U.S. Army veteran John Cooper Jr. from Niagara Falls, NY, has been awarded the title of Military Hero of the Year by the Red Cross of Western New York in recognition of his dedicated service to his country and his commitment to assisting the homeless veteran community in Niagara Falls. Cooper served as a sniper section leader in the United States Army Infantry, specifically in the 25th Infantry and 10th Mountain Divisions, completing a combat tour in Afghanistan.
After six years of military service, Cooper left the Army in 2021 and began his journey in seminary while engaging in military ministry in Watertown, NY, with aspirations of becoming an Army chaplain. He and his family later returned to his hometown of Niagara Falls where Cooper took on the role of case manager at the Niagara Gospel Mission, a Christian recovery center and homeless shelter, and eventually rose to the position of executive director.
At the Niagara Gospel Mission, Cooper oversees the “Recon Program,” which supports men facing homelessness and struggles with addiction. The program offers biblical counseling, classes, food, shelter, and clothing, while also encouraging clients to participate in chores that equip them with skills for the tourism industry in Niagara Falls. The program emphasizes reconciliation, helping clients mend broken relationships and seek spiritual healing.
“Our main focus is on rebuilding relationships, which can significantly aid in their recovery from addiction,” Cooper explained.
Through his work at the Niagara Gospel Mission, Cooper recognized the significant number of veterans in need within the community—approximately 30 percent of the men in the program are veterans. This realization reinforced his belief that his family’s return to Niagara Falls was divinely orchestrated.
“Having experienced housing loss myself, I saw firsthand how many veterans lacked the family support I had. We could have easily found ourselves on the streets,” he shared.
Cooper transformed an unused room in the Niagara Gospel Mission into a dedicated space for homeless veterans and initially provided eight emergency beds for veterans referred by hospitals or Veterans Affairs (VA). The facility has since expanded to include seven transitional housing rooms for veterans who are employed but struggling to find permanent housing.
In an effort to further support veterans, Cooper is launching “Redeploy,” a new program specifically designed for veterans that will provide additional PTSD and trauma counseling with a strong emphasis on the Gospel.
“We believe that while providing food, clothing, and shelter is important, it’s essential to also offer spiritual guidance. Without the Gospel, it’s merely a more comfortable path to despair,” he stated.
Cooper was honored with the Military Hero of the Year award during the Red Cross of Western New York’s Real Heroes Celebration on October 25th.
“I am truly humbled to receive this recognition for the work God is doing through the Niagara Gospel Mission,” he remarked. “My commitment to serving my community led me to the battlefield in Afghanistan, and now that I’m home, I’m dedicated to fighting for the souls of the people here.”
He credits his dedicated team at the Niagara Gospel Mission for their significant contributions to helping homeless veterans and emphasizes that all achievements are ultimately "for the glory of God."
Despite Niagara Falls being a popular tourist destination, Cooper describes the area as “very dark and depressed,” highlighting the urgent need for spiritual renewal.
“We firmly believe that the Gospel can transform not only individual lives but also the entire community. Our mission is to rebuild the city by rebuilding lives,” he concluded.
Niagara Falls' John Cooper Jr. Named Red Cross Military Hero of the Year for Service to Homeless Veterans