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From the Battlefield to home: The Inspiring Journey of Stephen Paul Campos
- Stephen Campos
- Nov 2, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 21
Stephen Paul Campos is the owner of Senor Campos Salsa also a disabled veteran and accomplished author. His journey is one of failure and spiritual awakening to sharing his experiences through both his salsa and words.
A Life of Service: From Soldier to Disco mania and working for Campos Foods
Stephen enlisted in the US Army in 1967. He trained in combat and then was sent to Vietnam with the 199th. Light Infantry Brigade from April 3, 1968, to April 3, 1969. After his tour in Vietnam, he was sent to the 1st. Division (Big Red One) and completed his enlistment. In 1970, he returned home, and he set out on a path of alcohol abuse, tried to forget about his military service and intergrade into society. During the 1960's the American public treated its war hero's by call them losers and baby killers. Stephen escaped into a world of drinking, working, partying and a lifestyle of trying to fit into the "Amercian Dream".
Back to work after his service at Campos Foods
Stephen went back to work for his father at Campos Foods and opened a restaurant Senor Campos franchise but his partying and indulging with women took its toll on him. He didn't know that he had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder until years later.
The Power of Resilience: Overcoming Challenges
In 1982, he had two drunk driving arrests and had to attend Alcoholics Meetings during one year with a program called C.A.R.E. School (Center for Alcohol Recovery Education). Later, that year in 1982, he hit his rock bottom and fell into a state of extreme anxiety and depression. On the verge of insanity one night, he called out for help. He asked "God for help". In the wee morning hours on January 9th around 2am Stephen had a Spiritual Awakening that saved his life and put him on a path of sobriety, that he still is on today.
A Journey in Words
"All I can tell you is that cried out to God, and he heard me! I started going A.A. meetings and then to church and my whole life changed. In 2004, I got divorced and moved from California to live with my brother Roger and his wife in Baltimore, Maryland. I continued to go to church and practice the 12 Steps to Recovery and then I received a phone call from my buddy Jim Dyckhoff, who was my best buddy in Vietnam. He told me he had found our other combat buddy Eric Yingst who was living close to me in Harrisburg, PA.
A Trio's Journey
I was reluctant to call Eric since, it had been almost forty years later, and I still had never talked about my military service and combat duty in Vietnam to anyone. Later that week I finally called him. Wow, it was like old times! "How are you doing Big Buddy-Ten Four, Over and Out", Eric said, and he waited for my reply? I was shocked and caught off guard, but I responded I'm doing fine! Eric invited me to attend his church for a service in November 2004.
Reunited with his Combat Buddies
Eric invited me to attend his church in Harrisburg in 2004, where he was the Senior Pastor. When I arrived, I was met by his wife, and she pointed to him in the other direction. There he stood. He was wearing his Army uniform. He set me and my girlfriend down in a seat and started the service. I found out within a few minutes that this was a service honoring those who served in Vietnam. Eric told his congregation that we had served together and presented me with an award for my military service. I literary broke down and cried. No one had ever said "thank you" or honored me for serving!
Later the next year in 2005, three of us would meet together, Jim, Eric and myself for the very first time since, we served together in 1968. It was an emotion time. We were met by a newspaper reporter from the Washington Post. He took our story and took pictures of us while we walked the lonely walk along "the wall". I found the place where our combat brothers names were etched. We were moved beyond emotion and honored our fallen combat brothers. That was Memorial Day 2005.
Meet Stephen Campos: A Veteran and Author
After that day I felt so proud to have served that I wanted to share my story with other Vietnam Veterans. I was encouraged by my girlfriend Kathy (now wife) to write about my experiences. Fresh in my mind was my story. It spilled out in my mind, and I experienced every emotion as if I was living it, as I had done in 1968. The words poured out of my soul. There were still so many- many, Vietnam Veterans, who were still in denial and didn't want to talk about their service. I felt compelled to write my story.
In 2009, I published my first book titled "Charlie Doesn't Live Here Anymore". I wanted to share my experiences with other veterans and the general public who didn't know much about the war. I shared how I was able to get sober in A.A., and me going back to church where I studied the Bible. My entire was changed. But I wasn't until 2006, that I finally got help in the VA healthcare system.
So, today, my sobriety, my books and love for my father's delicious salsa, have led me on this path. It is my path of passion about my father's delicious salsa and my mission to spread the word about how I was able to overcome my alcohol dysfunction through my books!
My books are available on https://www.stephenpaulcamposbooks.com
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