Medina County Veteran of the Year reflects on service, helping fellow veterans

WADSWORTH — Ray Fain Jr. spent three years in the U.S. Army, including a yearlong combat tour in Vietnam. Decades later, he continues to spend his time serving the veterans who came home. Fain, who was named Medina County Veteran of the Year in April, told stories from his military service and his work helping fellow veterans Wednesday during the Wadsworth Area Chamber of Commerce's August luncheon at Memorial Park. Fain served in Vietnam from April 1969 to April 1970 with the 588th Combat Engineer Battalion, the Chamber said. He originally entered the Army expecting to work in stock control and accounting, but his military career took a different direction. "I got orders to go to Vietnam. It wasn't the whole unit that went; only I went," Fain told the luncheon audience. Fain was stationed about a mile from Cambodia and eventually found himself driving a semi in the motor pool. Although he had expected to work behind a desk, he said he was told he was a combat engineer. His service included coming under enemy fire. He was also injured in Vietnam after tripping while running toward a bunker during a rocket attack on his base camp. "I got injured in Vietnam," Fain said, adding that he subsequently stayed in base camp rather than continuing to go into the field. After leaving the Army, Fain began working in the medical field. For 20 years, he worked as a patient account director for the Greater Cleveland and Dayton Hospital Association, helping hospitals navigate patient and insurance payments and conducting seminars for organizations. His professional experience eventually became useful in another way. After retiring and returning to Medina, Fain began helping other veterans navigate the process of obtaining their military benefits. "A lot of guys just wouldn't go in to get their benefits because they didn't want to go through the paperwork, and that I could understand because I didn't go through the paperwork," Fain said. Fain said he understood that hesitation because he initially had not applied for benefits himself. He eventually signed up around 2010 and began helping other veterans. He would travel to places including Elyria, Akron and Wooster to pick up veterans at no cost and bring them to Medina to help them obtain benefits. Some veterans, he said, saw substantial increases in their monthly disability benefits after receiving assistance. "I feel good about that," Fain said. Fain recalled one veteran who had been spending his days drinking because he had little money to do anything else. After receiving benefits, Fain said the man quit drinking and became more active. Fain also continues to serve veterans through an honor guard. He said the group travels to the national cemetery in Rittman, where members participate in military funerals. The honor guard can participate in five to 15 funerals a day, Fain said. As the group's chaplain, he gives a prayer at each funeral. "It's a wonderful, humbling place," Fain said. He said the work can be especially meaningful when family members approach members of the honor guard following a service. Although the honor guard members may not have known the veteran who died, Fain said they understand the family's grief and are there to support them. Fain told the Chamber that he now does about 100 hours of community work each month, much of it focused on helping others. He encouraged those attending to make the most of their time, have a sense of humor and enjoy life. "Life is good," Fain said. Fain's service to the veterans will continue today, when he is scheduled to speak at The Wall That Heals as the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica opens to the public at Blue Tip Park in Wadsworth. The Wall will be on display through Sunday. Contact reporter Brooke Adams at (440) 822-8373 or badams@medina-gazette.com.