More than a year ago, U.S. Army Capt. Dale Marrou was deployed to Iraq. He remembers how his battalion was always diverting the enemy – first from Abu Ghraib, then to Sadr City, a neighborhood in eastern Baghdad.
"There could not be two more completely different places," Marrou said. "But we got called over to go to Sadr City for a 96-hour mission, the first day out one of our platoons got into a nine-or-10-hour firefight. One guy got sent home, one guy got killed – that was the first day out."
Now Marrou is on active duty and back in the United States, finishing his two-year assignment as an assistant professor of military science at UH. Marrou’s main goal while he is here is to encourage troops to go to the University Center to visit the Veterans’ Services Office – especially today.
On Nov. 11 1919, former President Wilson said the United States would observe the day to honor those "who died in the country’s service," according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Web site.
Located in Room 268, University Center, the VSO helps veterans adjust back to civilian life from providing equipment, such as a computer lab, printers, scanners, to providing financial aid information.
VSO Counselor Ryan Deluccio said the busiest time is the class registration period every semester when veterans have to re-apply for financial aid.
"We help them with the paperwork," Deluccio said. "Filling out the necessary papers is a tedious task. By the second or third time, re-applying is an easy task."
The office is equipped with Internet-ready computers, and a mini-office supply area is free of charge for students in the military, Air Force Cadet 1st Lt. Ryan Tamez said.
Tamez said he uses the VSO on a weekly basis to use the facilities’ tools.
"I would recommend veterans to come out and give it a try," he said. "The office has started up a Veterans Collegiate Society, which gets veterans involved in veteran issues as well as recreational activities around the campus."
Once veterans graduate, they should remain in contact with the VSO office so they are aware of available services, Marrou said. Veterans who have exhausted their G.I. Bill can receive financial assistance through an act only for Texans – the Hazlewood Act.
The Hazlewood Act is administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and is intended to help servicemen get some tuition or fees waived, according to the Texas Veterans Commission Web site.
"If I were get off active duty tomorrow, I can go to school for two years for free, paid for by the state of Texas if I just talked to the right people," Marrou said.
Apart from the government helping troops with tuition and their transition to civilian life, the Texas Veterans Land Board is available for veterans to help them with loans and finding properties at discounted rates, Marrou said.
"I used that on my first house – that’s a good deal. You don’t put any money down. You don’t have to pay closing cost," Marrou said. "We do a lot, between the (Department of Veteran Affa and the active Army."
Marrou said the Army Career Alumni Program can help veterans, who have left the military find jobs and prepare for college entrance examinations.
"At ACAP, it basically takes everything you learned in the military and puts it in civilian terms," Marrou said.
Veterans are eligible to take ACAP classes up to 180 days after leaving the service, according to the program’s Web site.
"I didn’t take advantage of it, and now I’m paying for it," Marrou said.
