Local News

Marquette’s Provost earns UP Veteran of the Year honor

MARQUETTE -- Marine Corps veteran Jim Provost, aware of the suffering veterans face day to day, has committed his life to being part of a network that helps veterans, earning him a prestigious service award -- U.P. Veteran of the Year.

Chosen by the Upper Peninsula Veteran of the Year Committee, Provost has continually shown his dedication to his fellow servicemen in and out of the line of active duty.

Provost has received these military decorations: Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions w/Palm), Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross w/Palm), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal (2*), Vietnamese Campaign Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

After serving as a Marine from 1965 to 1969, with a tour of Vietnam in 1966, Provost was just as shell-shocked coming home as he was when joining the service. Going from a state of living in one's fight-or-flight response in active combat, adrenaline to the max, civilian life seems comparably hollow -- alienating.

"You gotta understand," he said, "I was in the field when I got my orders to go home. Four days later, I'm standing in my living room."

As a shell of his former self, Provost tried to regain that heart-racing sense of exhilaration. He said himself that he "lived to die." He drove recklessly, drank excessively and raised "holy hell."

He was in denial about needing help, downplaying his inner turmoil, until his mother said something to him akin to a splash of cold water in the middle of the night.

She asked, "Where is my son?"

Provost had hit rock bottom.

"I, at one time, sat in the woods with a pistol in my mouth. I was that close to being one of those statistics," Provost said. "The one thing that saved me was my family ... I was worried what they would have to go through if I took the easy way out ...That's when I started looking for help."

From there, he learned about post-traumatic stress disorder from one of his buddies and began going to group therapy to understand his feelings better.

"I want to help other veterans," Provost told his Veteran Affairs doctor. He was particularly inspired to spread awareness due to the negative perception of Vietnam veterans he experienced.

"We, Vietnam veterans, finally said, 'Hey, we can't let this happen to other veterans'... with the people spitting at us and throwing stuff at us and calling us warmongers and killers," he said. "We were sent to do a job by our government ... It wasn't our decision to go, so it was hard for us to accept the fact that people felt that way towards us ... it was pretty rough and there was times that people asked me, 'Were you ever in the service?' And I said, 'No.' Well, I'll tell you what, I'm one proud Marine right now, and I'm proud of what I did."

Provost started his advocacy with small gestures. He would ask fellow veterans if they were in the health system. If they said no, he would respond by telling them they would take a trip to Iron Mountain so they could get enrolled.

On his journey, Provost has discovered just how stubborn veterans can be -- just as he was once.

"The thing that I hear now from veterans is 'There's a lot of guys that need help a lot more than me.' There are," he said, "and we'll help them, but you deserve help also."

To this day, Provost has been one of the most influential veterans in Marquette County. He created the Marquette County Veteran Alliance and spearheaded its nonprofit status, bylaws, advertising and recruitment.

Through them, he's helped transport an 80% scale re-creation of Washington D.C.'s Vietnam Wall to Marquette and created the Veterans Phone App that gives veterans a one-stop resource to military events, news concerning veterans as well as financial discounts.

This year, Provost led fundraising efforts for the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22 Veteran Transportation Program. With more than $28,000 raised, it was able to purchase two more vehicles and save for a future one.

This program funds the transportation for veterans to go to rehabilitation, VA centers or hospitals. Provost often personally drives veterans who are struggling to the VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wis.

He is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Marine Corps League, 40 et 8 as well as a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Marquette County Veterans Alliance.

He has had these positions in veteran organizations: chairman of the Marquette County Veterans Alliance, DAV senior vice commander, DAV Chapter 22 commander, DAV Chapter 22 treasurer and VFW Post 6 senior vice commander.

Most importantly to the man himself, Provost emphasizes that it's not just him doing all the heavy lifting.

He said his efforts are merely part of a larger network of veterans helping veterans.

"I'm being honored for what I do," Provost said, "but it's a 'we' thing. It's not me... When I accept this award, I want to accept it on the behalf of the other, uh, candidates that were put in for it, too ... And they're all as deserving as I am ... Hats off to them."

Even the community at large has benefitted from his work. Provost and his wife, Judy, along with two other couples, started the Marquette County Youth Football Program. With an $8,000 loan, Judy and Jim Provost bought all the equipment themselves and started the program.

Perhaps Provost's motto in life comes from reflecting upon his actions as he said, "You gotta give back."

Provost and his family will be honored with a ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday on the Embers/Meijer Stage during the Upper Peninsula State Fair in Escanaba.