Fighting for Freedom

Roughly two years ago, Ken and Anne Bottoms made the move into Stevenson Oaks, leaving their home and ridding themselves of much of their belongings during the downsizing process. As they selected which wall hangings would be goners and which would make the cut, there was no question which piece would be carefully packed and displayed prominently in their new home; a special plaque, hand-made in a prison woodworking shop. The prized possession, that now hangs in his office, was presented to Ken as a token of appreciation by a group of incarcerated veterans.

When Ken retired in 2005, he knew   exactly what he wanted to do, help veterans. He connected with a World War II veteran from his church who introduced him to The Success Program, a special ministry sponsored by the Prison Chaplaincy program and specifically designed to help them re-enter society after serving their sentence.  

Each year, Bottoms puts an average of 50K miles on his vehicle, traveling from prison to prison across the State of Texas. For perspective, the circumference of the earth is 24,901 miles around. Bottoms could drive around the earth twice in one year to equal the amount of miles he typically drives for this effort.

The ministry has multiple components. One of the first priorities is establishing a veteran's group to give them a sense of comradery with one another. More specifically, a color guard is set up, complete with an ascot, berets, and arm bands which the program provides. The color guard provides structure and a sense of pride. They also form a multitude of committees to fulfill a variety of initiatives.

The next important step is education. Bottoms has a library of books lining the shelves in his office that are used to   educate and support the tooling these gentlemen need to thrive. For example, there is a job interview guide that shares the best practices to nail the interview. This is only one example of how the program boosts the confidence for these veterans to get their lives back in good order.

The ministry extends beyond the classes and group meetings in the prison as well. Ken continues to follow the guys after they have been released, resourcing them as things come up. For example, Bottoms shared about a veteran named Jack who was placed in re-entry housing in Houston with ten men living in an overcrowded, two-bedroom house. The matter was further complicated as not everyone in the home was seeking the success Jack had been challenged to pursue. With drugs and other trouble surrounding the home, Jack knew he was close to going back to prison if something didn’t change. That’s when he opened his wallet and Ken’s card fell out. Once he got the call, Bottoms jumped in his vehicle to pick him up, managing to rehouse him with a group in East Texas where he is now thriving.

Another example of the aftercare Bottoms provides is the trips he takes to West Texas to support a veteran who is both deaf and mute. Bottoms takes him to his medical appointments while also spending the extra time to mentor him for continued success.

Bottoms beams with pride as he talks about these successful veterans who have pushed past the multitude of barriers to reclaim their lives in the free world.

Then there’s Clarence, a local to the DFW area who connected with Bottoms shortly after he was released. The money he had saved while in prison for a hotel room had run out. Without the basics in place, many reformed prisoners struggle to achieve all they are capable of, especially when it comes to stable housing. True to form, Bottoms hopped in the truck to go get him. He was able to take him into a homeless shelter where he was able to get his life moving in the right direction. “He is a real self-starter and has done great. He has recently been promoted in the job where he has been working. He goes to church with us every Sunday and he was baptized into Christ,” he explained.

When asked why, out of all of the ways one might spend their retirement years would he choose incarcerated veterans, he launched into his answer as though he didn’t have to even think of how to form a response. “They're sort of forgotten people. It’s hard for them to get anyone’s attention on the outside,” he explained, “They served our country. They signed on the dotted line, they’d be willing to die for our country. But once they make a mistake that gets them in prison, they just sort of fall off the end of the world with other people.” An Airforce veteran himself, it seems Bottoms took the Airman’s Creed personally when it reads in part:

I will never leave an Airman                    

Behind, I will never falter,                    

and I will not fail.

Bottoms first uttered the Airman’s Creed when he enlisted in 1968 where he achieved great success, even receiving a Commendation Medal for designing and testing the first minicomputer in an aircraft. He reached the rank of Captain, earning a multitude of honors and awards along the way. Yet, it is the little plaque made in a prison woodshop that draws the corners of his mouth up to form a smile.

For Bottoms, his commitment to fight for freedom started as a young Airman and is still active today as he works tirelessly to see men set free from mistakes and strongholds that may have held them hostage, leading them to discover true freedom. Thank you to Captain Ken Bottoms for your faithfulness to never leave a man behind.  

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