If You Are A Veteran and Struggling, Get Help!

What a ride!!! The last few days things have been hopping. Many new followers. I told you in my last post that we had just passed 8,000 followers. Well, just today alone there are 23 new followers and the day is only half over.

I know why it is happening, and with your help it will grow even faster.

There are far too many veterans, and current service members who are hurting.

This statistic is for real: There are 22 veterans who take their own lives EVERY day. Not every year or month, EVERY day!

That is why so many fellow veterans are coming here. They are searching for help and hope, two very important four letter words. I am hope to provide that here.

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I will be sharing a short interview excerpt today. I have many in my book, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of life.”

The book has many endorsements from many levels of ranks in the military, from Sargeants. through Generals. They all know this book is much needed to help our veterans.

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This interview was done will stopping to eat lunch. I was driving along and decided to stop at a Carl’s Jr. I went in a got my order. As I was walking to my table I passed a Vietnam veteran. I knew he was in that war by the hat he was wearing. I thanked him for his service and sat down.

As I watched him I could see he was in pain. He had a cane, and looked like he had some battle scars.

When he was finished, he struggled to get to the garbage can to throw his waste away. He had to come right by me and I asked him if he wanted to sit and talk. He looked like he didn’t want to do that until I told him I was a veteran like him. He sat down and we exchanged some idle talk, and I asked him if would share some of his experiences.

He was able to do that and here is his story. I will not do this in a question and answer format like I may in the book, here is his testimony:

He told me he was a crewmember on a battleship that was stationed off of the coast of Vietnam. They were there to send helicopters to shore to rescue men, and to get much needed food and supplies to the villages.

This was a 24/7 operation. One of the days his very best friend, who was a helicopter pilot, was taking off from the ship with a load of supplies. His helicopter sputtered ; the blades stopped working and he and his co pilot crashed into the ocean right after take off. The helicopter sank very quickly sending both men to their death. They couldn’t even get them, because the water was too deep.

My friend had lost his very best friend.

I asked him what was the worst moment other than his friends death. He said it was when he had to walk through the terminal at the airport. People were screaming at him, spitting on him, and calling him a killer.

He felt like he had said enough because he was getting very emotional. We exchanged email addresses, and he left. I could see him struggling through the window and he walked to his hotel.

There is more to this interview in the book.

How about you? Are you struggling like my friend here? Have you lost a buddy? Were you wounded and are still suffering from it.

You are not alone!

There are many who are suffering each day from PTSD, TBI, anxiety, depression, etc.

I you need help get it!! Do not think you are weak to seek help. Help is availabe and they are good at helping.

Here s a help line to get the help you need:

800-273-8255.

__+If you like what you are reading, subscribe to this site by clicking on the subscribe icon at the top of this page. When you do, all future posts will come directly to your in box. Please tell others you know who also could use this site.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all….never, ever, give up!

Our Veterans Need Help!

Wow! Very impressive my friends. In just the last week we added 30 new subscribers. Welcome to all of you!

There is a reason this is happening. This site reaches out to all veterans and their families to give them hope. Every post will be directed to sharing thoughts and ideas on how to cope in this not so friendly world.

I have been reaching out for months and the response is fantastic. Keeping joining me here to get help for veterans with PTSD, TBI, Depression, anxiety, war wounds, etc.

What is on your plate? Do you have days when you wish you could stay in bed? Are there times when the storms seem too strong? Do you feel uncomfortable around other people? You are certainly not alone.

I am a member of a social network called RallyPoint. It is a network just for veterans and their families. There are over 1.8 million members there. I love RallyPoint. I have made so many new friends there. I have helped some who are hurting, and some have helped me through some dark times. Totally support them and please check them out yourself.

Remember that you are a special person. There is no one else like you. You are unique.

You are capable of doing anything you attempt. Don’t let the naysayers tell you that it can’t be done.

If you buckle up and ride the world in the terrible way it is now, you will be a winner. You will stand above all the noise, and turmoil.

I have been near death!

Back in 2001, I was a basket case. I couldn’t function properly. I was driving my Ford Explorer one day and I was crying. I didn’t know why. It was getting pretty bad, so I turned into a high school parking lot and stopped. I was getting worse. The windows were all fogged up from my sobbing.

I was sitting there thinking of checking out of this hotel called earth.

I finally cried out to god, “ I can’t take this anymore!” Instantly I stopped crying and the windows started clearing up. It was if God said, “It is about time you came back to me . Now let me carry you the rest of the way.”

My life completely changed that day. I am not saying everything was rosy right away. I still had some struggles, but knowing that God was there with me, gave me strength to carry on.

I went home and opened my desk drawer, and saw some journals I had been writing. They were full of my hurts, but also some days that were good. I realized that this needed to be written. I wrote a book called, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” I was able to get it published. It went on to win a national award from the Reader’s Favorite Awards.

So now, I am on my second book that I started about three years ago. It is called, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.” It reaches out to all veterans who are seeking hope.

I will be updating you on the progress of this book, and share some excerpts from time to time. If you would like to read those excerpts, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says “Subscribe,” When you do all future posts will directly to your inbox.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all….never, ever, give!

What is Life Like as a Sniper?

On Tuesday I wrote about one of my adventures while in the military. I will do that from time to time, but this site is for you. Today I will speak directly to you.

I assume many of you were deployed during your time in the military I was sent to South Korea. I had many adventures there which I will be sharing from time to time.

I came back a different person, like many of you, I am sure did too. I lost a buddy, and saw some things that will be hard to share. However, I will wait until later on.

Some of you may be battling PTSD, TMI, Depression, or war wounds. I feel your pain.

I would love it if you would share your story in the comment section. You do not need to share your name. Tell us your story so we can understand you more.

I have done many interviews of veterans for my book. I will share one of them with you knowing that there are many others that will be in the book.

A Sniper

I interview a veteran from Texas. I got to know him through RallyPoint. This is a social network for only veterans. I highly recommend it. You will find many fellow veterans who are the same boat with you.

The veteran from Texas was a sniper in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Here is the exchange:

I was honored to be able interview a veteran who was an Afghanistan/Iraq veteran.

Here is the rough draft for the book:

SOH

What did you do while you were in the Army?

William I was a sniper.

SOH

You are in El Paso. It can be very cold there.

William

Yes it can.

SOH

So, do you have family?

William

I am divorced, but I have three children.

SOH

When did you go into the service?

William

Right out of High school. I was seventeen.

SOH

You mentioned that you had a couple of buddies that were killed?

William

Actually, twelve of my buddies were killed.

SOH

How were you able to handle that?

William

You don’t allow yourself to think about it

SOH

Were you very close to any of them?

William

I was close to all of them.

SOH

I had close friends in Korea as well.

SOH

Why did you enlist in the first place?

William

It is a family tradition. My Brothers and my grandfather enlisted. I was honored to serve my country.

SOH

Interesting, I also had a family tradition. My three uncles served in WWII. My brother and I Served, and my son just retired as a Colonel from the Army.

SOH

If you could would you go back in again?

William

Oh ya!! I wouldn’t change anything. 22 years

SOH

If there was one thing you could change about the Army, what would that be?

William

I would spend more time with family. My job came first back then.

SOH

What would be your advice to soldiers who are struggling?

William

Don’t give up. If you are deployed, or getting ready to be deployed you don’t think about it. 

SOH

Do you have PTSD?

William

Yes, and because of this I recommend that it be mandatory to get counseling when you are discharged from the military.

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This is an on going interview. I want to get back to him and ask more specifc questions about being a sniper.

What does it feel like to kill someone?

What did you think of when you have an enemy in the cross hairs?

Did you ever regret shooting someone?

There will be many other questions. Stay tuned as I get more information.

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If you are struggling get help. It is not something to be ashamed of if you need help. Got to get the tough military guy/girl out of your head and find help.

*If you like what you are reading just go to the top of this page and click on subscribe. Wen you do you will get each future post directly to your inbox. Please let other veterans know about this site. It may help them as well.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And…never, ever, give up!