The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans doesn’t quit trying to help service members — even when a veteran gives up on themselves.

Army Veteran John Vincent Doran had several chances to change his situation, but chose to live on the street.

A traumatic incident finally forced him to accept help from MACV.

Army Veteran John Doran is proud of his service to the country. He served for three years, two of which he spent in Germany.

“I’m a Cold War, decorated vet,” said Doran.

Doran’s job was watching over nuclear warheads during the Cold War. An experience that still haunts him today.

“The unit I was in, the 85 th USIFAD, was very suicidal, depression and I saw some things. I have PTSD, you know, you get locked up with those nuclear warheads for a couple of years. You didn’t know if it was a drill or if it was the real deal, so I still think about it.”

John left Germany and returned to Minnesota, where he joined the Army National Guard as an MP.

It was during that time that he was living a double life because of his addiction.

“Alcohol? Yes. A little bit of everything. Substance too, yep. Cocaine, methamphetamine too. At one time, I was 140 pounds,” said Doran. “When I was into the substance and the addiction, I did the Lake street the Franklin University Avenue.”

Doran let this lifestyle take over for years.

“The addiction years, you know, when I lost a 40-year relationship [with a] beautiful gal. We separated and I was homeless. I ended up staying with some relatives.”

Doran couch surfed for years, and tried rehab several times.

“I saw a real hard double homicide right in front of me. So I thought the good Lord was sending me a rowboat and I wasn’t getting in, so I thought St. Cloud here I come.”

Doran worked hard to kick his habits while at the St. Could VA.

“Through the VA, they mentioned MACV. I had heard of it, but I didn’t know a thing about it, so away I went. Even when I initially got into I’m thinking, do I really deserve this? You know, is this for me?”