How one Corpus Christi man fought back after 25 years of addiction and homelessness

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — As the nation marks 250 years of military history, stories of sacrifice and resilience continue to emerge from former service members who fought battles overseas and long after returning home.

For some, trauma, addiction and homelessness become a second war after military service ends.

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One Corpus Christi veteran says a local treatment program helped him rebuild his life after decades of addiction.

At the Cenikor rehab facility on Cantwell Street, counselors say they hope more homeless veterans seek treatment before more lives are lost.

Scott Bullard is one of those veterans who finally walked through the doors looking for help. The former Marine says unresolved trauma after returning home in 1997 led to years of alcohol and drug addiction.

“The night that I got home from the Marine Corps in 1997, driving up the Harbor Bridge I put my first line of cocaine up my nose and it destroyed me for 25 years,” Bullard said. “It was very progressive.”

Bullard said addiction eventually cost him his family, his housing and his dream of working in law enforcement.

“I was the guy behind eating out of a Whataburger dumpster,” Bullard said. “I know a lot of people wouldn’t say that here on the news but I was that guy.”

Counselors at Cenikor say many veterans entering treatment are determined to rebuild their lives once they commit to recovery.

“They sit down and they tell me, ‘What do you need from me? What do I do? Help me move forward,’” veterans counselor Caitlyn Bailey said. “When we go through the different steps and goals they set their mind to it and they do it.”

Senior Regional Director Crystal Aguilar said asking for help is often the hardest step.

“I always applaud people who walk through our doors who are brave enough to ask for help or come in for services because there’s a lot of people out there unfortunately still struggling,” Aguilar said.

Bullard is now continuing his recovery at home while searching for work and training for marathons as he focuses on his future.

After years of running from addiction, he said he is finally running toward something better.