Simonsen And Yoko

Simonsen received Yoko from the Paws for Purple Hearts program after being exposed to several blast incidents while deployed. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Simonsen said that Yoko has been a blessing in his life in many ways.

“She helps me smile again, and she makes everyone around her smile too,” he said. “I wasn’t familiar with service dogs before. At first, I resisted the idea, probably out of pride. I wasn’t sure what junior enlisted members would think, and I wasn’t sure how compatible it would be with continued military service.”

After overcoming his fears and doubts about having a service dog, Simonsen said Yoko has become his unobtrusive companion, and that she helps keep him calm.

Simonsen said that after he sustained his injuries in combat, his wife and four children handled the news very well, and credited The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program with reaching out and taking good care of his family.

“Having a TBI makes doing easy tasks hard, and hard tasks seemingly impossible,” said Simonsen. “Professionally, now, I have a passion to help highlight the invisible wounds of war. There are thousands of veterans who have sustained these types of injuries, and many think they’re fighting that battle alone. The American people have a duty to help our wounded warriors. We owe them our thanks, but we owe them much more than that.”