BY ISRAEL MALDONADO

Injured veteran Sgt. Tom Block is waiting for a new job opening. Block’s dream job was to be a Ranger his whole life, because according to him, it was the best possible job to have in consideration of literally getting paid to carry a gun and jump off an airplane. But, after the loss of his right eye and questioning of what others would think of him, he decided to rethink his decision-making and chose to join the HERO Organization.

According to the KTLA article, Tom Block and 23 other injured veterans were just sitting in a classroom; they were waiting around for a job opportunity. They were all highly specialized veterans who received injuries in battles against Iran and Afghanistan. Their careers were near an end, and only one thing they can do now is to join the HERO Child-Rescue Corps, “saving at-risk kids”. The HERO organization stands for Human Exploitation Rescue Operative. The program is designed for the wounded people who want to help federal agents fight against online child sexual exploitation.

I personally believe that it doesn’t feel right that veterans are afraid of what others would think of them. It shouldn’t be like that, but it’s great that they found a job that helps them save lives and keeps them busy.When new interns barely join the HERO organization, they must first sit through thousands of disturbing images of children being sexually assaulted by adults, which makes the interns or injured veterans want to do their job to save other lives at risk.

Once more, I feel like it isn’t right for the people who fight for this country, to get judged by what they go through, just for you. Block’s only eye, made it a difficult challenge to just stare at a screen for hours a day, studying what the adults do to children and learning how to confront and stop the assaulter. He wishes to comfort a frightened child.

All the vets who have been seriously injured through combat for their country now are saving lives through the HERO organization. These vets have a hard time just looking at themselves through the mirror and hope to just save some other lives at risk to save them the same problem.

I feel like the HERO program is a great way not to only get injured vets back on their feet, but to help save innocent lives.