What began as a chance meeting has become a lasting friendship. For nearly 3 years, Jeremy has stood beside Tom through countless challenges, quietly providing friendship, transportation, advocacy, and practical support, not because anyone asked him to, but because that's what brotherhood means.
That unwavering commitment inspired those around him.
"I first met Tom through Jeremy," says Kelly, co-founder of Operation Tom. "Watching the way Jeremy cared for him changed me. This wasn't charity, it was brotherhood. Jeremy never looked at Tom as someone who needed saving. He saw a fellow veteran who deserved more. Somewhere along the way, Tom became part of our family too."
Today, that friendship has grown into Operation Tom, a grassroots initiative dedicated to honoring Tom's service by restoring his independence, improving his quality of life, and reminding veterans they are never forgotten.
We hope to raise community support to help provide Tom with reliable transportation following the recent loss of his truck while also creating sustainable support for his everyday needs.
But we hope the mission extends far beyond Tom eventually.
Our hope is that Operation Tom inspires communities everywhere to look around, find the veterans who may be living alone or struggling in silence, and remind them they have not been forgotten.
"Jeremy's example proves that the promise to never leave a brother behind doesn't end when military service ends, I hope his compassion for a fellow soldier inspires others to adopt a veteran in need."
As Operation Tom grows, we hope Tom's story encourages others to reach out to veterans in their own communities, because sometimes changing a life begins with something as simple as showing up.
Because the promise to never leave a brother behind doesn't end when military service ends.
Sometimes it begins with a single meeting on an Honor Flight.
Sometimes it changes a life.
Sometimes it inspires an entire community.
How It Started
The military teaches one lesson that lasts long after the uniform comes off: never leave a brother behind.
For Army Sergeant Major Jeremy Young, those words are more than a motto, they are a way of life. Young, a National Fuel employee, connected with Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight through the company's longstanding support of the organization and was inspired to become personally involved in its mission.
While volunteering as an escort on one of those flights in 2023, Young met fellow Army veteran Tom Dunfee. During the trip, the two servicemen quickly formed a bond rooted in shared service, mutual respect, and the unspoken understanding shared by those who have worn the uniform.
As the flight came to an end, Jeremy learned more about the challenges Tom had faced since returning home from Vietnam. Living alone with significant mobility and health issues connected to his military service, along with limited financial resources, Tom struggled with many of the everyday necessities most people take for granted.
While that Honor Flight trip ended, Jeremy's commitment did not.
He kept calling. He kept visiting. He kept helping. He never left his brother behind.
“Too many veterans come home, fight their battles and eventually feel forgotten. Tom deserves more that that. This is more than raising money, it’s about making sure he knows he isn’t forgotten and doesn’t have to face his battles alone,” says Jeremy.
Operation Tom Co-Founders
Jeremy Young
Operating with the discipline of an Army Sergeant Major, Jeremy transformed a profound connection made during an Honor Flight into a mission of advocacy. Throughout his distinguished career, he has championed the cause of his fellow service members. By founding Operation Tom, he turns the creed of brotherhood into action, actively working to mend the divide between military duty and civilian life for those in need.
Kelly Gast
Driven by a vision of service rooted in family and unity, Kelly co-founded this initiative to champion the dignity of our local heroes. She was moved by the transformative power of genuine companionship and stepped up to lead the organization’s strategic growth. Kelly oversees outreach and operational logistics, building a vital network that ensures veterans possess the resources required to live independently today.