An 88-year-old US Army veteran who was forced to work full-time into his late eighties has been given the chance to retire at last, after a heart-rending story prompted an online community to raise more than $1 million for him.
A Lifetime of Work Undone
Ed Bambas had expected a stable retirement when he left his job at General Motors in 1999. However, his financial security was shattered a decade later. When GM entered the largest bankruptcy in history in 2009, the federal government intervened to restructure the company. Bambas was among nearly 20,000 salaried employees of Delphi Corp, a GM subsidiary, who saw their pension and retirement benefits wiped out.
The company stated it would not assume pension liabilities for these non-union workers. The federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp then took over the plans, cutting monthly benefits that exceeded a statutory maximum. A 2013 report estimated salaried retirees lost a staggering $440 million in pension benefits collectively.
"I felt comfortable," Bambas told local media, reflecting on his life post-GM. "I felt I had a stable financial footing. I owned my house. We didn't have any major worries." This was before the pension loss, which also stripped his healthcare coverage and most of his life insurance.
Personal Tragedy and Perseverance
The situation became even more difficult when Bambas's wife, Joan, became seriously ill. "The thing that hurt me the most was when my wife was really sick," he revealed in an emotional video. To cover costs, he sold his house and property. After Joan passed away, the veteran found himself needing to re-establish himself financially.
This led Bambas to take on jobs, most recently working five days a week, eight hours a day, as a cashier at a Meijer grocery store in the Detroit area. "It wasn't hard for me to do it because I knew I had to do it," he said. "I'm fortunate God gave me enough body to be strong enough to stand there."
A Viral Plea and an Overwhelming Response
His story reached a global audience after Australian influencer Sam Weidenhofer saw a comment about Bambas and travelled to Michigan to meet him. Moved to tears by their conversation, Weidenhofer gave Bambas $400 and created a GoFundMe fundraiser.
"Ed is 88 years old, an Army veteran and he still works five days a week, eight hours a day," Weidenhofer wrote. "He has never received the pension he earned after a lifetime of hard work... His story is a stark reminder that too many of our seniors, especially veterans, face incredible challenges just to survive."
The campaign quickly went viral, shared by figures like singer Charlie Puth. By a Tuesday evening, it had surpassed its $1 million goal, with thousands donating and leaving supportive comments. Donors expressed outrage that a veteran should face such hardship after a life of service and work.
Weidenhofer confirmed the team is now setting up a secure trust for Bambas so the funds are safe. The octogenarian, who once said his dream was to "live a little of somewhat the life I was hoping for," can now look forward to a proper retirement, spending more time with his family.
