Our Origin Story – Peekachoo and His Navy Wife

Two items meeting at the same time gave birth to Once A Soldier:

The 2016 VA Veteran Suicide Report

Working with Amanda

Amanda was the artsy type. A young graphic designer working for at an advertising agency in Jacksonville, Florida not far from where she was born. Her husband, Jake, was a newly-minted Navy pilot was stationed at nearby Mayport Naval Station. Code name “Peekacho”, Jake was the southern gentleman to her southern belle.

During Jake’s 9-month long deployment, Amanda stayed at home and made friends with other wives in the same position. Life wasn’t easy. Both were underpaid, but in time, they managed a small house to call their own. Still, “No Dough Meals” at the local USO came to the rescue now and again.

Pensecola was the next permanent change of station. Two daughters came along during all this time.

Thankfully, their story is still being written. But it was her sacrifice, along with the landmark VA Veteran suicide report, that gave birth to our cause. We imagined Amanda and her family having to carry on after Jake’s exit. We decided it wasn’t fair. And it isn’t.

In 2017, Once A Soldier began offering postvention Veteran suicide services to a national audience. Financial aid, counseling and suicide prevention help get these families over the darkest of days. 

Sadly, there are many Veteran families of suicide with identical stories out there. To read more from our families, check this out.