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Veterans Returning Home

There are many veterans who come home wounded and need assistance returning to
society. Returning to civilian life opens up many new challenges and opportunities for veterans,
but it also is tough for them to do because they have to consider work, school, life back home,
and where theyll live, which can lead to a lot of stress. Wounded veterans especially will have a
difficult time returning to society due to the physical and mental damages they receive from
battle. Veterans have been facing these troubles for many years. Veterans having trouble
returning to civilian life dates hundreds of years and still stands a problem today. Coming home
from war is very difficult considering these people have been away from society so long that
they will have missed chunks of their lives such as, children growing up or family events. When
returning, wounded veterans will have trouble finding jobs and may even return from the service
homeless because the lack of support they are given. There are two major solutions to the
problem. One way to fix this is by simply having a government that will provide wounded
soldiers with the support they need. The other way is to help out by fundraising and donating to
any organization that helps wounded veterans, such as The Wounded Warrior Project. All it takes
is a little bit of contribution from everyone and these people can feel whole again. If these
solutions occur then men and women that serve this country will no longer be abandoned by their
country. If these solutions occur then men and women that serve this country will no longer be
abandoned by their country.
Many veterans experience trouble with finding jobs or a place to live when they come
home, especially when wounded. In reality veterans should be able to come home and know they
will be welcomed back by all. Meaning they shouldnt be coming home and having no place to
live or have no job. There should be a place for them in society and they should not be homeless.

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Wounded or not veterans are like every other human and need love and support. Although there
disabilities may affect the lines of work they can attend, there is a job for everyone. According
to, As of 2012, experts believed that homeless veterans make up about 11% of the United States
homeless population, which is about 31 homeless veterans for every 10,000 veterans,
according to (Veterans Today). This figure, according to Edward Carrillo, is much higher than
the rate of homelessness in the society, which is about 21 homeless person for every 10,000
people in the general population. This is sad to see that the people that serve our country and
risk their lives, have a higher risk of being homeless than normal citizens. According to statistics,
veterans have a higher chance of being homeless. Although this is understandable because
theyre gone for a while and may come back to a whole new life, they deserve better after
serving this country. This is a problem that needs to be fixed by our government.
The government should fix this problem immediately considering what veterans have
done for everybody. Since 2010-2012, it is confirmed that there was a 24% decline in homeless
veterans. (The Great American Tragedy). One factor that has contributed to the decline in
homeless vets are organizations that make veterans their top priority such as, The United States
Department of Veteran Affairs, The American Legion, and AMVETS National Service
Foundation. In order to continue this decline people need to help the cause by donating and
assisting these heroes. Although there was a decline then, there is a fluctuation as to how many
veterans remain homeless. Homelessness among veterans who recently returned home from war
zones is quite high. The numbers are getting higher as more veterans return home from Iraq and
Afghanistan (Homelessness among Veterans). This quote goes to show that the United States
needs to provide more support to our troops, considering the issue still stands a problem.
According to (Veterans Inc.), there are approximately 300,000 veterans that are either homeless

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or living in shelters on any given night. Homelessness in veterans occurs for many reasons. For
example, lack of income due to limited education and lack of transferable skills from military to
civilian life and this issue needs to be fixed. Homelessness among veterans is an issue that they
shouldn't have to worry about, but the risk of being homeless becomes a concern when there are
no social skills or family and friends present.
For returning veterans, coming home to be reunited with family and friends can be very
exciting and emotional. For many veterans returning home to see their loved ones is very
exciting because theyve been gone for so long and miss them, whereas for others it can be a
depressing moment. Some veterans may come back from war and their family may be having
relationship issues because of the time span the veteran was gone. There is also the issue of not
having a family and social skills. If a veteran comes home from war and has nobody to return to
or talk to that can lead to serious depression, alcoholism, loneliness, or even suicide. These
problems could occur because after all of the trouble they went through in war, they'll need a
partner or someone to talk to and help them. Some veterans however may lose the love and
affection they had for their significant other while they were away and that can lead to a break
up. Another problem is the returning veteran will act completely different around their family
due to what they went through and need help, but they dont want to receive it which leads to
more problems. For example, they may be very aggressive now or always scared. Me and my
wife actually split up, I wasn't the same person anymore, she wanted me to get help and I was
sort of fighting that a little bit. And I distanced myself from everybody even family and friends
(Making the Connection or MTC). This was an interview taken by MTC and it shows the
outcome of what can happen to a family after war; however there is more to veterans social
interactions other than family.

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In the military, structure and order are a crucial part of life. Some veterans can never get
over the fact that it is significantly different in normal society because they were used to the
military living conditions. I definitely have a lot more freedom in civilian life but at the same
time I feel some instability. Without the structure, order, camaraderie I had with my unit, I felt
exposed. It was a bumpy road back but the Vet Center has really helped me adjust
(Transitioning from Service). This was a statement made by an anonymous veteran who is
having trouble transitioning from military life to civilian life due to the fact that he feels
instability from the lack of order and not being with his unit. During war when soldiers are with
their units in war, theyre in harsh conditions. Soldiers in the same unit build up a special type of
bond and they look out for one another and trust each other with their lives. This is why when the
soldier returns home he may not feel safe because they dont know if somebody is there to
protect them. This is why its important to have a good social life because without it they may
feel lost and insecure, especially when wounded either mentally or physically.
The most devastating and toughest part about returning home for veterans is with a
mental or physical wound. Mental and physical wounds can have an enormous impact on a
veterans life. Physical wounds are just as important as mental. According to the Wounded
Warrior Project (WWP), as of January 1, 2016 there have been 52,397 post 9/11 physical injuries
on soldiers. Physical wounds that soldiers suffer from consist of missing limbs, burns,
amputation, and injuries almost anywhere on the body. Among the 18 variables tested, veterans
who experienced emotional or physical trauma while serving are at a greater risk of having
difficulties readjusting to civilian life (The Difficult Transition from Military to Civilian Life).
The data above shows how being injured physically has many effects on one's life. For example,
it limits a person on what they can do, such as work and sports. This is one reason that wounded

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veterans have trouble finding jobs because if theyre missing limbs or cant perform a certain
task due to pain it will be hard to perform everyday tasks. War is brutal on the body; Ill feel it
in my back for the rest of my life (The Other Wounds). This was a fact stated by an army sniper
named James Crowell, who lost about an inch and now has serious back pain due to the amount
of rooftop jumping he did during his time in the service. Physical wounds can also lead to mental
wounds. My back got worse, it started leading to a lot of pain which lead to depression and I
kind [of] fought that for years, didnt know how to deal with it (Making the Connection). This
was an interview conducted on an anonymous veteran about a physical wound she got from
falling and how the pain lead to a mental wound; depression. For many veterans when missing a
limb, the physical injury isnt the only thing that they are suffering from. That type of injury also
comes along with anger, sadness, hatred, or depression. According to some veterans it is a long
transition and very difficult to adapt to a new way of living. After hearing what veterans
experience while having a physical wound, it is clear to say that most physical wounds result in
wounds that cant physically be seen.
Mental wounds are just as bad as physical wounds, if not worse. Mental injuries, if severe
enough can put lives at risk. The two main mental injuries are expressed as Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). According to Nebraska Department of
Veterans Affairs, PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or
witnessing of a life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist
incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood. This disease is
one of the most serious effects that war has on a soldier. People that suffer from PTSD often are
very scared and panic, considering they think they are back in war. According to the Pew
Research Center, about 34% of army vets suffer from PTSD or flashbacks. PTSD damages

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veterans in a serious manner, but can also affect their loved ones or the people around them. On
April 26, Kryn Miner handed one of his teenage children a gun and asked Do you want to play
the gun game? When the Army veteran pulled out a second gun, the teen shot and killed him.
Miners wife said her husband suffered from PTSD (Daily News). This case proves that the
veteran wasnt himself anymore after 11 deployments and a lot of experience in war. This
situation also states that people with PTSD put others lives at risk. Another example is, a veteran
may have a flashback and end up killing someone next to them thinking theyre the enemy.
Another scenario in which a veteran suffering from PTSD can be a serious threat is if they hear
or see something that reminds them of a tragic memory. For example, an Iraq vet named Jason
Klinkenberg went through an experience where one of his squad members was on fire, burning
to death and he couldnt do anything about it but watch. From that day on he couldnt be around
fireworks, fire, candles, and he hated the fourth of July. This story was written and published by
the Las-Vegas Review Journal. As serious as PTSD is, TBI is just as severe. TBI is when an
external force has a serious impact on the brain. Types of TBIs include skull fractures,
contusion, penetration, coup-contrecoup, and diffuse axonal injuries. All of which have serious
impacts on the brain. If a soldier comes home with a sincere case of TBI then they will have
difficulties returning to civilian life. According a recent survey, more than 23,000 veterans
registered with the Wounded Warrior Project, more than 75 percent of wounded servicemen and
women are trying to cope with the often devastating effects of TBI and PTSD, the invisible
wounds of war, which include depression, anxiety, mood swings and other emotional
difficulties, cognitive impairment, stress, panic, nightmares, and suicidal ideation, PTSD, and
TBI. The above data shows how serious mental injuries are and how these people need guidance.

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Physical and mental wounds are serious injuries that need treatment in order to keep some people
sane.
Therapy is always a great way to help cure a disease or pain over time. In this case,
physical and mental wounds found within the veteran population. Therapy for physical injuries
consists of a lot of exercise and maybe even surgery. If the physical therapy is a success the
patient most likely will not need the surgery. The staff was all great, no matter who is taking
care of you; they know everything you need to do. I have finished up my physical therapy but I
am still doing my own exercises the same exercises that they taught me, I do every day at
home now(U.S Department of Veterans Affairs). In this veteran's case he was lucky enough to
succeed in physical therapy where no surgery was needed. With mental injuries, the process is
quite different. With mental injuries patients will go to see a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists will be
able to tell you what is wrong with you and in result can prescribe the patient with medication,
perform psychotherapy, or refer the patient to a psychologist. Psychotherapy is helping a person
change and overcome problems in desired ways. Ways that psychologists help are by having
patients participate in recreational activities and engaging in good self-care because getting
involved is a huge aspect in the healing process. When referred to a psychologist they will talk
with the patient and figure out ways to help them. Those are just few of many ways that people
help veterans return to society.
After the extreme dedication to serve and protect the United States of America, veterans
are not properly accepted by society for reentry. With homelessness, social interactions, and
battle wounds being such overlying problems for these soldiers, the everyday lives of these men
and women are negatively impacted. Though not all veterans are suffering, these are some of the
major problems of post war life. After getting rid of the draft, not all men and women are forced

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to go through this traumatic experience and suffer the way that some do. Therefore, veterans
need more guidance in order to transition back to civilian life successfully. Which is why there
are so many organizations dedicated to helping these people with their struggles in life. War is a
very dangerous and stressful time and without the assistance of all of the veteran organizations in
the world, there would be chaos amongst veterans. All in all, there are some veterans who come
home and are in great shape, but there are many that come home wounded and need help
returning to society.

Works Cited
Chandrasekaren, Rajiv. "The Other Wounds." Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web.
12 Jan. 2016.
The Great American Tragedy: Homelessness Among Our Veterans V Antage Point. V
Antage Point. N.p., 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.
"Here's What You Need to Know About Reintegration." Military.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan.
2016.

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"Homeless Veterans: Whose Responsibility?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 08
Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Jan. 2016.
"Homelessness Among Veterans: Self-Inflicted or Government Betrayal?" Veterans Today. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2016.
Make The Connection. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs , n.d. Web.
"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Nebraska Department of
Veterans' Affairs, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2016.
"Rebuilding Soldiers Transformed By War Injuries." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2016.
"Teen Shoots, Kills Army Vet Dad with PTSD." NY Daily News. Daily News, n.d. Web. 12 Jan.
2016.
"Traumatic Brain Injury." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2016.
"Veteran Statistics | Homeless Veterans | Veterans Organizations." Veterans Organizations
Statistics Comments. Veterans Inc., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2016.