Many veterans from my generation (Post Iraq/Afghanistan) are fighting a silent battle, and losing.
I've lost more friends to suicide than to combat. I keep wondering why this happens and what I can do to help even though I still fight my own demons.
When I finally was free and got out of the military this feeling of despair and unworthiness washed over me. I lacked purpose. What kind of marine was I if I didn't fight in a war? And why do I feel so bad when I didn't even fight at all! For months after I left the military I had these conflicting thoughts causing me distress, anger, and loneliness. A veteran with no war, A marine with no rifle. In my mind I was nothing. I was too embarrassed to seek help and just did what I was taught in the military, put my nose to the grindstone and just shoved these thoughts into a dark corner of my mind in hopes to forget about them only for them to come stronger in the dark of night whispering a shotgun shell was the solution to my problems.
But this doesn't have to be our story. We don't have to be another statistic
My service is part of my story, but it’s not the whole story.
I found purpose within this community. What started as a simple Instagram page talking about WW2 History has now become a community or veterans constantly seeking to improve themselves and leading by example. Not letting the scars from the past define who they are. They are hard working men and women who lead by example in spite of fear and doubt. Because courage isn't the lack of fear, its acting in SPITE of it.
I refuse to be another washed up, overweight, depressed and drunk veteran that blames others for their own actions, Or lack thereof. CONTINUE TO FIGHT
"You are what you are today due to the choices you made yesterday... Who will you be tomorrow?"
