MONTICELLO — Two new staff members have joined the PFC Joseph P Dwyer Vet 2 Vet Program of Sullivan County (V2V).

The V2V program is a peer-run component of Action Toward Independence (ATI) that seeks to assist Veterans and their family members through advocacy, benefits advisement, mental health education, peer counseling, and a free service dog program for those who are eligible. 

V2V recently welcomed James “Jimmy” Raftery and Stephen Murphy to the staff. 

Jimmy Raftery is the newest Veteran Peer Services Coordinator. He will be taking over from Ryan Fuller, who recently left to pursue his educational journey. Born in Astoria, Queens on Veteran’s Day, Jimmy is naturally led to serve others. A graduate of Carmel High School in Carmel, NY, his passion for helping led to his 1992 enlistment in the U.S. Coast Guard. “There was a desire to do something different than my friends and my family,” Raftery said. 

After basic training, he was assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas, Governor’s Island, NY, where he served as an engineer, repairing machinery inside and outside of the engine room. This would explain his penchant for plumbing. In 1994, Jimmy transferred to Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, where his penchant for helping others grew, while learning how to assist stranded mariners via Marine Radio Bands. He finished his enlistment at Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook, NJ in 1996. Jimmy was a lifeboat crewman, engineer, and search and rescue radio operator. Skills that served him well soon after.

In April of 1997, he was appointed to the New York City Fire Department as a Fire Alarm Dispatcher. A position he describes as the “First Line of Defense” or, “The ‘First’ First Responder.” He served as a Dispatcher in Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Manhattan. He found his passion for “The Job” in Manhattan, where “if it can happen, it will.” He was an integral part of many rescues and fire emergencies in New York City over the course of 25 years, most famously, the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.

During his final tour of duty on January 9th, 2022, Jimmy assisted in coordinating response and coverage of empty firehouses during a massive apartment building blaze in the Bronx that took the lives of 17 people. Four hours after the fire was declared “under control,” Jimmy signed off for the last time.

“Service is the family business,” Raftery said. He’s a fourth-generation public servant, along with his brothers and many relatives. His compassion for others led to his strong convictions and desires to help others. “It’s what we do. We help others. Now that I’m retired, I can truly devote my time to my fellow Veterans and help in ways I couldn’t before.” A former firefighter/EMT in the Lake Carmel Fire Department, Jimmy resides in Port Jervis with his partner and elementary school crush, Kristine, his stepson, Connor, his daughter, Cassandra, the cats, Bean and Tiger, and his beloved mutt, Harry.

Stephen Murphy has joined ATI/V2V as a Veteran Peer Advocate with the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program. 

Born and raised in Orange County, Steve graduated from Minisink Valley High School with the class of 2007. Two years later, at the age of 20, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving for five years in the Infantry with 1st Battalion 8th weapons company. His battalion did two combat tours in Afghanistan, in 2010 and again in 2011-2012. 

Stephen was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant, E-5, and spent a few years in a nursing program before studying nutrition and dietetics at the University of the District of Columbia. He moved back to Orange County in 2020 and married his wife, Tara. They are expecting their first child this September. 

Upon his discharge from the service, he was diagnosed with PTSD and fell in line with the thousands of other veterans who downplayed the idea of being mentally unwell and refusing to seek out help. He dealt with varied and prolonged issues, which impacted his everyday activities. Finally, after years of suffering, he sought out help through the VA and other local groups.

A fellow local veteran advocate, who Stephen was deployed with in Afghanistan, was working at ATI at the time. “He got me involved with their V2V program, and I started working with them with my dog, Eva. She is now my service dog. Having Eva work with me throughout the day has greatly improved my ability to function, my mobility, and quality of life.

“What really drew me to V2V was the fact that it’s a peer run organization. Meaning the Veteran Advocates that you work with are themselves Veterans of the armed services,” Steve explained. “Our veteran advocate services include benefits advisement, peer counseling, family support, classes (art/music therapy, writing workshop), housing assistance, and many others.”

Having gone through the program himself, and having recently graduated with Eva, Steve is excited about taking charge of the service dog program. “After personally going through the program, which is at no cost to qualifying Veterans, I understand the benefits very well. I am most looking forward to helping other Veterans to achieve independence and improve their quality of life, accomplishing whatever future goals they may have.”

For more information about Action Toward Independence, Vet 2 Vet or the Wounded Warrior Project Service Dog Program, please call 845-794-4228 or visit ATItoday.org.