About Us - oncewasinc.org

About Once Was Inc. — Serving Louisiana Veterans with Dignity and Faith

Learn the story of Once Was Inc., a veteran-led nonprofit in Louisiana dedicated to standing in the gap for veterans who live far from VA hospitals. Our mission is to restore dignity, stability, and community support for every veteran and family we serve.

The Name Behind The Mission

“Once Was” isn’t just a name — it’s a testimony.

It reflects the personal journey of Petty Officer Michael Edmond:

I once was an active-duty service member.
I once was addicted to drugs.
I once was homeless.

Michael Edmond joined the U.S. Navy in 1991. With sharp attention to detail, a tireless work ethic, and an unwavering sense of loyalty, he embodied the values of service. During his tenure, he was deployed three times — and like so many veterans, returned bearing invisible wounds. The military trains service members to fight for their country, but rarely prepares them to process the emotional toll that service can take.

After years of pushing forward without space to heal, Michael turned to drugs as a means of coping with PTSD. During his second enlistment, he was discharged for drug use and returned home to Carencro, Louisiana, with no roadmap for civilian life and no support system in place.

Back home, he struggled to find employment and acceptance. Employers saw him as overqualified. Friends and family misread his PTSD symptoms and pulled away. Michael’s addiction worsened, and he soon found himself homeless and alone.

In search of a new beginning, Michael moved to Houston, Texas — a step that became a turning point. There, he discovered the Veterans Hospital and began learning about the benefits he had earned through service. The journey wasn’t easy. He was initially denied housing assistance but received support for employment. While working at the VA Hospital, he earned a college degree using his Post-9/11 GI Bill and became a certified peer specialist, helping other veterans navigate PTSD and addiction recovery.

It was in Houston that Michael also met Racquel, a compassionate educator in the greater Houston area. With her steadfast love and belief in him, Michael found purpose in his pain — and a renewed calling.

In 2018, Michael and Racquel co-founded Once Was, Inc.
Their mission: to serve veterans and their families, especially those without direct access to military facilities. Their vision is grounded in personal experience, fueled by faith, and driven by a deep desire to give back to those who have sacrificed so much.

Honoring Service. Restoring Stability. Rebuilding Community.

We Stand For

Guiding Statements

Mission

Our mission is to call attention to the lack of resources available to veterans returning to their hometowns without the support of a nearby VA hospital. Once Was Inc. exists to provide solutions that restore dignity, stability, and belonging — ensuring veterans receive the care and honor they have earned.

Vision

Once Was Inc. envisions a world where every veteran and their immediate family — regardless of distance from military resources — can access the support, dignity, and community they deserve. We aim to eliminate barriers to care, ensuring that no one who served is ever left behind, forgotten, or alone in their transition to civilian life.

The Transition to Civilian Life is Difficult. We Provide Solutions.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to honor the unseen sacrifices of veterans and their families by meeting them where they are, restoring dignity, and rebuilding what was lost — stability, identity, and connection.