Local Veterans – Serving Our Country At Home

Our veterans deserve the upmost respect. They’ve put their lives on the line, sacrificed time with their family and friends, and some have endured unimaginable loss. This Veterans Day don’t forget how important these men and women are to the continued success and endurance of our nation.  

In the following section, two veterans, who have found great personal success on retiring from active service, are featured. They continue to give back to the great people of SWLA.  

And while our veterans might have transitioned out of service, many still suffer the consequences from being in stressful and traumatic situations. You can help the veteran in your life by spotting undiagnosed PTSD and helping them access the resources they need. 

Also, learn about The Boot, a nonprofit helping veterans acclimate to a new work force.

Dr. Eric Sanders: Sanders Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Eric Sanders never expected to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. He had had a nomadic childhood since his father served 20 years in the United States Air Force. And it wasn’t until Sanders was in eighth grade that he and his family settled in Lake Charles.  

After Sanders graduated from Barbe High School in 1982, he had plans to attend Louisiana State University. As both his parents only had an eighth-grade education, he thought he would attend college. However, once Sanders saw an Army commercial, he decided to connect with a recruiter. He quickly took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and scored a 99. He then completed his physical in Houston, Texas, and soon left for Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. 

Once at Fort Leonard Wood, Sanders was offered the job of intelligence analyst and received top-secret clearance. However, he would serve as the battalion commander’s jeep driver instead. Sanders then served active duty for three years at Fort Lewis in Washington state. During this time, he scaled Mount Rainier, which he describes as “one of the hardest things I have ever done.” 

Sanders was discharged from the military in 1985 and attended McNeese State University in the fall as a biology major. His tuition was paid for due to his service. Working in the U.S. Army taught Sanders “responsibility and commitment. It taught me that a challenge is just a challenge, and you can overcome most things you put effort into,” which helped him in his college career.  

Sanders made a transition to dentistry when his big brother in the fraternity Kappa Sigma chose to pursue dental school. Sanders was accepted to the LSU School of Dentistry. He worked at a charity hospital while attending, continuing the tradition of continuous employment since the age of 10 when he delivered newspapers.  

Graduating dental school in May 1993, the now Dr. Sanders went to work for Dental Plus in DeRidder, Louisiana. During this time Dr. Sanders met a pediatric dentist, Dr. Hendry, out of Lafayette, who he would work for one day a week. Dr. Sanders says it “opened my eyes to how fun and rewarding working with children could be.” In response, Dr. Sanders applied for a residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center, which he attended from 1995-1997. His initial plan of working in Lafayette with Dr. Hendry changed when he realized he wanted to open his own practice in Lake Charles. Sanders Pediatric Dentistry opened in July 1997.  

As a veteran, Dr. Sanders has the privilege of meeting many current service members since Fort Polk isn’t far away. He makes sure to thank them for their service. Emphasizing the importance of a “Thank you,” Sanders says, “As a veteran, I don’t think I am owed anything special, but a thank you goes a long way.” 

Dr. Sanders estimates the practice has treated around 34,000 children in the last 28 years, but says his competent staff is to thank for much of the business’ success. “I am most proud of having built an office that shows compassion and commitment to the community we serve. I am proud of all the employees that have graced our practice and who were instrumental in helping us become a great place to work and bring your kids to. I have had the same office manager, Kim Barnes, for over 28 years and she is the glue that keeps the office running. We have an associate now, Dr. Saima Khan, and this has been a blessing for me and my practice.” 

With no plan to retire soon, Dr. Sanders, his wife, Shiela, and his two daughters Maya and Meagan travel around the world while they are able. Dr. Sanders credits them with keeping him grounded. 

“I love what I do, and I love that I have, in some way, helped others with their dental fears and anxiety,” Dr. Sanders says. “I am humbled by the distance a lot of patients travel to come to see us and I appreciate each one of them.” 

Kelly Miseles: City Planner, City of Lake Charles

by Kerri Cooke

While Kelly Miseles now holds the role as city planner for the City of Lake Charles, reviewing permit applications and applying his knowledge on zoning and land use, he has a long history of service to the community and nation.

Miseles was a member of the U.S. Army for 23 years. While he considers the responsibility of commanding a company as the ultimate highlight during his service, he has also worked in foreign military sales, taught at the Baltic Defense College in Tartu, Estonia, led a combat platoon in Iraq, and held other positions which provided him with a wide-ranging view of how the military operates internationally.

Since Miseles spent a significant portion of his army career abroad and in different regions of the United States, his experiences opened his eyes to different ways of life and the uniqueness of Southwest Louisiana. “I was exposed to cultures and perspectives in a way that travel alone never could [equip me]. Living and working within those communities deepened my appreciation for what we have here in Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana—a sense of belonging, resilience and community that feels rare in many places.”

When it came time for a career shift, Miseles says his was “as seamless as one could hope for.” He had the finances he needed to retire and planned on giving back to the local community through volunteerism with the goal only to work if he found a position in which he could directly serve his community. Over the last ten years, Miseles has been on the board for Big Brothers Big Sisters, offered mentoring services with the help of the Community Foundation and the Veterans Treatment Court, and has held several leadership positions, including one with the American Legion Post 1. He is now president of the Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission (MAFC), which, he says, “serves as a bridge between city government and the military community.” The MAFC also organizes yearly events, such as the annual Patriots Ball of Louisiana, the Flag Day retirement ceremony, Lake Charles’ Veterans Day observance and their Veterans Outreach event. Before holding the position as planner for the City of Lake Charles, Miseles was coordinator for the SWLA STD Task Force and then veteran coordinator for McNeese State University.

To this day, Miseles believes there’s nothing like the relationship between soldiers. “I was just 22 years old when I learned the NCO Creed and this part has always stuck with me: ‘My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind—accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers.’ I see my role as president of the MAFC as a continuation of this creed.”

When it comes to life lessons learned from service, Miseles says, “When I was a young lieutenant, my company commander told me, ‘Success is only 10% talent and 90% effort.’ I later learned it was an Edison quote. It taught me to never let small obstacles stop me from accomplishing the mission.”

While there are many different ways to honor our veterans, Miseles stresses that the best way to do this will depend on the individual and the experiences they’ve had. “No two military journeys—not even two soldiers on the same deployment—are the same. We all carry different scars and, in turn, different needs when we transition out of service. The best way to honor veterans is to meet them where they are and ensure they have access to the resources and support they need.”