11/11/2025
Re-sharing a powerful - Donka Student and Veteran whose journey is rooted in giving back. From military to mentorship, Dale Lewter has proven time and again, he "Can't Be Broken." Read his inspiring story!
⭐️Donka Student Spotlight ⭐️ A Spirit That “Can’t Be Broken” Dale Lewter - From Military to Mentorship. A Veteran's Journey Rooted in Giving Back!
When Dale Lewter reflects on his life, you can feel the weight of his words. A veteran, a mentor, and now a student at Donka—Dale carries with him a philosophy forged by hardship, service, and survival. His journey is one of resilience, transformation, and the unshakable desire to give back.
Dale joined Donka’s training program in June 2025 and is working with Donka instructor, John Strong, with one mission in mind: to gain the computer skills needed to transition into a new career path as a Recovery Support Specialist. “I was a computer dummy when I started,” he admitted with a laugh, “but John is patient and a great teacher. I’ve learned more in ten minutes with him than I did with anyone else.” But Dale’s motivation runs deeper than acquiring skills.
Dale’s passion is to work in social services, helping veterans and others struggling with mental health and substance abuse. He is driven by the same kind of help he once received—the desire to pass it forward. “One man changed my life, and I want to be the one man who does the same for someone else,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion as he reflected on the road that brought him here.
Dale’s military service spans 15 years—half on active duty and half in the reserves. Dale joined the Army after dropping out of school and experiencing a turbulent childhood in foster care. “I didn’t know what I was going to do after high school,” he said. “The Army gave me a chance to figure out my career path, see the world, and get experience.”
He began his service as a mechanic and later cross-trained into several roles, eventually becoming a drill sergeant. But it was early in his basic training that he encountered a life-changing moment. “Two weeks in, I thought I made the biggest mistake of my life,” he said. “People thought I was crazy. But my drill sergeant pulled me aside and said, ‘Look son, you’re not crazy, you’re just scared. Hang in there, you’ll be okay.’ That was the first time anyone ever believed in me.”
That sergeant—Drill Sergeant Edwards—left a lasting mark. “He changed my life in one sentence,” Dale said. “I don’t know where he is now or even if he’s still alive, but I want him and his family to know what he did for me.” Dale still lives by that wisdom: “The right thing said to the right person at the right time can change a life.”
Though Dale has been out of the Army for over 25 years, the bond of brotherhood hasn’t faded. He sees that every day he works as a greeter at Edward Hines VA hospital where veterans, bound by shared experience, continue to stand by one another. Throughout his post-military career, Dale has worn many hats—from managing limousine companies to delivering medical supplies—but every step has led toward a future in service that centers around his lifelong calling: saving lives. Today, Dale is determined to be a lifeline for those who feel alone. “People often say, ‘I have nobody,’ Dale shares, “but I want to be their somebody.”
“You have to teach people how to be independent, how to love themselves again—sometimes even how to be human again,” Dale reflects. “And sometimes that means picking yourself up from whatever life throws at you, starting over, and becoming a product of your own design.”
Dale believes every obstacle is a battle. “Drug addiction, mental health issues, financial stress—each one is its own kind of war. And you have to train to fight to win.” He knows the fight isn’t easy, but he also knows it isn’t impossible.
Dale often speaks in affirmations—powerful lessons etched into his character by experience and pain. When asked what advice he gives to Veterans facing challenges, Dale’s quick to respond, “It’s 100% all attitude. If you think it stinks, it does. If you think it’ll be okay, it will be.” He elaborates that people must be ready and willing to seek help. “If they’re not at that stage, nothing you say or do will make a difference. You have to give them space and time to get there.”
One of Dale’s guiding principles comes from Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” It shapes not only how he mentors others, but how he lives his life.
When asked what superpower he wishes he had, Dale’s answer left me speechless in the most profound and heartwarming way. “I already have it. I save lives every day,” he said. “I become that person they never had, guiding them on the right path.”
People are often surprised when they hear Dale’s story—his traumatic childhood, the battles he’s fought—and then meet the man he has become despite what he’s been through. It’s that triumph that fuels his commitment to a life of service.
Throughout our conversation, Dale’s voice often caught with emotion, but when asked to sum up his journey in one phrase, he smiled through the tears and said, “Can’t be broken. Everyone’s tried.” Dale wears his past as a badge of honor –fueling his drive to be an unshakeable, unstoppable force for change. At Donka, we are deeply honored to be a part of Dale’s story and to witness, firsthand, the truth behind his words.
Donka, Inc.
