I teach at a state university in MA. In January of this year an Iraqi War combat veteran, age 34, entered my life, first as a student and now as a collaborator in developing a mentoring program for Student Veterans. He has been my "cultural guide" in learning about the military and combat. I have been both an instructor and "witness" to him as he has struggled with both PTSD and TBI while pursuing his bachelor's degree (in expedited fashion-he entered college in 2010 and is on target to graduate in May, 2013, despite managing the darkness of both disorders). He has a strong desire to help other veterans with the transition to college and completion of their college degrees(the graduate rate of veterans is currently 7%). He is also very sensitive to the impact of war on military families. He is the father of 2 daughters--age 3 and 2 months and credits his wife for helping him through the re-entry.
He is, without a doubt, the kind of veteran who is now and will be, making a difference as we recover from 2 wars. How lucky am I to know and work with him.

lgtb soldiers have a different slant on serving. i'd like you to tell our story too. the most popular man on base at olmsted afb became my partner. more than half a century later, i still love him.

during my first year on base i received the highest possible ER you could get. i was 18 a catholic boy and very good looking. then a major during a medical exam ordered me to do him or he would courts martial me. i refused. flatly. he was flustered. i threatened him. he reneged. then i was drugged and raped by a staff sergeant. then i began to drink. i wrecked my car. then one of my friends wrecked his car and i ended up with most of my face ripped off by glass. the lieutenant [later captain] who was assigned to my file after major surgery started to handle me under the sheets while i was under pain medication.

my BF was investigated which led to my being investigated and we were both tortured. i wrote whatever they dictated. i had brain trauma memory loss and epilepsy after the traffic accident caused by unguarded trenches on a curve in the road on base.

my father who'd served with OSI in WWII managed to get us honorable discharges. he was subjected to electroshock. i went the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital for sexual reorientation. years later he married and they lived in an suburb in alabama. i went to the university of pennsylvania. i now have 100% disability for PTSD from rape, and from central nervous system trauma, including spondylosis and stenosis, but it took me 12 years to get it. 30% in 1975 for the spondylosis. later 50%. in 1995. but another 12 years for the PTSD.

My love of my life i never felt in any way responsible for the terrible things he did. i was grateful he had me to take things out on. he came a loving gentle kindhearted successful partner to a wonderful man. who says he never stopped being in love with me. his partner takes care of his PTSD.

we served with honor during the cuba crisis and the early vietnam conflict but our government served us badly.

Touching---hard to listen. Blessings and goodness to all of you and to those who did not live to tell. Your bravery continues in telling your story.