--- title: "A Veteran's Day Story: Gordon & Flame" description: Northwest Battle Buddies partnered Gordon with Flame, they have teamed up, Gordon has resisted his urges to get distracted while navigating the daily challenges of life that previously gripped him. image: https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-30%20at%2010.59.42%20AM.png --- [![Northwest Battle Buddies - Logo](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Northwestbattlebuddies_January2023/images/Northwest-battle-buddies-logo.png "Northwest Battle Buddies - Logo")](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/) - Veterans - [Veterans](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/veterans/veterans) - [Program Overview](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/program-overview) - [Apply For a Service Dog](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/veterans/apply-for-a-service-dog) - [Vision of Hope](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/veterans/video-series-vision-of-hope) - [Resources](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/veterans/resources) - Service Dogs - [Service Dogs](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/nwbb-service-dogs) - [Foster a Puppy](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/nwbb-puppy-foster) - [KOA's Journey](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/service-dogs/video-series-koas-journey) - Support Our Veterans - [Donate](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/take-action/donate) - [Join ONQ](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/onq) - [Pledge-A-Pup](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/pledge-a-pup) - [Foster a Puppy](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/nwbb-puppy-foster) - [Become a Sponsor](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/take-action/become-a-sponsor) - [Custom Fundraisers](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/take-action/custom-fundraisers) - [Freedom Gala](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/take-action/freedom-gala) - [Memorials & Registries](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/take-action/memorials-registries) - [Wishlist](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/take-action/wishlist) - About - [About NWBB](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/about/about-nwbb) - [Leadership & Team](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/about/leadership-team) - [Affiliations](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/about/affiliations) - [NWBB in the News](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/about/nwbb-in-the-news) - [Stories](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/nwbb-stories) - [Contact Us](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/contact) - [Blog](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog) - [Events](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/events) [![Donate](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/23546662/4a1dc1b2-0297-43df-96b9-6f5d88d84a89.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/23546662/4a1dc1b2-0297-43df-96b9-6f5d88d84a89) ![](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-30%20at%2010.59.42%20AM.png) # A Veteran's Day Story: Gordon & Flame Published by [Northwest Battle Buddies](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog/author/northwest-battle-buddies) on Nov 8, 2021 9:50:00 AM Here we have the opportunity to learn more about Gordon. Gordon is a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a veteran of the US Armed Forces. In 2009 Gordon unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide. Following Gordon’s attempt to take his own life, Gordon put together a detailed, well laid plan while showering one day. Part of his daily routine became thinking through this well crafted plan while deliberating whether or not he would be able to make it through the day, every day. Gordon had been struggling on a daily basis to face life, his family, and function as a person outside of the house. Northwest Battle Buddies partnered Gordon with Flame. Flame is a professionally trained service dog. In the time that Flame and Gordon have teamed up, Gordon has resisted his urges to get distracted while navigating the daily challenges of life that previously gripped him. One of the biggest challenges Gordon faced was the stress of the impending day while going through his morning routine. Teaming Flame with Gordon has enabled Gordon to go about his daily life routine with much greater ease. Flame has been trained to interrupt Gordon at moments when his mind starts to drift towards dark thoughts. This helps to ground Gordon in the moment and keep him out of his head and able to function as a happier, present human, husband, and father. Flame encourages Gordon to get outdoors and has helped give Gordon the courage to brave the public outside of his home, something he previously struggled to do. Gordon bravely tells us about his experience dealing with Post Traumatic Stress, and how his determination and commitment to his work with Flame, his NWBB provided service dog and best friend, has changed his life. He gives us a window into how Flame intuitively responds when she senses that he is in distress, and explains that she helps relieve the pressure of what comes next – keeping him grounded and present each and every day.   [![Donate to Support Our American Heroes](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/23546662/4042ab67-93ce-4bb1-bf6f-2e9c63f9aef0.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/23546662/4042ab67-93ce-4bb1-bf6f-2e9c63f9aef0) Tags: [Veterans](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog/tag/veterans) [Back to Blog](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Related Articles ## [From Isolation to Connection: Matt’s Journey with His PTSD Service Dog, Pepper](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog/matt-pepper) In the aftermath of military service, many of our American Heroes face a silent war within. Matt, a... [Read More](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog/matt-pepper) ## [NWBB Provides its 200th Service Dog to a Veteran](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog/nwbb-provides-its-200th-service-dog-to-a-veteran) Founded in 2012 In Battle Ground, Washington, Northwest Battle Buddies was founded with the desire... [Read More](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog/nwbb-provides-its-200th-service-dog-to-a-veteran) ## [Northwest Battle Buddies Achieves Veteran Ready Certification with PsychArmor](https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog/nwbb-achieves-veteran-ready-certification-psycharmor) SAN DIEGO (August 10, 2023) — Northwest Battle Buddies, a nonprofit providing service dogs to... 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EIN: 45-4159178 © 2026 Northwest Battle Buddies ### Contact: 360.601.9744 [Email Us](mailto:office@northwestbattlebuddies.org) PO Box 2511 Battle Ground, WA 98604 360.601.9744 - Quick Links: - [Operation Never Quit](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/take-action/operation-never-quit) - [Veterans](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/veterans/veterans) - [Apply for a Dog](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/veterans/apply-for-a-service-dog) - [Donate](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/take-action/donate) - [Upcoming Events](https://northwestbattlebuddies.org/events) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Northwest Battle Buddies", "url" : "https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog/author/northwest-battle-buddies" }, "dateModified" : "2023-02-20T22:39:35.225Z", "datePublished" : "2021-11-08T17:50:00.000Z", "headline" : "A Veteran's Day Story: Gordon & Flame", "image" : [ "https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-30%20at%2010.59.42%20AM.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.northwestbattlebuddies.org/blog/a-veterans-day-story-gordon-flame", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" }, "name" : "Northwest Battle Buddies" } } ```