Son Nguyen describes himself as "American-made." Born in Vietnam and raised in Florida, he always felt a calling to serve his country. "This is my home," he says. "Inside, I bleed red, white, and blue." In high school, he joined the U.S. Navy Junior ROTC program and later enlisted as a Radioman stationed in San Diego, California.

During Officer Training School, Nguyen sustained injuries that prevented him from completing his original military contract. At first, it was difficult for him to give up on a dream that he had held for so long; but with time, he was able to reflect and recognize the impact his service had on his life, such as instilling discipline and resilience.

After leaving the Navy, he began working in real estate, where he realized that while the military offers many great lessons to its soldiers, it doesn't fully prepare them for how to reintegrate back into civilian life-especially navigating how to register for and use their benefits. This was a recurring issue Nguyen saw as veterans went through the homebuying process.

He decided he wanted to get involved, searching for organizations that help veterans with their housing needs and financial literacy. The problem was, he couldn't find any. "If it is meant to be, it's up to me," Nguyen realized. With this in mind, he created USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc.: an organization that educates thousands of military members on their rights and ability to use Veterans Affairs loans and other services to help them buy homes.

The foundation grew so large that in 2019, Nguyen realized it was in their best interest to split the organization into more specialized nonprofits. He created VETCares, Inc., an organization focused on helping veterans adjust to civilian life more smoothly with programs offering therapy, financial aid, education, and more. These resources help veterans build successful, more stable futures.

"It is our duty as patriots to create a supportive community for veterans in need and to empower them to live independent and successful lives," Nguyen says. "I'm going to continue to help until my last breath. And I wouldn't want to do anything else."

Learn more about VETCares and the programs they offer to help veterans reintegrate into civilian life on their website: https://vetcares.org/about/.

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