Invisible Wounds

My hunting buddy Zach, just my all around buddy and good dude, took his life yesterday. He loved serving his country as much as hunting and fishing. Zach loved nothing more than his dog, though. Check on your buddies. I don't think there's a single Afghanistan or Iraq vet that hasn't lost a buddy to suicide. And it sucks so bad.

Thoughts and prayers out to you and his family.

I’ve had 5-6 buddies I served with kill their self I quit keeping count. Most shortly after ETSing.

2 that I was close with. 3 others that were in my unit. ETSing seems to be super hard for too many folks to deal with. Losing Zach really hurts. Thanks all.

I just got a text from my old LT asking us to reach out to one of our old platoon members because he is t doing good. Was on drugs and in a halfway house now nobody can get a hold of him. I’m sure he will become a statistic at some point.

I hope it works out, brother.

22 vets a day take their own lives. That's 22 too many. If you even think one of your buddies is in trouble reach out to them and help. Don't let them think they are alone and that's the only way out. The VA can help.
RIP Zach

Prayers up for you and your buddies. Can't imagine the hell you guys are going through.

I'm sorry to hear we lost another one. If your still in the Military there is a fun ruck march coming up for helping bring service members together. Its put on by Irreverent Warriors Silkies Hike - Waco. Its a Free Event.

THE ACTUAL HIKE ITSELF IS FOR VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY, NATIONAL GUARD, AND RESERVISTS ONLY. Participants hike 22km (13.67 miles), while carrying 22kg (48.5lbs), wearing Silkies/Ranger Panties, combat boots, and a ruck - 22 representing the 22 military suicides a day.

The Irreverent Warriors Silkies hikes are a series of events across the nation designed to PREVENT veteran suicide by bringing veterans together using humor and camaraderie to heal the mental wounds of war through therapeutic events and entertainment.

Irreverent Warriors is PREVENTING veteran suicide through the use of unconventional therapy. Veterans are different, and therefore use different methods of coping. In the face of tragedy, a veteran is more likely to use humor and camaraderie as a coping mechanism than anything else. Civilians are not allowed to hike but are welcome to volunteer and/or meet us at the bar stops along the way

Date and Time- Sat, August 18, 2018 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM CDT

Location: Indian Spring Park

101 North University Parks Drive

Waco, TX 76701

Thanks for the info and condolences. I jumped ship in November. I'm not much of a wingshooter, but Zach loved hunting some doves. So I got on a dove lease for th4 upcoming season. Sit out there and think about all the trash talk every military dude does with his buddies, chuckle, and maybe knock down a bird or twon if I'm lucky.

Prayers up.....

Service was Saturday. Saw a lot of his family, friends, and troops. Shared a lot of tears, but even more laughs. That last part was and is really important.

Sad news to hear of another Veteran who lost his battle to PTSD... I myself almost lost the battle but gladly I found some relief through the outdoors after years of medication and counseling. It’s why I help start a nonprofit Hookset Brothers Combat Recovery where we empower Veterans with Combat related PTSD by providing free hunting and fishing trips. People don’t seem to understand when you leave the military we all lose a part of our purpose and self. It’s something I struggled with but sitting in the blind or taking another Combat Veteran fishing I found that bond again. Most importantly I was around other guys who had things in common with me both in past as well as current struggles. I highly encourage anyone interested in a alternate way of coping and let Hookset Brothers Combat Recovery take you into the outdoors for a chance at finding peace.

It’s our goal of getting those who struggle away from medications away from ALCOHOL and self isolation as those are the major contributors to losing ones self. Let’s make a change Let’s make an Oath that we will fight this together.

www.hooksetbrothers.org or Facebook Hookset Brothers Combat Recovery 501c3 - 100% Volunteered

I'll spread the word about Hookset. Thanks for the info and happy to hear you found a way that helps you!

Oh man, that's tough to hear. September is Suicide Awareness/Prevention Month. The VA is being very proactive in this. The Veterans Crisis Line number is 1-800-273-8255, press 1. (The "1" indicates a Veteran, and gets routed to a specially trained counselor immediately)

They have hundreds of well trained counselors in several call centers across the country. One will not get a busy signal or be put on hold, of course. It is answered 24/7/365. The VA also puts the number at the bottom of all their written correspondence to Veterans. It may not be 100% yet, but from what I hear it's getting there.

Being affected to such severity by being exposed to what no one should be exposed to proves ones humanity. That alone validates your worth. Feeling helpless, or somehow unfit to walk amongst us, simply proves that you are the most human and best of us.

"It takes the strength of a Warrior to ask for help."

God bless our Veterans, and keep them with us.

this is so sad, all the bs on the mainstream news that does not matter and not anything about what is going on with our vets.

The VA has a 90 day in house rehab, if they find him they need to get him through the doors. You can't make them stay but you can show them that there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. Drug and alcohol addiction is more common than one thinks and the symptoms of these addictions mimic many other disorders. A serious addict or alcoholic can have fatal reactions to the withdrawal symptoms, especially alcohol. He needs a medical detox to safely get him through that part and in house treatment if possible. I work with Vet's recommended to me by the local VA. Can't save them all, they have to want sobriety you can't force it on them. Complete recovery from drugs or alcohol is hard work.

sometimes reaching out can help. I have a friend that's a nurse that was working with jail prisoners. She has problems that come from stress. It was a relief to her to find out that I had gotten burned out dealing with the drug addicts and alcoholics thst the Army tried to rehabilitate in the early 80's. Just talking to someone that understands, has been a relief to her, the thing is even though it's been 38 years I got some benefit also.

yep we loose to many for sure
I don't keep in contact w to many any more still love them all. run into one occasionally at work and get distracted and have to give super a heads up if they get word I was cussing at a stop it was a friend lol
I have used experiences to talk down some in crisis that some in my work can not relate too

so posted the above yesterday and today lost another one from work. sucks. rip brother

Sorry to hear about another brother. I’m a 65yr old Vietnam era Veteran. I seriously thought about suicide at one time in my life. It took almost 20 yrs for the PTSD to hit me but when it did it hit hard. I didn’t know I could go to the VA hospital. I met another Vet that told to go to the VA so I did. I was diagnosed with PTSD and severe depression. Along with my physical injuries that occurred in the Army.
I’m doing a lot better mentally. I went through 3 marriages before treatment and now I have been married for 24yrs. Unfortunately my physical limitations keep meet from the outdoors and hunting.

Sympathies to anyone that has lost a buddy to this crap or is suffering themselves. It's horrible is all I can say. I kind of flipped out recently when my daughter told me she wanted to enlist. I feel bad about it looking back.Should have been handled better on my part. Anyway, I hope anybody suffering from PTSD, depression, and all the other junk can get the help you deserve and need.