MINNEAPOLIS— Susan Budzyna Klein was introduced to life in the military at an early age.
“My father was the commander of the recruiting command I was under, so I got used to traveling light,” Susan Klein said.
Klein traveled around the country with her father before joining the U.S. Army as a journalist and public affairs specialist.
She was at the top of her class at the prestigious Defense Information School and worked in Honduras before she got the opportunity of a lifetime.
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“The big dream, of course, is like the big show would go to Europe. Then West and East Germany AFN Frankfurt was the headquarters where I made it,” Klein said.
Klein broke barriers and stories that set her apart from others at the Armed Forces Network. She served for eight years and then attended Austin Pea State University to earn her degree in public relations and marketing. Her first civilian job was in radio.
“I moved to Birmingham, Alabama and was a morning co-anchor on WZZK news, this is what happens,” Klein said.
Life was good. She married her college sweetheart and they had a son, Ben. When he graduated and joined the military, Susan says her life fell apart.
Her husband no longer wanted to get married. She packed what she could into her car and left.
“It’s kind of sad when everything you own fits in your car and there’s room for more,” Klein said.
Klein moved from one city to another, working job after job to support himself. Until one day she couldn’t do that anymore.
“Everything that I carried from my last relationship and everything that I just couldn’t do, I had a huge anxiety panic attack and I said I just can’t do this anymore,” Klein said.
Suicidal thoughts clouded her mind. Klein contacted an army buddy who lived in Iowa.
“She said no, don’t come here, so I packed everything I had in my car and moved to Iowa. I got involved with the VA, they helped me recognize my fear,” Klein said. “I was doing really well and then I met this guy and he said, ‘Hey, I got a job in Minneapolis and I was working remotely, so I said, yeah, let me do this.’
Life was good again. Then she lost her job. The financial stress ended her relationship and her trusted vehicle became her safe haven.
“I was driving around thinking about what I was going to do and I went to my Google Maps Veterans Activities Saturday and then ETS Every Third Saturday came up,” Klein said.
ETS is where she met a MACV Outreach Specialist.
“And there’s a lovely lady named Amanda and it’s so cool to have another female veteran to talk to,” Klein said.
Amanda helped Klein get into a hotel and eventually an apartment of her own.
“The one thing I can tell you about all of this, Reg, is that I was always treated with dignity and respect,” Klein said.
Klein credits MACV with helping her get her life back on track.
“It’s not just here that you have the key to your room, but also make sure you have someone who is a battle buddy to help and guide you. With MACV, you are not alone,” Klein said.
Klein is now involved with the Warrior’s Return program on Every Third Saturday. She hopes to give back by serving as a peer counselor to help other transitioning female veterans who need a little help. Klein urges veterans, especially women, to reach out when they need support.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, please reach out for help Suicide and crisis lifeline by calling or texting 988. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day to talk about anything. In addition, help is available from the National Alliance on Mental Illnessor NAMI. Call the NAMI helpline 800-950-6264 or text “HelpLine” to 62640. There are more than 600 local NAMI organizations and affiliates nationwide, many of which offer free support and education programs.
