Over the past weeks, I followed the conversations on Clay Hunt – fearless advocate for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, and a particularly important voice for those Service members who struggle with the hidden wounds of war – depression, and post-traumatic stress. He took his own life two weeks ago.
Clay took his own life, and left many wondering why. His contributions to our community were immeasurable and peerless. Yet still, he joined many others who have taken this most violent of paths to find their own quiet space amongst the noise, after the guns draw silent. The casualty uncounted. I did not know Clay very well personally, but I did know him. He likely held within himself, as each Warrior holds within themselves, this duality of man – our humanity and our inhumanity.
Every one who has their senses inextricably bound to the smell of burning trash in the streets of a third-world ghetto, or the sound of the shuffling sandals of thin wrinkled Arab man who has his stride shortened as much by his distraction of keeping his thin cigarette lit, as by the undersized off-white burqa.
Every Warrior has likely felt the tug against this stoic, solid and seeming unmovable force that we call our anchor to humanity. Yet every one of us has also sat in a quiet moment while all about us was raging as you squinted and clenched against the bellows of the Siren of Wars. Squinted, and clenched as she drug your anchor across the coarse and cold sands of your soul. Unforgiving, Unrelentless. Yet you squared your shoulders, leaned forward with your back to the winds and shouted – HOOAH. In part to embrace your destiny, and in part to scare away the chains that bind us from doing what we know that we must.
How to find tools that will help you thrive as a returning combat Veteran is what I want to share with each of you today. Your anchor is still there. It is still there, I assure you.
If you are a Combat Veteran in need of a place to go to talk in confidence, you can visit a VetCenter and receive free and confidential counseling services for you and your family. If you are a family member or friend of a Warrior struggling with depression, and you just want some ideas on how to communicate to them, please visit the Defense Centers of Excellence, www.realwarriors.net, or the MilitaryOneSource confidential counseling services , and schedule free and confidential one-on-one counseling services. The suicide prevention hotline is also available 24/7 -Dial 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), Veterans Press 1 to talk to someone NOW. Dont want anything to do with the military anymore? There are still those who can help – www.giveanour.org.
The loss of Clay is a loss to all of the Wounded Warrior and Veterans advocacy community. Please vist his memorial site.
I am an advocate for wounded warriors and their families.
thewarrioradvocate 