ABOUT 

Our focus and mission is helping veterans within the state of Oklahoma with their struggles and needs. The hardest thing you can ever do isn't joining the military, it's getting out and adapting to civilian life. The military trains you to go to war, but they don't train you on how to become a civilian again. Join us in giving back to those who gave so much that we may enjoy our freedom!

The Problem

"There are 22 veterans that commit suicide each day."

(Department of Veterans Affairs Feb, 2013 Report)

For many veterans, seeking treatment for PTSD may be the most difficult part of getting help. Veterans may shy away from treatment for fear of being seen as "crazy" or "weak", but the main issue they are likely to face while seeking help for PTSD is that the first step the VA takes is to medicate them with some type of antidepressant or anxiety medication. After returning home, it isn't uncommon for a veteran to not want to speak to a counselor about the things they went through or the things they had to do to survive. They want to talk with someone who truly understands what they went through and the struggles they face. 

This is where Wounded Veterans of Oklahoma comes in

My name is James Martin, the founder of Wounded Veterans of Oklahoma. I spent 15 years serving in the United States Army, and I am a disabled veteran. I have had 6 major surgeries from serving in the Middle East, and there are three things that have gotten me through what I have experienced and continue to go through.

1.    Having God as my rock and foundation.

2.    My beautiful wife and family as a support team.

3.    Being able to spend time with other veterans.

We all have similarities in our stories, regardless of our branch of service. Our ties don't have to sever just because we came home. We looked out for each other overseas; we can still look out for each other in civilian life.

What we do

We help veterans with what they are going through by partnering with them through various hunting, fishing, and camping trips where we talk about what we went through, what helped us get through it, and what still helps us get through it. We also help by sharing the gospel and giving them the foundation to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ that they need so desperately! 

The rate of divorce is at an all-time high for veterans returning home. When returning home from war they don't come back as the same person they were when they left, which in turn affects marriages and families. We help families by counseling them in what to expect when their loved ones return and how to help them in their transition. We also help those who have just returned home with their relationships with their families. Veterans return home and shut themselves off because they have no one to talk to about their struggles.  WVO wants to help all veterans know that there is someone who has walked the same road.  We can help!

 We have helped veterans struggling with addictions to subscription medication(s), drugs, and alcohol to get clean. We have helped those on the verge of taking their own life who now help others struggling with what they went through. Veterans who were on the edge of divorce are now closer to their spouse than ever before. Veterans who struggled with severe PTSD and shut themselves off from their kids now have a better relationship with their children than they did before they went to war. The stories of success go on and on! 

Another exciting project we offer is for those who are amputees or who are paralyzed. The VA will help veterans with only so much and their needs are far greater than what the government is currently doing. We are hoping to raise support and partner with different companies who can come in to an amputee's home and customize things like lowering their kitchen counter top so those in wheel chairs can enjoy eating with their children and may be able to reach things. We are also going to build a boat that those in wheel chairs can operate, fish and even hunt from!

I have a friend who is a double amputee and his favorite hobbies are fishing and hunting. He would come home from overseas and get in his boat and fish all day long, but now it is nearly impossible for him to do. I have spoken with others who are in the same situation and that’s what sparked this project. 

We are creating a boat that veterans who have lost limbs or are paralyzed from the waist down can still operate, fish, and hunt from. We are designing latches to hold wheel chairs, a ramp for easy access in and out, a lift step so a veteran can lift himself up onto a swivel seat to fish from, a platform to hunt from, and controls so it is easy and safe to operate. We are hoping to build multiple boats so veterans across the United States can continue to enjoy some of their favorite pastimes. If this is something you feel you want to be a part of, please message us!  We are looking for people who can fabricate, weld, and modify an existing boat. We need to raise approximately $19,500 dollars to pay for the entire project. 

WVO is working on creating a wheel chair that veterans will be able to operate in the woods, and easily hunt from. The design will be an all-terrain wheel chair with a platform to shoot from. The design and layout of this project has been completed. If you feel that this is something you would like to be a part of financially we need to raise $8,500.

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." -Cynthia Ozick
 

Wounded Veterans of Oklahoma works hand in hand with Honoring America's Warriors in supporting our States veterans. Honoring America's Warriors is an amazing organization that provides a funeral detail team to give veterans who pass away a full military burial. Active duty units can only do so many funerals at a time leaving some families with only getting a partial military burial. I know personally because I was on a funeral detail team out of Fort Carson Colorado for 8 months. We did all we could but we could only be in one State at a time. They show the true meaning of dedication to their brothers in arms.

Our Goal

There are 375,000 registered veterans in the state of Oklahoma with an estimated 425,000 more who are not registered. Our goal is to reach as many veterans as we can and help them with their struggles and also to fellowship with them. 

Our Team

James Martin

Founder and national speaker

James spent 15 years in the United States Army. He has served every where from the DMZ in Korea to the Middle East. He has stepped foot in 11 different Countries and has had 17 surgical procedures from injuries he sustained while serving in the United States Army. He is married to his amazing wife Anna, has three amazing boys, and one brand new beautiful daughter. After the military James and his family served in Mexico as missionaries for over a year and a half.

CJ Jacobs Jr

Co-Founder

Cj has been in the ministry for over 30 years. He is one of the speakers of Wounded Veterans of Oklahoma and not only has a heart for our nations veterans but also the community. He also serves on the board of Tulsa Hope and has a prison ministry. 

Garrett Grover

pro Shooting team captain

Garrett is a Sniper Team Leader in the United States Army and he also served in the United States Marine Corps.  He is a decorated soldier and Marine. He has been on numerous deployments overseas. He is in charge of the Pro Shooting Team and loves helping veterans with all aspects of their lives!