If you know past VFW Commander-in-Chief Matthew “Fritz” Mihelcic, you knew Mama Cass, too. Last month, Mama Cass passed away peacefully after a brief cancer battle — but not before making a lasting impact on the veteran community.
Fritz and Mama Cass’ special bond was evident. The loyal service dog accompanied Fritz on his travels and to events — she even appeared alongside him in his official VFW Commander-in-Chief photo. Together, they helped remove stigmas surrounding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions.
Past VFW National Commander Fritz Mihelcic's late service dog Mama Cass“By having her in my photo, we showed everyone that you can have PTSD and still accomplish great things,” said Fritz. “We met many people who told me that because of us, they saw that they too could be productive; that they weren’t damaged.”
Fritz understands how difficult it can be to work past feelings of self-doubt, anxiety and fear after serving — and how important it is to seek support. Like so many others, he struggled for years before being partnered with Mama Cass.
“It took me over 20 years to get to the point where I was ready for that,” he explained. “I went through the usual issues of a veteran coming home. I had to work through the many stages of that with therapy, medications and working on myself.”
With Mama Cass by his side, Fritz became better equipped to continue his journey to becoming whole again. As he described it, she gave him a longer leash to be more comfortable out in the world and get to where he needed to be.
Since her passing, Fritz has received an outpouring of support and heard stories about how Mama Cass helped others, too.
One veteran named Ryan wrote, “Mama was more than just a service dog for Fritz. She was a service dog to us all. She helped break not just barriers but the stigma of veterans suffering from PTSD, including myself.”
Others shared similar messages with Fritz, explaining that seeing him and Mama Cass motivated them to find support in their own battles.
“I know that we helped many people come forward and get the help and assistance they needed,” said Fritz. “Mama’s legacy will live on in the people she touched. Even in death, she is #StillServing.”