Jane and Roger Hargens were moved to found Operation Middle Ground after reading the story of Curtis Gearhart, a young Iowan who joined the U.S. Army upon graduating from Lincoln High School for Des Moines. Curtis, who served two tours of duty in Iraq as a combat engineer, was honorably discharged in 2007.
His family knew Curtis wasn’t the same person he had been prior to his service. Although he sought treatment, he couldn’t find peace. Shortly before his death, Curtis suffered from debilitating headaches, but was placed on a Veterans Administration waiting list for medical care.
Curtis was laid to rest on Nov. 10, 2016 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa.
Close friend Brie Lyndsey remembers Curtis as “the funniest person I’ve ever known in my life. He was so kind and ready to be there for you no matter what.”
Major Michael Burns of Joint Base Lewis-McChord southwest of Tacoma, Wash., wrote after Curtis’s death, “He was a warrior and he served with honor and courage.”
When Des Moines television station WHO contacted U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who is also an Iraq veteran, after Gearhart’s death, she responded, “The loss of Curtis Gearhart is truly tragic and my prayers are with Curtis, his family and friends at this time. We absolutely must ensure our men and women who have selflessly sacrificed in defense of our freedoms receive the quality, timely care they deserve. I am looking into what happened between the VA and Curtis, and what steps can be taken to prevent such tragedies in the future.”