Jerry Sims: A Lifetime of Service and Sacrifice

Long before he found his calling as a volunteer, Sims served his country in a much different capacity—as a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Sims, a South Carolina native, enlisted in the Army in 1966 and was deployed to Vietnam. In December 1967, he was wounded in combat, sustaining injuries to his legs and stomach from a Claymore mine. He was quickly transported from a field hospital in Vietnam to Japan, then to Virginia, and ultimately to Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, where he spent months recovering. By May 1968, Sims was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he spent the remainder of his service performing funeral details and assisting with soldiers who had gone AWOL.

“I had intended to stay in the military,” Sims said. “But after being wounded, I knew I couldn’t go back into another war zone.”

After completing his military service, Sims returned to South Carolina and pursued a career in automotive repair. He attended school for two years before working at his uncle’s Exxon service station, where he remained for 30 years before running his own shop for five more years. However, as the long-term effects of his injuries began to take a toll, Sims decided it was time to step back from physical labor. That decision led him to the VA.

Sims began volunteering in the early 2000s, drawn by a desire to stay active and remain connected with fellow Veterans. Over the years, his role has extended far beyond simply serving coffee. He has become a trusted friend and confidant to many Veterans, offering guidance and support when they need it most.

“I had a couple of Veterans thinking about committing suicide,” Sims recalled. “They were struggling, and we talked. We made jokes, we shared stories. In the end, they decided life was worth living.”

For Sims, the VA has become a second home. The camaraderie he shares with other Veterans and staff members helps him cope with his own post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Being here is like therapy for me,” Sims said. “Talking with Veterans, making them laugh, and helping to keep the peace—it gives me purpose.”

His dedication has not gone unnoticed. Christopher Washington, the Orangeburg VA Clinic volunteer specialist, praised Sims for his unwavering commitment.

“Mr. Sims embodies the spirit of service,” Washington said. “He has an incredible way of connecting with Veterans and making them feel at home. He truly is a pillar of our volunteer program.”

Sims is also deeply involved in the local Veteran community. As a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Military Order of the Cootie and the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), he works to support fellow service members and raise awareness about Veterans’ issues.

Looking back on his 18 years of volunteer service, Sims finds fulfillment in knowing he has made a difference.

“Some days, I just need a break from home,” Sims joked. “But more than that, I need something meaningful to do. Volunteering gives me that.”

As he continues his mission at the Orangeburg VA Clinic, Sims encourages others to consider volunteering.

“It’s rewarding,” he said. “I talk to Veterans all the time who don’t know about their benefits or who feel alone. Being here, I can help them, and that’s what keeps me coming back.”

For Jerry Sims, service didn’t end when he took off his uniform. It simply took on a new form—one that continues to impact the lives of Veterans every day.

For more information about what’s going on at the Veterans medical center, clinic locations and other services available to Veterans in and around Columbia, visit the website https://www.va.gov/columbia-south-carolina-health-care/ and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, keyword: VAColumbiaSC.