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Howell Marine veteran credits Monmouth County VSO for medical help, urges recruits to ‘stick it out’
Summary
Keith Bayard, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Howell, described his service and wrestling achievements on Monmouth County’s Veterans Corner and said the county’s veteran service officer helped him secure orthopedic care through VA referrals. He urged prospective recruits to choose a branch, stay disciplined and persevere.
Sue Kiley, deputy director of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners and liaison to the division on aging, disabilities and veteran services, interviewed U.S. Marine Corps veteran Keith Bayard of Howell on the county’s Veterans Corner program.
Bayard, who said he volunteered for the Marines in 1981, described enlisting as “a calling” and credited family members with military service for influencing his decision. He recounted rigorous Marine Corps training and his participation in base and regional wrestling competitions, saying those experiences strengthened his discipline and leadership skills.
Bayard told Kiley that camaraderie and intense training were among his most enduring memories. He said wrestling led to opportunities to try out for the All-Marine team at Quantico and that a company commander encouraged his athletic participation while on base at Camp Pendleton.
The interview shifted to Bayard’s recent interactions with Monmouth County’s veteran services. Bayard said he reached out to the county’s veteran service officer after orthopedic problems from service-related breaks and fractures surfaced as he aged. He described the VSO’s response as “amazing” and said staff worked to get him connected with the right doctors and coordinated with the VA: “They were incredible.” He urged other veterans to be patient, “be your own advocate,” and keep following up with a VSO.
On advising young people considering military service, Bayard said discipline from wrestling helped him in the Marines and cautioned new recruits to avoid trouble, stay committed and choose the branch of service they mean to join. He described traveling with the Marine wrestling team on recruiting trips to high schools and colleges and said being on the team required being a “squared away” Marine.
Kiley closed the segment by thanking Bayard for sharing his experiences. The Veterans Corner episode focused on the personal and practical supports available to Monmouth County veterans and encouraged veterans with service-related health concerns to contact the county’s veteran service office for assistance.
