September 9, 2020 2:30 p.m. CST

Buddy Watch Walk East is part of a National campaign to raise awareness of the issues plaguing American Veterans which are contributing to an ever increasing suicide rate. Continued cases of traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, addiction, homelessness and more are often ignored by military chain of command and pushed under the rug at VA centers. Those who suffer, and the loved ones left behind when service members can’t cope anymore, are demanding change.

After seeing the reckless care of veterans and the damaging affects of trauma over and over, Georgia Guardsman John Ring made a plan to show the country the truth of the hell service-members face. Ring left Tybee Island, Georgia, on October 1, 2019, making his way across the southern half of the United States to Santa Monica Pier, California.

As he walked 2,462 miles, Ring had the opportunity to meet veterans from many past wars, as far back as WWII, and gain the support of the American Legion and VFW’s across the country. Many veterans walked beside him, telling their stories of trauma and shedding long-held tears. Along the way, Army Veteran MSG Jimmy Mathews, Navy Veteran Jason Hanner, Army Veteran Eli Hawkins and Army Veteran Paco Baltazar committed to completing the walk at the Santa Monica Pier with Ring.

Although the coronavirus pandemic slowed progress down, the group of men with a crowd of supporters completed Buddy Watch Walk Pier to Pier on June 14, 2020. Within minutes of touching the end of the pier, a veteran shook Ring’s hand and admitted that he was almost one of the 22 veterans that commits suicide daily. At that moment, Ring knew his mission was far from over.

On October 1, 2020, John Ring, Jimmy Mathews, Jason Hanner and Paco Baltazar, will begin taking steps again. Buddy Watch Walk East will start back up in Pearl, MS, the place where Mathews joined Ring. The 601 miles of steps will take the group back to where it all began, Tybee Island Pier, GA, ending on December 3.

The goal is not only to bring awareness to every American, but to bring hope and encouragement to past and present service members and their families. Ring hopes to have Buddy Watch Walk Day on October 29, acknowledged as a yearly National holiday. Montgomery, AL, has already established the date as a holiday in its city.

In the Fall of 2021, Buddy Watch Walk has plans to march into the Nation’s Capitol with determination to see change for their American brothers and sisters. In the Spring of 2022, they will continue their walk across Europe, from Normandy, France, to Berlin, Germany, to commemorate the struggle of WWII and show solidarity with the Allies.

The Beginning

By Amanda Duncan, Wood County Now

August 17, 2020 7:30 p.m. CST

On average, one mile is approximately 2,000 steps. Imagine walking 2,462 miles, nearly 5,000,000 steps, on a cross-country trek with your life on your back, and the mission to meet with veterans, their family members, community leaders and people all across the country to discuss the challenges veterans deal with every day.

Imagine being 601 miles into that journey when a stranger joins you to share in the mission and experience. What if, after completing the 2,462 mile journey from east to west, that stranger - now brother and best friend - wanted to complete the entire trek by walking the 601 miles he missed? Would you do it again? John Ring, founder of Buddy Watch Walk, would.

After gazing out at a majestic sunrise from the Tybee Island Pier on a October 1, 2019, Georgia Army National Guardsman John Ring, briefly accompanied by his youngest son, supporters and veterans, departed the pier heading for the Santa Monica Pier in California. The goal of his walk was to raise awareness of veteran issues such as homelessness, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma (MST), addiction and lack of benefits that contribute to a high rate of veteran suicide.

"Veteran suicide is an epidemic in our country which is most likely a result of our veterans being ignored and not getting the proper treatment,” insists Ring.

While searching on social media for programs to help himself and fellow veterans, Retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Jimmy Mathews learned of Ring and his walk to raise awareness of veterans’ issues. On November 18, 2019, only four days after retiring, Mathews joined Ring in Pearl, Mississippi, with the intention to walk across the state of MS with him. After one day, he decided to walk the remaining 1,854 miles with Ring.

"I saw John out there walking for veteran issues. The walk was Buddy Watch Walk, but John had no buddy. He needed a buddy,” says Mathews.

While walking, they would often discuss Mathews completing the 601 miles from Pearl, MS, to Tybee Island, GA, that he had missed. John would laughingly say, "I already walked that. I’ll see you when you get to Savannah.”

The pilgrimage across eight states started with one person and ended with four. Jason Hanner, a U.S. Navy Veteran, joined Ring and Mathews in East Texas for a week. He later surprised them in El Paso, Texas, and walked the remainder of the journey with them. Eli Hawkins, a U.S. Army Veteran who had served with Mathews, met the three in Tucson, Arizona, and stepped out the remainder of the walk with them.

After a delayed ending due to COVID-19, John Ring, Jimmy Mathews, Jason Hanner and Eli Hawkins completed Buddy Watch Walk Pier to Pier on June 14, in Santa Monica, California. Nearly 200 dedicated supporters from all over the nation joined Ring, Mathews, Hanner and Hawkins after the final 13 miles ended at the Santa Monica Pier. Among them was U.S. Army Veteran Paco Baltazar, founder of the Rogue Interview Show, who had previously walked with them in Phoenix, AZ. In addition to Ring, Mathews and Hanner, Baltazar has made the commitment to walk the 601 miles from Pearl, MS, to Tybee Island Pier, GA, beginning on October 1.

"When I was feeling alone and tired, a stranger, now my brother, was sent to me. Jimmy saved me and motivated me to keep going. We did it for each other. When we were both feeling tired and drained, another amazing person would enter our life. So even though I already walked those 601 miles, my brother didn’t. Just like he was there for me, I will be there for him. We need more thoughtfulness and caring like this in the world,” says Ring.

When asked what the most meaningful part of the journey was, all the guys had a similar answer, “We are so thankful for everyone that was a part of this journey. Whether you walked with us, encouraged us, fed us, lodged us, gave us a few dollars or sacrificed your own journey like Willie, Brandi, and Hooch did, we love you all. We enjoyed getting to meet so many wonderful and passionate people. We each had a family prior to this journey, but it has grown with every step we took. We’re looking forward to meeting and helping as many veterans as possible.”

Buddy Watch Walk East will begin at 9 a.m. on October 1, 2020, in Jackson, MS at the War Memorial Building. The starting location and the walk schedule through Alabama and Georgia will be released at a later date. We are waiting for a few more details.

We are walking to help support the Fight the War Within Foundation initiative

Support Fight the War Within

Walking 601 more miles for Veterans.......Buddy Watch Walk East