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Jose G.
![Hong Kong, China. One of the things the Navy always told us before we hit port was that you were a representation of America. Never forget that. No frayed jeans, your shave is clean...I’m a proud person...So I will always try to be a good representation [of America].](img/vets/vet_joseg_skyline_p4.jpg)
![That’s [from] the USS Ronald Reagan, in the middle of the ocean at sunset. I have seen more sunsets that would drop your jaw than you will ever. Unless you spend as much time as I did out to sea, you won’t see sunrises and sunsets [like I have]. I have seen the ocean as flat as glass. Mind-boggling. Where can you see [a] sunset [like that] in Philadelphia? Good luck.](img/vets/vet_joseg_sunset_ship.jpg)
![We went down to Maryland to help my friend who was packing up [to leave the military]. A lot of us military people live on air mattresses, live out of sea bags. There are a lot of homeless people now carrying around this sea bag. We’re going to be seeing a lot more of them.](img/vets/vet_joseg_packing_friend.jpg)
![I have this sense of: I’m late. I am 27 years old. I don’t have a wife. I don’t have kids. I don’t have a home. I don’t have a degree. I don’t have a certification. I have a high school diploma and a DD214. That’s it. I am behind. I don’t care what nobody says. “You traveled the world. You served your country. You did great.” That [doesn’t] mean [a] thing because I’ve got nothing right now. To me, I’m no different than a high school [kid] right now. My whole life can fit in a car.](img/vets/vet_joseg_life_car.jpg)
![That’s out of the backyard [where I’m living]. This tree collapses [in the yard next door]. Nobody is getting it. That frustrates me. I see a problem and I want to fix it. I go into military mode and see ways to get it done.](img/vets/vet_joseg_fallen_tree.jpg)
![I don’t care how many skylines I have seen, I think that is beautiful. That’s home. That warms my heart every time I [see] it. When you spend a lot of time away from Philadelphia and you see those buildings, I don’t care where you’ve been, that’s beautiful.](img/vets/vet_joseg_philly_pride.jpg)
![I do like coming to the VA. I do like seeing people with veteran hats on, being around each other. It is family, that camaraderie. You’re my brother, you’re my sister. You’re family, you served, I served. And I can’t get that with my family. Seeing [other veterans], going on base, things like that…I do identify with [the military]. It is part of who I am and I hope I never lose that.](img/vets/vet_joseg_freequote.jpg)
Jose joined the Navy to travel and see the world. Once he was back home in Philadelphia, he missed the sense of adventure in exploring new places, the wide open space, and the fresh air out at sea. He says the lack of structure outside the military can be scary and overwhelming, but he finds strength in family, friends, God, and his church. At the time of his participation the Photovoice project, Jose was unemployed, but he found work as a security guard shortly after and reports he is doing well.
