A Free Ride to the VA for East Texas Veterans

Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11.

Here is something useful to pass along before then. Most veterans I know will not ask anybody for a ride. So this one is for the people who love them.

GoVET: a free ride to the VA hospital in Shreveport

GoBus is the rural transit service run by the East Texas Council of Governments. It has a program called GoVET that takes veterans to the Overton Brooks VA Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Here is what GoBus's own veteran transportation page says:

• It is free for veterans and active military.
• It runs on Tuesdays, or alternate days for group trips.
• It serves Camp, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Rusk and Upshur counties.
• GoBus picks you up at home so you arrive at the VA by 9:30 AM, and it heads back to East Texas at 3:30 PM.
• You must reserve a seat in advance by calling GoBus at 903-215-8870.
• Inside the Longview city limits, Longview Transit provides free trips to the depot for veterans.

Rides for more than the doctor

The same page says GoBus gives rides to eligible veterans, their dependents and surviving spouses across its 14-county region. That includes medical appointments, grocery stores, community meetings and the tax office.

A few things to know before you call:

• Bring proof of service, or proof of your relationship to the veteran, when you book. The Veteran Intake Form on the GoBus veteran page lists which documents count.
• Booking hours are Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and the buses are wheelchair accessible.
• The GoBus home page says veterans and active military ride free, and anyone else can ride for $2 a trip.
• GoBus lists Veterans Day, November 11, as one of its 2026 service closure days. Book around it.

GoBus also posted that the East Texas Council of Governments received a $175,000 grant from the Texas Veterans Commission to keep veteran transportation running. That is good news for a lot of families in the piney woods who live a long way from the nearest VA.

Help with paperwork in Marion County

For benefits and paperwork, Marion County has a Veteran Service Officer at the courthouse in Jefferson. According to the county's Veteran Services page:

• The office is at 102 W. Austin, Room 103, in Jefferson.
• It is in the basement, beside the elevators.
• Office hours are Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
• The phone number is 903-601-2266.

The Marion County home page lists Wednesday, November 11, as the next county holiday, so call ahead before you drive over that week.

If you are in Gregg or Harrison County, yesterday I put those county veterans offices in one place, linked below.

Five ways to help a veteran this week

1. Save the GoBus number. 903-215-8870. Put it in your phone and in theirs.
2. Make the call with them. Sit at the kitchen table and book the ride together. A lot of us will do something if somebody does it beside us.
3. Find the proof of service first. Help them dig out their paperwork before the call so booking goes smoothly.
4. Go to the courthouse with them. If they have a benefits question, drive them to the Marion County office on a Wednesday or Thursday and wait in the hall.
5. Know where everything else lives. The Texas Veterans Portal connects veterans, families and caregivers to state benefits and services.

And save one more number. The Veterans Crisis Line is free, confidential and open 24 hours. Dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255. A veteran does not have to be enrolled in VA care to reach them.

As a Marine, I can tell you a ride and a phone call can mean more than a parade. Thank a veteran this week. Then help one get where they need to go.