In 2017, Cliff Bennett founded Rim of the World Veterans Outreach – a group he felt was necessary after being made aware of a local veteran who died from an opioid overdose.
“I saw the need for support for mountain veterans,” Bennett said.
Bennett – known as Doc – knows what it’s like to be a veteran on the mountain. The Navy corpsman was injured during the battle at Husaybah, Iraq, in 2004 when he served with the 3rd Battalion 7th Marines.
When he and his wife, Star, moved to Lake Arrowhead, Bennett was working as a surgical technician at a hospital down the hill. He is now the lead surgical tech and first surgical assistant at Mountains Community Hospital.
He shared the mission of Rim Vets with members of the Mountain Sunrise Rotary Club, several of whom are members of the support organization.
“We offer support with zero judgment,” Bennett said. Last year their focus was on mental health awareness; this year the focus is on physical health.
Rim Vets recently conducted a veterans disability clinic to help veterans get signed into the Veterans Administration system, get started on a disability claim.
“The more VA programs we use, the better,” Bennett said. “Otherwise they will go away.”
Veterans and their families gathered to celebrate Rim Vets’ eighth anniversary. They were treated to music by two Rim High musicians.
All branches of service work together, he noted. “We have different views of the same problem. We support each other no matter what. A camaraderie almost equal to family is achieved.”
That support is critical – something the family of the veteran who caused Bennett to form Rim Vets said he did not have.
“We deal with genes situations with jokes,” Bennett said, sharing a couple of “groaners.” “When we make fun of each other, it’s a sign of respect.”
Rim Vets meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room in the medical building next to Mountains Community Hospital. The meetings are for veterans only as they share openly about their experiences and problems they are facing. “We work on building each other up,” Bennet said.
“As veterans, we need support from people who know and understand what we have been through,” he added. While the veterans are “letting things out” at the meetings, they don’t realize they are getting help.
“In your darkest hour, when the demons come,” Bennett said he tells the other veterans, “call on me, brother, and we will fight them together. We’re all there for each other.”
They reach out to the families two or three times a year, gathering for Christmas and fishing events.
The veterans and their families recently gathered at The Tudor House to celebrate Rim Vets’ eighth anniversary. The veterans and their guests were treated to some mountain history from Russ Keller as well as some jazz provided by Rim High musicians Branden Watson and Jaden Martinez. Their repertoire included a wide selection of Big Band era music.
For more information on Rim of the World Veterans Outreach, visit rimvets.org.
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