DeTar Pastoral Care Volunteer and Army Veteran Joe Lefferts Reflects on a Lifetime of Service This Veterans Day
11/6/2026
For Joe Lefferts, Veterans Day is more than a date on the calendar. It is a time to recognize the sacrifices of those who have served, honor the families who stood beside them, and remember the commitment shared by all who have worn the uniform.
A retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class (E-7) with more than 21 years of military service, Lefferts continues to live out the values of service and commitment through his volunteer work with DeTar Healthcare System's Pastoral Care program and several veterans organizations throughout the Victoria community.
Lefferts enlisted in the United States Army on April 24, 1974, just a few weeks after turning 18. At the time, he was looking for a job and an opportunity. What he initially envisioned as a three-year commitment became a 21-year military career.
"I originally thought it would be three years and out," Lefferts said. "But I stayed, kept reenlisting, and it became a way of life."
Serving as a combat engineer, Lefferts specialized in heavy equipment operations and engineering work. His military career took him across the United States and overseas, including multiple assignments in Germany during the Cold War.
His first duty station was in Berlin, Germany, approximately 110 miles behind the Iron Curtain. Although he was initially anxious and unsure about the assignment, it ultimately became one of the most meaningful chapters of his life. He spent four years there, married his wife, Gabby, and began building the life and family they share today.
Over the course of his career, Lefferts served at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; multiple locations in Germany, including Würzburg and the Frankfurt area; Long Island, New York, as an Army recruiter; and Fort Hood, Texas. He also served as a drill sergeant in Missouri and worked in engineer training.
His military experience included the tensions of the Cold War, when patrols, military maneuvers and heightened security were part of daily life. He participated in NATO-related security operations and witnessed firsthand the uncertainty that accompanied service near the East-West divide.
One of the defining chapters of his career came during Operation Desert Storm. Serving as a platoon sergeant, Lefferts led approximately 30 soldiers during the deployment. His unit entered the combat zone and participated in operations that included breaking through the berm on February 14 and building a two-story range tower.
"Being responsible for 30 guys, you understand that it's not just about you," Lefferts said. "You're responsible for those soldiers."
After returning to Fort Hood on April 15, 1991, Lefferts continued his military career before retiring in June 1995, completing 21 years and one month of service.
But military service was also a family commitment for the Lefferts household.
His wife, Gabby, spent 19 of his 21 years of Army service traveling alongside him and supporting their family through multiple duty stations, with the exception of his deployment during Desert Storm. The couple met overseas in Germany, where Gabby was born and raised, and built their life together over the years.
Their commitment to service continued into the next generation. Both of their sons followed in their father's footsteps and joined the Army. Their oldest son, Andrew, served for 10 years in finance, including assignments in Iraq and with a peacekeeping force in Egypt. Their youngest son, Joe Lefferts Jr., also served for 10 years as a combat medic, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, with 27 months in combat. At one point, both sons were stationed in Iraq in a combat zone at the same time.
Their daughter-in-law, Randi, also served four years in the United States Air Force, and their grandson Jordan serves in the United States Marine Corps.
For Lefferts, the opportunity to serve did not end when he retired from the Army. He has remained deeply involved in veterans organizations and community service throughout Victoria County.
He is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), where he participates in community events such as burger nights and floats in local parades, including the veterans and Christmas parades with the local VFW, Post 4146. He is also involved with the Catholic War Veterans and the Victoria County Veterans Council, where he serves as Honor Guard commander and chaplain.
One of the most meaningful responsibilities he carries is participating in military funeral honors for veterans and presenting the folded American flag to their families.
"To me, it's a way to honor not only the veteran but their family, too," Lefferts said. "We fold that flag with precision, and it's very heart-wrenching. There are a lot of emotions involved. You see the family break down and cry. But it's necessary. It's a duty. No veteran should ever go without those honors."
The ceremonies, which may include a rifle volley and the playing of Taps, provide families with a final tribute to the service and sacrifice of their loved ones. For Lefferts, being part of that moment is both an honor and a responsibility.
His commitment to serving others also extends to his church and the broader community. A member of the Knights of Columbus, he serves as an usher and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at his church. He also volunteers with community outreach efforts, including helping those in need through VCAM.
At DeTar, Lefferts serves as a Pastoral Care volunteer alongside Gabby. His involvement began years ago when he worked at the hospital's front desk while Gabby volunteered in Pastoral Care. After spending a couple of years at the front desk, he found another way to contribute to the ministry.
Today, he helps bring spiritual support and companionship to patients, visiting throughout the hospital on Mondays and Wednesdays. He especially enjoys connecting with fellow veterans who may be facing difficult or uncertain times during a hospital stay.
"When I walk into the room of another veteran, there's an immediate camaraderie," Lefferts said. "It doesn't matter if we served together or were in different branches. It doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman. We're brothers and sisters in arms. They served, and I served. We both made that commitment."
Through Pastoral Care, he offers patients someone who understands, someone willing to listen and, when welcomed, someone to pray with them. He believes the ministry is not about preaching but about being present for people when they need support most.
For Lefferts, faith and service naturally go hand in hand.
"There's a lot of trust in God, and sometimes people just need someone there for them," Lefferts said.
As Veterans Day approaches, Lefferts reflects on what the day means to him personally.
"Veterans Day is a day when, if there's no other day of the year, people should take the time to thank veterans for their service," he said. "It's special to me because I'm a veteran. I'm very proud to be one, and I'm proud of my service and what I accomplished."
He proudly displays an Army veteran flag in his front yard and flies the American flag every day as a reminder of the commitment he made more than five decades ago.
Although his military career concluded in 1995, his dedication to helping others has continued. Following his retirement, Lefferts spent 13 years as a Texas corrections officer and more than a decade building mobile homes, always finding ways to work, serve and provide for his family and community.
His story is a reminder that service does not end when a uniform is put away. It continues through acts of kindness, community involvement, honoring those who have gone before us, and standing beside those who need support.
This Veterans Day, DeTar Healthcare System recognizes Joe Lefferts and all veterans who have answered the call to serve. Through his military career, his dedication to fellow veterans and his compassionate volunteer work with DeTar Pastoral Care, Lefferts exemplifies a lifetime commitment to service.
His uniform may be retired, but his mission to serve others continues.
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