‘Mission United’ targets help to Florida’s post-9/11 veterans

By Ariel Barkhurst / Sun Sentinel Posted on December 3, 2012

Marine Corps veteran Dylan Howerton had a legal problem he couldn’t solve: he wanted to divorce his wife, who left him three years ago.

But she never had the same address long enough to serve her with divorce papers, and he couldn’t find a lawyer to help.

Enter Legal Aid, whose officials told Howerton they could get him a divorce even if they couldn’t find his wife.

“It was like a big burden was lifted off my chest, because I don’t have to worry about being married to someone I don’t even know anymore,” said Howerton, 23, who served two tours in Afghanistan and now lives in Hollywood with his 3-year-old daughter, Hayden.

Howerton and Legal Aid’s matchmaker is Mission United, a new effort by the United Way of Broward County to help 110,00 local veterans, with an emphasis on aiding veterans of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Read more in the Sun Sentinel about how Mission United assists veterans in south Florida, from help finding a job to a replacement air conditioning unit.

 

 

 

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  • Eliana Howerton

    My name is Eliana Howerton, I am this man’s wife. I left him 3 years ago due to Mental, and physical abuse. He claims not to have my address or that I don’t keep an address, but I have been living at my current address for over a year, he collects child support from me. In order for him to file child support he has to have my address. Here is a link to why I left him. . http://www.mugshotsonline.com/georgia/lawrenceville/dylan-ezekiel-howerton/4873252

    He also has my phone number, and regardless of the fact that we have joint custody I have not been able to see my daughter since July. The thing that amazes me is this man who has records of being physical and mentally abuses is getting this help from charitable organizations , yet when I try to contact Mission united, The Family Advocacy at Camp Lejuene or Onslow County District courts (Since, the cases were originally in Onslow County, NC)

    If he wants a divorce, I am more then happy to sign the paperwork. You can contact me via Email, and I would gladly provide you with the address to serve the paperwork. Since I do not advocate any woman staying in a relationship with an abusive man, regardless of veteran status. It amazes me that I am being slandered for leaving an abusive situation, simply because he is a veteran.

  • Eliana Howerton

    My name is Eliana Howerton , and I am this man’s wife. I left Dylan due to mental and physical abuse three years ago. His claims that I have not had a consistent address are completely false. I have lived at my current address for over a year now. He also collects child support from me, in order to file for child support he needs to have my address. He also has my phone number, and regardless of us having joint custody I have not been able to see my daughter since July because he refuses to provide an address of his current residence.

    Here is a link to why I left him http://www.mugshotsonline.com/georgia/lawrenceville/dylan-ezekiel-howerton/4873252/ IF he wants a divorce, I will gladly sign the paperwork. Since I do not advocate any woman staying in an abusive relationship regardless of his veteran status. It simply amazes me to no end, that this man is defrauding charitable organizations , while when I call Mission United, The Family Advocacy at Camp Lejuene or the Onslow County Clerk, ( Since the original Divorce/Custody case was in Onslow County.) I am offered no assistance.

    I feel I am being slandered simply because I chose to leave an abusive man who happens to be a veteran. I still have envelopes of pictures he sent to my address proving that he knows where I reside. I can’t believe I am being slandered for refusing to stay in an abusive marriage.