Peace Movement in the US. The American people were fools. The consequence was, far more Americans died over there than needed and the Vietnamese were abandoned to ultimately be killed, confined, and relegated to a life under Communist control. 

The rifle for me became a symbol of everything I was ashamed of so I never shot it and just hid it away. One day Lee came to me and said that we were going to my home, that we were going to get the rifle, and we were going to his farm to deal with my issues. He walked me into the woods, took the weapon, loaded it, and fired it. He said, “it is just a thing that for some reason I had made important… needlessly”. He said that it was critical for me and my guilt issues to get past the resentment to this rifle. He handed me the rifle and walked out of the woods. He said on the way out, “shoot the rest of ammo and don’t come out until you do… it’s just a thing”. It took some time but after about 30 minutes of thinking about the whole thing, I fired. I had moved on! I tell this story because this is just one situation and one Veteran out of many that he helped with… there were more Veterans than I can count that benefited from Lee’s, sometimes unorthodox approach to treatment. He was always willing to go the extra mile for a fellow ‘brother’. 

Lee has long since been disabled by the VA. He is sick and is largely homebound. When we at Bucket List Dreams went to him to see if there was anything we could for him, he said, “you know what I would like most, is a really good cup of coffee."

Bucket List Dreams now keeps Lee stocked with our Bucket List Beans and will do so as long as he wants it.

God bless you Lee… and Thanks, Brother.

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Bucket List Dreams was founded by a disabled Veteran who observed that military service can often impact ones quality of life.

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