A DISABLED veteran has avoided homelessness by creating a sign to ask for help.

The unnamed man had less than four days before he was going to be evicted from his home, according to the local American Legion.

So, he made a sign explaining that he had no more money, needed help packing, as well as asking for help renting a moving truck.

When the daughter of Grady Barefield, a former commander at Greeneville American Legion Post 64, saw the sign she contacted her father.

She lives near the veteran and reached out to her dad who then got in touch with American Legion First District Commander Jim McLaughlin to see what they could do to assist the vet.

McLaughlin first asked Johnson City Post 24 Adjutant Michael Metzner to look into the situation to confirm its legitimacy.

“If you deem this veteran is in deep trouble and we need to help … get me a moving date and I’ll rally the troops. You just let him know help is on the way,” said McLaughlin.

And mobilize they did. Even though the veteran had already paid for a 26-foot-long U-Haul, the vehicle wasn’t nearly large enough to transport all of his things.

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Post 24 paid for another moving truck and 10 different First District Legion posts pitched in to help him pack, some from more than 80 miles away.

“We all work together. We all communicate with each other,” said McLaughlin.

He added: “We all help each other, that is what The American Legion is supposed to be. The coordination of helping this one veteran was a piece of cake. It touched my heart, there’s no doubt about it.”

With all hands on deck from all the 19 Legion Family members the vet’s belongings were packed in three and a half hours.

“Michael told me over the phone that when he met the (veteran), he was done. His state of depression … he was at his lowest point,” McLaughlin said.

He added: “The man’s beaten cancer a couple times, so he’s not had an easy life. So honest to God, when we showed up that morning … it made a difference.”

Metzner felt their work that day transcended a simple move. McLaughlin recalled their conversation: “He looked at me and said, ‘Today we saved a life, boss.’ And I said, ‘Yes sir, we did.’ We’re here to help. We’re here to be the one.”

The veteran’s son found his father some property in Tennessee to relocate to and the veteran will also have the support of the legion in his new home state.

Bradley County Post 81 Adjutant Dwight Woodcock said Tennessee’s Legionnaires would be there for the veteran whenever he’s ready to move into his new home.

“His U-Hauls are in Chattanooga,” Woodcock said. “They’re waiting to be unloaded as soon as we get the word. We don’t kick it down the road. Someone’s got to be in charge in real-time.”