PERSONAL JOURNEYS
The colonel's war Eric Welsh is on a mission to help veterans combat the unseen battle scars of PTSD. Posted: 12:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013
BY MARK DAVIS - THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
Welsh talks to veterans at the Salvation Army Red Shield Center in Atlanta. Welsh a retired U.S. Army colonel speaks to these men each Saturday. PTSD is nothing new. In World War II, it was called shell shock. Soldiers returning from Civil War battlefields complained of "soldier's heart." PHIL SKINNER / [email protected]
Saturdaymorning,rainyandgrayanddismalinthewaythatonlymid‐Augustdowntowndownpourscanbe.Thewaterrunsdownthesidewalkinsilverrivulets,pastahandfulofguysseekingshelterunderanoverhangattheSalvationArmy’sRedShieldshelteronLuckieStreet.“EricWelsh?Col.Welsh?”oneguysaysinanswertoaquestion.Hepointsathinfingeratalockeddoor.Hislooseshirtflapsinthewind.“He’sinthere.He’salwaysinthereonSaturdays.”
Personal Journeys: The colonel's war http://www.myajc.com/gallery/news/personal-journeys-colonels-war/gCFkW/#4086832
“Inthere”isaroomwhere15peoplesitinhaphazardrows.Theyarethinandoldand
fatandyoung,13menandtwowomen.Theyhavethismuchincommon:Theyservedin
themilitary;theyarehomeless;andtheysuffer,invaryingdegrees,fromposttraumatic
stressdisorder—PTSD.
AndthereisWelsh,retiredcolonel,U.S.Army,lookingdecidedlylikeacivilianinaworn
Poloshirtandoldcargoshorts,flip‐flopsflappingonthetiledfloor.Heisawalking
contradiction:Maybeamanleavesthemilitary,butitdoesn’tleavehim.Despitehis
weekendattire,Welshlooksasifhe’saddressingthetroops.
Actually,heis.Forthesepeopleinthisroomonthisrainydayarelockedinabattle.If
theycannotwinthiswaragainstPTSD,Welshwarns,theyaredone,sunk,KIA.
MICHAEL YON
Welsh salutes the fallen. He commanded a battalion that lost 28 soldiers during 2006 and 2007 in Mosul, Iraq. When Welsh ... Read More Welsh—warrior,grandsonofthemostfamousMarineofalltime,singledad,Coca‐Colaexecutive—fixesthemwithastare.Hedoesnotblink.
“Youareinafight,”hesays,“afightforyourlives.”
Welshknows.Theirbattleishis.
2‘Savedmylife’
EricWelshwasborninOxnard,Calif.,in1965.Hismotherdiedwhenhewas8,theresultofan“unhealthylifestyle.”Hisdad,areluctantparent,oftenleftthechildalone.AnearlymemorythatstalksWelsh:He’sakid,rummaginginaDumpsterforfood.
Ayearafterhismotherdied,Eric’sfathertooktheboytolivewithhisgrandmother.Byage9,Ericwas,inessence,anorphan—oneparentdeceased,theotherabsent.Hisgrandmother,notfeelingequaltoraisinganotherchild,enrolledhimattheMiltonHersheySchoolinHershey,Pa.
“Thatschoolsavedmylife,absolutelysavedmylife.”
Foundedbythechocolatemagnate,theschoolwasmadeforsomeonelikeyoungEric:aplacewhereakidcouldfindpurposeinalifethat,sofar,hadnone.Heplayedfootball,wrestled,baseball.HewenttoKentStateUniversity,wherehemadeadiscovery:Anathletewho’s“5‐foot‐nothing”needstothinkaboutwhathe’lldowhenhiscollegiatecareerisover.
Oneday,hestoppedatthemilitaryrecruitersofficesnearcampus.HestuckhisheadintheMarineCorpsoffice,wherearecruiterwastoobusytotalkatthemoment.Hesteppedtothenextdoorway,andthusdidhislifetakeoneofthosebigturnsthatcomesalongeveryonceinawhile.
TheArmyrecruiterhadtimetotalk.DidWelshhaveabirthcertificate?Welshdidnot.Noproblem,therecruiterreplied.Whowereyourparents?Welshprovidedtheinformation,includinghismother’smaidenname:JanetBoyington.Therecruiterlookedup.
“Justoutofcuriosity,”heasked,“areyoukinto‘Pappy’Boyington?”
Gregory“Pappy”Boyington,thefamedWorldWarIIMarineCorpsairacewhose“BlackSheepSquadron”becamethestuffofbooksandfilms?Welshdidn’tknow.TherecruiterdidsomequickdigginganddeterminedthattheyoungmaninhisofficewasthegrandsonofthemostfamousMarineaviatorofalltime.
“Signthis,”therecruitersaid.Withthestrokeofapen,WelshbecameastudentsoldierinKentState’sROTCprogram.
ThesmilingrecruitersteppednextdoortotelltheMarinewho’djustjoinedtheArmy.
WelshexcelledintheROTCprogram.Bythetimehegraduatedin1988,asecondlieutenantwithabachelor’sdegreeinpoliticalscience,hewasreadytoservehiscountry.ItbeganatFortBenning.
Again,heexcelled.TheArmytrainedhiminavarietyofdisciplines—airborne,ranger,reconnaissance.He’dscoredwellinaptitudetests.Eachwasaplumassignmentforayoungofficer.
Helivedasoldier’slife,movingfromoneassignmenttothenext:Germany,domesticpostings,theMiddleEast.Hegotintroducedtowarin1990asOperationDesertStorm,thefirstIraqiwar,wasbrewing.Welshandotherswereamongthefirsttroopstoputbootsonthatdustyland.Inthecomingyears,he’dreturntothatdesertcountry.
“Thatwasprobablythebeginningofbeingintherightplaceattherighttime,”hesays.“Orthewrongplaceatthewrongtime.”
WhenWelshcameback,hewasmarked.Thekid,hishigher‐upshaddecided,hadpromise.Avarietyofassignmentsfollowed.Eachtestedtheyoungofficer’smettle,andeachhehandledwithaplomb.
IfhehadanydoubtthattheArmyhadplansforhim,Welshlaidthatasidewithhisnextposting,in2003:asaspecialassistanttoAirForceGen.RichardMyers,atthetimeheadoftheJointChiefsofStaffatthePentagon.Hewasrubbingelbows,sharingthesamespace,withthenation’stopmilitaryleaders.
Butwarwasn’tthroughwithhim.
3Aprayerincombat
Theimagesareshaky,poorlyshot,andforgoodreason:It’snoteasytoholdyourcamerasteadywhenchasingtheenemy,orwhentheenemyischasingyou.Thepicturesare,inthetruestsense,cinemaverite.CananythingbemorerealisticthanwatchinganarmoredpersonnelcarriergetblastedbyanIED,animprovisedexplosivedevice?
“Look.”Welsh,sittingatthedinnertableinhishome,pointsathislaptopscreen.“I’mabouttogetblownup.”
Oncue,anIEDeruptsinflameandsmokefromthepavementbesidethetanHumvee.It’safieryuppercut,ahellofawallop.WelshisinsidetheHumvee.
Anothervideo,“AnormaldayinIraq,”flashesonthelaptop.Itbeginswithanothersubterraneanexplosion,ablastsopowerfulthatanearthenwalleruptsfromthedesert.TheimageshiftstoacrewofsoldiersinaBlackHawkhelicopter.Thebigmachinethundersoverthedesert,castingashadowacrosssand.Thesoldierslaughandpoint.You’reremindedofkidsonafieldtrip,kidswithguns.
Thevideos—hehasmany—areremindersof2006‐07,whentheArmysentWelshtoIraqagainascommandingofficerofthe2ndBatallion,7thCavalry,thesamecavalryunitoncecommandedbyLt.Col.GeorgeCuster.ThesoldierswerepostedtoMosul,northofBaghdad,whereinsurgentslitteredroadsideswithbombsandconductedapersistentguerrillawar.Thesurgewason,anditwasuptothebattaliontokeeporderinMosul.
Mosul.God,whatahellishplace.Welshsufferedsomanyroadsidebombsthatphysiciansdiagnosedhimwithtraumaticbraininjuries,orTBI.Theinjurycanoccurwhenthebraincollideswiththeinsideoftheskull,rattlingitsothoroughlyitmaycausememoryloss,impairedcognitiveskills,moodswingsorevendeath.ExposuretomultipleexplosionsisaprescriptionforTBI.
MosulwasacauldronofIEDs.WelshrecallsJuly2,2007.HisHumveewasrollingalongaroadinMosulwhenheheardaboom,feltthevehicleshakeasifthegroundwasabouttoswallowit.Theforceoftheblastknockedhimout.Whenhecameto,Welsh,shruggingoffhislatestconcussion,returnedtohistroops.Aphysicianstoppedhim.Howmanyblastsdoesthismake?thedoctorasked.Welshthought.“Idon’tknow,”hereplied.
Ascanofhisbrainrevealeddamageonbothhemispheres,permanentlyaffectinghismemoryandsomemotorskills.Withoutrealizingit,Welshhadstartedperformingsometaskswithhislefthandthatoncehe’ddonewithhisright.Thebrain,eveninjured,compensates.
Welshusedtobeabletoreciteacoupleofdozennumbersafterquicklycommittingthemtomemory;thesedays,hecanmakesixorsevenbeforefaltering.Hestruggleswithnames.Thedoctorshaveatermforit:“degradedexecutivemanagementcapability.”
Ifuntreated,hisTBIcancauseseizures.Welshmakessurehetakeshismedicine;toomuchisatstakenotto.Heacceptstheinjurywithasoldier’sstoicism.Otherguys,hefigures,haditworse
“Icanhaveabsoluteclarityinsomethings,andinothersIcannot.”
Onenumberhe’llneverforget:28.That’showmanysoldiershelostinthat15‐monthdeployment.WhenhetalksaboutMosul,Welshisthereagain—intheheat,andthedust,andthedirt,“nervesonfire.”Welshcannottalkaboutthatwithoutwagingasmallerwarwithhisemotions.
There’sDunkleberger—BrentDunkleberger,astaffsergeant,agoodguy.HewasthefirstinthebattaliontodieinMosul,Dec.12,2006,thevictimofanRPG,arocket‐propelledgrenade.WelshlearnedlaterthatDunkleberger’swifecollapsedwhenofficersbroughtherthenews.
ThelastonesoccurredOct.31,2007,whenamassive,buriedIEDblastedaBradleyarmoredvehicle.Theexplosionblewtheturretoffthesmalltank,claimingthelivesofSpc.BrandonSmithermanandCapt.TimothyMcGovern.
ItalsotemporarilyclaimedWelsh’sresolve.
Whenheheardthattwowerekilled,Welsh—hewasoutsidethecityatthetime—aimedhisHumveetowardMosul.Hearrivedtoseeashatteredvehicle.Steppingtotheground,hesagged.He’dworkedcloselywithMcGovern.
JamesPippin,hiscommandmastersergeantandthebattalion’sseniorenlistedsoldier,guidedWelshtoawalledcourtyard.Hewrappedanarmaroundhiscommandingofficer’sneck.
“AlmightyGod,Iaskyourblessing,strengthandwisdomonmybattalioncommander,”Pippinprayed.“Granthimtheclarityofthoughtthathewillinspireusandgetusthroughthisextraordinaryrendezvouswithdestiny.”
Pippin,nowretiredfromtheArmy,figuresthatwastheonlytimehesawhiscommandingofficerwaver.“Hegotafterthebadguysinabigway.Hewasanasty(expletive).“Andthat’sahugecompliment.”
4‘Reflection’ofothers
PTSDisnothingnew.InWorldWarII,itwascalledshellshock.SoldiersreturningfromCivilWarbattlefieldscomplainedof“soldier’sheart.”HerodotusmentionedthestressofbattleinhisaccountoftheBattleofMarathonin490BCE.
ButneverbeforehasPTSDbeensoprevalent.OfficialsattheAtlantaVeteransMedicalCenterestimatethat30to40veteransarereferredtoitsPTSDteameveryweek.Twoyearsago,thehospitalidentifiedabout7,500casesofPTSDamongitspatients.
ThenumberofPTSDsufferershasbeensteadilygrowing,saidDr.LisaNajavits,aprofessorofpsychiatryatBostonUniversitySchoolofMedicineandalectureratHarvardMedicalSchool.She’stheauthorof“SeekingSafety:ATreatmentManualforPTSDandSubstanceAbuse.”WelshusesthemanualwhenworkingwithveteransattheSalvationArmy.
NajavitsrecallsgettingaphonecallfromWelshearlierthisyear.Hewasaveteranwho’dundergonetraumaincombatandearlierinlife,Welshtoldher.HewantedtouseherbooktohelpothervetsconfrontandcontroltheirPTSD.
AlthoughneverdiagnosedwithPTSD,Welshknewthemonsterwhenhesawit.
“Iwasvery,verymoved,”saysNajavits.“He’slivedit—thebestandtheworst.Heconnectswithveteranswhomayfeelalone.Ijustthinktheworldofwhathe’sdoing.”
SodoesKevinHall,leadcaseworkerforspecializedservicesattheSalvationArmyshelter.Hallwasnotaneasysell:Hefrequentlyhearsfromwould‐bedo‐gooderswhodon’tfollowupontheirpromisestoworkattheshelter.SowhenWelshofferedtoworkwithveteranssufferingPTSD,HallgaveacautiousOK.
ByWelsh’ssecondsession,saysHall,heknewhe’dmadetherightdecision.“Theguys
(veterans)arealwaystalkingaboutit,”saidHall,alsoaveteran.“He’slivedit,he’swalkedit.”He’sstillwalkingit,saysDaryllWhitehead,anAirForceveteranwhoendedupatthecenterafterwashingoutofhislastjobbecauseheclashedwiththeboss.SalvationArmyworkersfoundhiminCentennialPark.Whitehead,57,wantstoreturntoschooltolearnhotelmanagement.
“Thecolonel’slikeareflectioninthemirror,”saysWhitehead,atallmanwhoconsiderseachwordbeforehereleasesit.“He’sareflectionofourselves.”
5Anewcareer
WelshlivesinatownhomeineastCobb.HesharesitwithCobyandWillie,hissons,andBarnsley,abig‐headedyellowLabradorretrieverwhofollowshimonplodding,silentfeet.He’striedhardtomakeitarealhome;onarecentevening,scentedcandlesburnedonatablelaidoutwithHalloween‐themedplacemats.Heis,afterall,dadandmom.
Hedoesn’tliketotalkabouthisex‐wife,whomhemetwhileayoungofficeratFortBenning.ThecourtsawardedWelshcustodyofhissonswhenhegotdivorcedthreeyearsago.
Theylovetheiroldman.Hegaveupamilitarycareertolookafterthem.
“Truthbetold,heismybestfriend,”saysCoby,16,whoseweightlifterphysiquebringstomindateenStallone.“Noonecouldbethereformeanymorethanhim.”Willie,14,nods.
Ahomeofficejustofftheentrywayisafour‐walltestimonytomilitaryservice.Itislinedwithmedals(hehas18),includingapurpleheartandawardsforvalor.Shadowboxesdisplaytheranksofanofficermovingsteadilytowardageneral’sstar.HehasablackStetsonwornonlybytheselectfewwhoserveinthecavalry.
Welshretiredtwoyearsagoaftertalkingwithhisuncle,GregoryBoyington,theairace’sson.AnAirForceveteran,BoyingtonmetWelshlessthanadecadeagoafterawriterworkingonabookaboutBoyington’sfamousfathertoldhimaboutaguyintheArmywhosemomhadbeenJanetBoyington.Theretiredpilotsoughthimout.
“We’vebeenfastfriendssince,”saysBoyington.
WelshdeployedtoIraqagainin2010.Whenhecamebackin2011,hisunclehadsomeadvice:“Forgetaboutgettingageneral’sstar.Itwouldtaketoolong.
“Amilitarycareerisawonderfulthingwhenyou’reayoungofficer,”saysBoyington,whoretiredafternearlythreedecadesofservice.“Butwhenyougetolder,it’saloteasiertogetajobinyour40sthanadecadelater.”
Welshlistened.Heretiredat46,movedtothemetroareaandgotapositionwiththeCoca‐ColaCo.Earlierthismonth,thecompanynamedhimglobaloperationsdirectorof
theEkocenterinitiative,whichprovidessafedrinkingwater,wirelesscommunicationsandotherservicestoimprovelivingconditionsin20nations.
Welshhasasimplerreasonforleavingthemilitary.“Iwasn’tgoingtoletmysonsbeonemoreinalonglistoftragediesfromthiswar.”
It’salsothereasonWelshspendshisSaturdaymorningsattheSalvationArmyshelter.Helostsoldiersincombat;hecannotabidethelossofmoreinpeacetime.Welshcannotsavethemall,buthehastotry.
“IfIdon’tdothis,thenI’vefailed.”
6Atopavolcano
AnotherSaturdaymorning,theOctobersunwinksbetweenhigh‐rises,acoolwindblowsalongLuckieStreet.Nearby,GeorgiaTechisgearinguptopoundSyracuseUniversityonthefootballfield.Itisabeautifulday.
ThingsarenotasrosyinsidetheSalvationArmyshelter,wherenearly40mensitattables.Theyareworn,andafraid,andangry.Welshstandsatopafigurativevolcano.
“Anynewpeoplehere?”heasks.
“Maurice,”onemanoffers.“Marines.”
“Joe.UnitedStatesNavy.”
“Francis.ThirdRangers.”
Welshgivesabriefsketchofhislife—orphan,homeless,28yearsintheArmy,and“waytoomanydeployments,”hesays.Hereachesforatried‐and‐truephrase:
“Iwasalwaysinthewrongplaceatthewrongtime.”
Wrongplace.Thistouchesachord.Mennod.Whetherincombatornot,theyunderstandthosetwowords.They’veallbeenthere,hellyes.
Amanraiseshishand.Itisabighand,attachedtoabigarm.HewasintheArmy.
“IgottiredoffeelinglikeIwastheonlyone(withPTSD),”hesays.“I’matrainwreck.”Hescanstheroom.
“Noreflectiononanybodyhere,butIdon’ttrustyou.Noneofyou.”
Aslenderyoungmanisnext.Helooksasifheshouldhaveplayedfootballforhishighschoolteamthenightbefore.AHumveehithiminIraq,shatteringhisknee.He’sfightinganaddictiontopainkillers.
“Asakidgrowingup,watching‘Rambo,’Ithoughtthemilitarywassobad‐ass—explosives,youknow.”Helooksathiskneeandshrugs.“Overthere,Igothurtalittle
bit.”Welshnods.“Weallgothurtalittlebit.”
Andsoitgoes.OnemansayshefeelsasifhiscontributionstoAmericawereignoredwhenhegothome.AnothersayshegotoutoftheArmy,losthishome,thentookabulletinthegutsinastreetfight.
AformerRangerraiseshishand.HewasintheseventhgradewhenterroristsattackedAmericaonSept.11,2001.Hegrewupwantingtoavengethedeathsofsomanyinnocents.Now,hesays,hisfamilythinkshe’snuts.
“This,”hesays,sweepinghisarmsabout,“istheonlyplaceIcantalk.”
AbigmaninasleevelessT‐shirtsitsattheback,agloweringpresence.“Icanrelatetothatyoungman.”
HejoinedtheArmyastheVietnamWarwounddown.Asacivilian,hewentlookingfortrouble,takingdrugsandfighting.Nosurprisethathefoundit.
“Ihungwithviolentpeople,”hesays.“Thedrugshelpedmedealwithmystresslevels.”
WelshfixestheyoungRangerwithasternlook.“Youlistening?That’syouin10or15years.”
AmanwearingapurplePoloshirtthatstrainsacrosshischestnods.“NotlongagoIbustedthisguyontheheadwithaCokecan.”
Thisgoesonforahalf‐hourlonger.Themenyell,pointfingers,tellafewtoshutupandurgeotherstotalkmore.Welsh,stillwearingthosegoofyflip‐flops,movesfromtabletotabletotable.
“Ihearya,”hesays.“Iknow.Brother,Iknow.”
Thecookcomesinandtellseveryoneheneedstheroomtofeedfolks.Everyonelookssurprised.Wheredidthetimego?
Somemenfileout,whileothershangaround.Emotions,onceloosed,aren’tsoeasilyreinedin.
Welshspends10moreminutestalking,oneonone,withsomeoftheguys.Eachleavespromisingtoreturn.
“Seeyounextweek,”saysWelsh,whothenoffersalittlebombhedropsateverysession:
“Whileweweretalking,”hesays,“twovetscommittedsuicide.”
Welshstandsdown.Theirbattle,foranotherweekatleast,iswon.Soishis.
Asinglefather,WelshshareshishomeineastCobbWelshjugglesthedemandsofwork,volunteerandkeepingwithhisteenagesons,CobyandWillie."Truthbetold,foodonthetableforCoby(right)andWillie.Welshheismybestfriend,"Cobysaysofhisfather."Noonehasasimplereasonforleavingthemilitarytwoyearsagocouldbethereformeanymorethanhim."Willienods."Iwasn'tgoingtoletmysonsbeonemorein alonglistoftragediesfromthiswar.”PHILSKINNER/[email protected]/[email protected]
Asinglefather,WelshshareshishomeineastCobbWelshtalkstoveteransattheSalvationArmyRedShieldwithhisteenagesons,CobyandWillie."Truthbetold,CenterinAtlanta.WelshisretiredU.S.Armycolonelspeaksheismybestfriend,"Cobysaysofhisfather."NoonetothesemeneachSaturday.PTSDhasneverbeensocouldbethereformeanymorethanhim."Willienods.Prevalent.OfficialsattheAtlantaVeteransMedicalCenter estimatesthat30to40veteransarereferredtoits PTSDteameveryweekPHILSKINNER/[email protected]/[email protected]
WelshtalkstoveteransattheSalvationArmyRedShieldWelshtalkstoveteransattheSalvationArmyRedShieldCenterinAtlanta.WelsharetiredU.S.ArmycolonelCenterinAtlanta.WelshisretiredU.S.ArmycolonelspeaksSpeakstothesemeneachSaturday.AfterreadingatothesemeneachSaturday.AfterreadingabookaboutPTSD,WelshcontactedtheauthorandsaidbookaboutPTSD,Welshcontactedtheauthorandsaidhewantedtouseherbooktohelpothers.Dr.Lisahewantedtouseherbooktohelpothers.Dr.LisaNajavits,theauthorof“SeekingSafety:ATreatmentNajavits,theauthorof“SeekingSafety:ATreatmentManualforPTSDandSubstanceAbuse”saidshewasManualforPTSDandSubstanceAbuse”saidshewasverymoved.“He’slivedit—thebestandworst.Heverymoved.“He’slivedit—thebestandworst.Heconnectswithveteranswhomayfeelalone.Ijustthinkconnectswithveteranswhomayfeelalone.Ijustthinktheworldofwhatheisdoing”Najavitssaid.theworldofwhatheisdoing”Najavitssaid.PHILSKINNER/[email protected]/[email protected]
WelshtalkstoveteransattheSalvationArmyRedShieldU.S.soldiersfromDemonCompany,2ndBattalion,7thCenterinAtlanta.WelsharetiredU.S.ArmycolonelCalvalry—Welsh’scommand—comeunderfirefromSpeakstothesemeneachSaturday.PTSDisnothinginsurgentsinwesternMosulinNovember2007.new.InWorldWarII,itwascalledshellshock.SoldiersWelshsufferedsomanyroadsidebombsthatreturningfromCivilwarbattlesfieldcomplainedofphysiciansdiagnosedhimwithtraumaticbrain“soldier’sheart.”Injuries,orTBI.MosulwasacauldronofIEDs.PHILSKINNER/[email protected]/MaytaAlluruzzo,file
Welshsalutesthefallen.HecommandedabattalionWelshwithhiscollectionof“LeadershipsCoins.”‐giventhatlost28soldiersduring2006and2007inMosul,tohimbyseniorcommandersforactsofexcellenceduringIraq.WhenWelshtalksaboutMosul–heistherehis28yearmilitarycareer—athisMariettahome.Welshagain—Intheheat,andthedustandthedirt.WelshvolunteerstohelphomelessveteranssufferingfromPTSD.cannottalkwithoutwagingasmallwarwithemotions,Thisdenisafour‐walledtestimonyto28yearsofmilitary“soldier’sheart.”service.
PhotocourtesyofEricWelshPHILSKINNER/[email protected]
HOWWEGOTTHESTORYAsthenation’spopulationofreturningwarveteransgrows,theAJCcontinuesitscommitmenttoreportingonthechallengesthesemenandwomenfaceastheyre‐entercivilianlife.PromptedbyaseriesofarticleshereadintheAJC,retiredCol.EricWelshcontactedstaffwriterMarkDavistotalkaboutposttraumaticstressdisorder,whichplaguesbetween11percentand20percentofIraqandAfghanistanwarveterans.WhenDavislearnedWelshwasvolunteeringtohelphomelessveteranssufferingfromPTSD,heattendedasessiontoseeWelshinaction.Daviswasimpressedandknewhe’dbebackbecauseWelsh’sstorywasonethatneededtobetold.SuzanneVanAttenFeaturesEnterpriseEditorpersonaljourneys@ajc.com
Aboutthereporter
MarkDavisjoinedtheAJCin2003afterworkinginPhiladelphia,TampaandhisnativeNorthCarolina.AgraduateoftheUniversityofNorthCarolina‐ChapelHill,Davishasreportedonheroes,bumsandcreaturesthatwalk,swim,crawlandfly.
Aboutthephotographer
PhilSkinnerhasbeenaphotojournalistattheAJCfor16years,workingonavarietyofstories,includingtheMasters,Olympics,AtlantaBraves,presidentialcampaigns,hurricanesandallkindsofhumanintereststories.PreviouslyheworkedattheSun‐Sentinel,theBocaRatonNews,theSarasotaHeraldTribuneandtheJupiterJournal.
FORVETERANSInobservationofVeteransDay,today’sPersonalJourneyonEricWelshispartofafour‐partseriesaboutthemenandwomenwhoserveourcountryinthemilitary.Saturday
TheAtlantaHistoryCenter’s“StoriesofSacrifice:ListeningtoAmerica’sVeterans,”letsvisitorslisteninonpersonalaccountsofsacrificeandbraveryduringitsprogramMonday.
Monday
Somereturningveteransencounterchallengeswhenattemptingtore‐enterthecivilianworkforce.HireHeroesUSAisanAlpharetta‐basednonprofitorganizationthathelpsformerwarriorslandjobsaftertheyreturnfrommilitarycampaigns.
Tuesday
Morewomenthaneverbeforeareservinghigh‐stressrolesinthemilitary.WelookatanAtlantaVeteransAdministrationprogramthathelpsreturningfemaleveteransovercomesomeofthetraumasthey’veexperienced.