>> THAT INDIVIDUAL THEY SHIPPED OFF IS NOT GOING TO BE THE PERSON THAT THEY GET BACK.

>> THERE WAS A BIG CHANGE IN KEVIN.

THE IRAQ DEPLOYMENT CHANGED HIM.

IT DID.

>> FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS DEPLOYED, THEIR THOUGHT OF HOME AND FAMILY IS GOING TO EVOLVE.

[ ENGINE REVS ] MAY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WIFE AND KIDS.

IT MAY BE EVERYTHING COMPLETELY TO DO WITH THEIR OWN ABILITY TO LET OTHERS IN.

>> WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR A LITTLE OVER 11 YEARS NOW, AND HOLDING STRONG AND EVERYTHING AND SHE'S-- YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING TOUGH TIMES AND SHE STUCK AROUND THE ENTIRE TIME.

>> HE ALWAYS BLAMED HIMSELF, THAT IT WAS HIS FAULT THAT HE GOT HURT.

>> I'M USED TO NOT HAVING THE MILITARY AROUND NOW.

THAT PART'S OVER WITH.

WHAT IT IS IN TERMS OF SETTLED, FEEL LIKE I'M HOME, IT'S HARD TO TELL.

>> PEOPLE WILL SAY A LOT OF THINGS WHEN I FIRST GOT HURT, AND THEN AS TIME GOES ON, THEY KIND OF TRY TO FADE OFF, YOU MOW,KNOW, HE'S GREAT, HE'S A HE, LIFE MOVES ON, THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY IT WENT.

>> PRODUCTION OF "ON HOME GROUND" WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: WOODMEN OF THE WORLD WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, DANNEMORA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THEY CALL IT THE HONEYMOON PHASE.

EVERYBODY GETS WELCOMED HOME AND THEY WANT TO COME HOME AND HAVE A GOOD MEAL, AND THEY WANT TO HAVE FUN.

FAMILIES WANT TO RE-ENGAGE, TOO.

SO THERE'S ALL THIS ENERGY TO DO THAT.

BUT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE REALITY STARTS CLICKING IN.

>> WHAT I TRY TO DO IS TALK WITH THE FAMILY AND LET THE FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL THEY SHIPPED OFF IS NOT GONNA BE THE PERSON THAT THEY GET BACK.

>> THE PROCESS OF RE-ACCLAMATION MAY NEVER HAPPEN.

TEN YEARS IS A GOOD ESTIMATE FOR REALLY COMING IN TO SETTLE DOWN.

WITH THEIR TALENTS, WITH THEIR ABILITIES, WITH THEIR HISTORY, HOW DO THEY WANT TO REDEFINE THEMSELVES NOW THAT THEY ARE A VETERAN.

>> WHEN THEY COME HOME, THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS WHEN THEY FIRST ENLISTED OR DEPLOYED, THEY MAY NOT REALIZE THE STEPS THEY NEED TO BE TAKING WHEN THEY GET HOME.

>> THE BIGGER SHOCK FOR ME WITH FAMILY WAS WHEN I GOT DOWN AT BOOT CAMP.

I HAVE A WEEKEND OF LIBERTY AND I CAN GO OUT AND ENJOY MYSELF.

MY MOM COMES UP TO ME AND SAYS WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO, I SAID, I DON'T KNOW.

I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD A CHOICE.

>> PEOPLE WILL SAY A LOT OF THINGS WHEN I FIRST GOT HURT AND THEN AS TIME GOES ON, THEY KIND OF TRY TO FADE OFF, YOU KNOW, HE'S GREAT.

HE'S A HERO.

OKAY, LIFE MOVES ON AND THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY IT WENT.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ] >> I THINK WHAT'S UNIQUE TO THE ADIRONDACKS AND THE NORTH COUNTRY IS JUST THE VAST REAL ESTATE THAT WE DEAL WITH, ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT IS A BIG ISSUE AND MANY OF THE FAMILIES THAT ARE INDIGENOUS TO THIS AREA, THEY CAN'T FIND A JOB, THEY MAY NOT WANT TO MOVE OUT OF THE AREA BUT THEY'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR LIVES.

SO THEY GO INTO SERVICE.

>> YEARS AGO THERE WERE SOLDIER HOMES WHERE SOLDIERS COULD GO AND JUST BE AROUND OTHER SOLDIERS AND LIVE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT EVER GO HOME AGAIN.

THEY COULD NOT GO HOME AGAIN.

HOME DID NOT MEAN THE SAME THING THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY HAD BEEN CHANGED FOREVER.

>> WHO DO I THINK UNDERSTANDS ME?

OTHER VETERANS.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT ANYTHING THAT I DO, INCLUDING THIS INTERVIEW, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BRING JUDGMENT ON HOW I AM, WHAT I DO ON A DAILY BASIS AND WHAT I'VE DONE IN MY LIFE.

I DO WHAT I ENJOY DOING.

IT'S JUST SOMETIMES LOOK IN AND SAY, OH, WELL, WHY DOES HE GOT TO SPEND 120 DAYS A YEAR IN THE WOODS BY HIMSELF, WHY CAN'T HE BE IN HERE SPENDING TIME WITH HIS FAMILY JUST BECAUSE I CHOOSE NOT TO.

I DON'T WANT TO.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I ENJOY DOING AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING, SO I DON'T DO THEM.

WITH COMBAT VETERANS IN PARTICULAR, THERE'S THESE STIGMAS LIKE THEY'RE GUESSING IN MY SPARE TIME, I LOAF AROUND THE LIVING ROAR OR GO AROUND CHECKING LOCKS ON DOORS AND WITH A LOADED WEAPON, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO EVERYBODY, IF THEY DON'T KNOW, THEY ASSUME THE WORST.

I MEAN, I THINK TO A DEGREE, MAYBE MY WIFE UNDERSTANDS.

I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT, BUT THEN AGAIN, SOMETIMES I THINK SHE GETS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY OF UNDERSTANDING UNLESS SHE'S EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD.

KEVIN IS VERY MUCH AN OUTDOORSMAN AND HE WILL COME BACK AND BE SO AT PEACE WITH HIMSELF.

HE SAYS HE DOESN'T -- HE CAN'T GET THAT AT WORK OR AT HOME WHEN WE HAVE A 1-YEAR-OLD RUNNING AROUND.

HE NEEDS THAT TIME TO HIMSELF.

I THINK EVERYBODY DOES IN A WAY, BUT ESPECIALLY VETERANS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH STUFF LIKE KEVIN'S BEEN THROUGH.

THERE WAS A BIG CHANGE IN KEVIN BETWEEN WHEN WE STARTED DATING IN 2004, THE IRAQ DEPLOYMENT CHANGED HIM.

IT DID.

KEVIN GETS FRUSTRATED SOMETIMES BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY JUST-- THEY JUST WANT TO HEAR THE STORY AND THEY DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT HIS POINT OF VIEW.

THEY'RE JUST LIKE, OH, WOW, YOU DID THAT?

AND WE'LL COME HOME FROM A GATHERING OR SOMETHING AND HE'S LIKE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, HE'S LIKE THEY THINK IT'S SO COOL.

>> MY DOG DOESN'T JUDGE ME OR CRITICIZE ME.

BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I STRUGGLE WITH CONSTANTLY IS, YOU KNOW, I GET TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT MY TIME, YOU KNOW, IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

SIT.

SIT.

I HAVE HER TRAINED TO BE A HUNTING DOG, BUT I ALSO AM WORKING TOWARD GETTING HER TRAINED AS A THERAPY DOG AS WELL.

I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE HER PLACES AND YOU KNOW, KIND OF ASSIST IN THE HEALING OF OTHER PEOPLE.

GOOD GIRL.

[ CLAPPING ] >> I FEEL LIKE WHAT I LIKE TO DO IN LIFE IS ACCOMPLISH, AND I'VE TRIED SO HARD IN MY LIFE.

WHETHER I WAS THE YOUNGEST AGE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TYING MY SHOES OR 16 YEARS OLD TRYING TO BE THE GUY WHO GOT HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE ON THE FIRST ROAD TEST OR SIMPLE THINGS.

I WANT TO BE THE PERSON TO ACCOMPLISH.

IN IRAQ, I WAS STATIONED IN THIS GENERAL AREA RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S COOL.

I CAN ACTUALLY POINT TO THIS AND SAY THAT'S ABOUT WHERE I WAS IN IRAQ.

I'M USED TO NOT HAVING THE MILITARY AROUND NOW.

THAT PART'S OVER WITH.

WHAT IT IS IN TERMS OF SETTLED, I FEEL LIKE I'M HOME, IT'S HARD TO TELL.

I HAVE HAD SO MANY TIMES WHERE I JUST FEEL LIKE I DIDN'T FIT IN.

I REALLY WISH THERE WAS MORE STRUCTURE.

I DON'T LIKE NOT KNOWING WHAT THE NEXT DAY IS GOING TO BRING.

I'M STUDYING FOR PRINCIPLES OF FINANCE.

I HAVE A FINANCIAL EXAM THIS AFTERNOON.

JUST TRYING TO DO A LITTLE LAST-MINUTE BRUSHUP BEFORE I GO IN THERE.

THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN MY OUTLET FOR A WHILE.

ACTUALLY A FEW YEARS AGO, I WAS STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY AND I WAS AT THE VERGE OF JUST NOT WANTING TO LIVE ANYMORE.

AND I THINK ONE DAY I WAS JUST FRUSTRATED.

MY WIFE WAS AT WORK AND I WAS UNEMPLOYED AT THE TIME AND I WAS JUST TERRIFIED THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE RENT OR GET FOOD OR ANYTHING.

I WENT OUT TO GO FOR A DRIVE.

HOPPED ON IT, RODE AND IT WAS AMAZING THE TRANSFORMATION.

AFTER IT WAS DONE, I WENT HOME AND I HAD A NEW SPIRIT ABOUT ME.

I WAS PLAYING WITH THE DOGS AND I SAT DOWN AND WORKED ON A BUDGET, I GOT THE BUDGET FIGURED OUT.

I WAS BREATHING EASIER.

I WAS HAPPIER, SO I WOULD SAY A MOTORCYCLE SAVED MY LIFE.

>> WE WERE PROBABLY DATING FOR ABOUT A YEAR UNTIL HE TOLD ME HE WANTED TO JOIN THE MILITARY.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND A NAVY CORPSMAN CAME UP AND THAT SPARKED HIS INTEREST.

WHEN JEREMY LEFT FOR BOOT CAMP, I WAS STILL A TEENAGER.

I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK, YOU KNOW, AND I REMEMBER LIKE CRYING ON MY WAY BACK HOME AND THEN I CALLED MY FRIEND AND WE WENT OVER THERE AND WATCHED MOVIES, AND THEN I CAME BACK HOME AND MY PARENTS HELPED ME COPE.

AFTER A WHILE, LIKE WHEN HE FIRST CALLED ME-- [ LAUGHTER ] THAT WAS THE BEST PART, HEARING HIS VOICE OVER THE PHONE, BUT I COULD TELL HE MISSED HOME AND EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, THAT FIRST NIGHT WAS HARD.

BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO GUIDEBOOK FOR IT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO-- JUST KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HIM.

LIKE YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, YOU KNOW.

HE'S GOING TO BE SAFE.

HE'LL COME HOME.

IT'S A HUGE LOSS OF FREEDOM.

I MEAN, NOT BEING ABLE TO JUMP IN THE CAR AND GO GET A GALLON OF MILK IF I WANT.

IT'S A BIG LOSS OF FREEDOM.

IT'S ALSO VERY SCARY, VERY UPSETTING.

>> BEFORE HE LEFT, WE WERE KIND OF ONE OF THOSE TYPICAL FAMILIES WHERE CHRIS DOES THE GUY THINGS AND MARY DOES THE GIRL THINGS.

AND I LEARNED PRETTY QUICKLY THAT WAS NOT THE WAY IT WAS GOING TO BE ANYMORE.

YOU KNOW, I WAS IN MY 30S LEARNING HOW TO MOW THE LAWN.

>> THE MILITARY TEACHES YOU TO BE INDEPENDENT, STRONG, AND THEN TO HAVE TO GIVE ALL THAT UP AND AT 40 YEARS OLD AND HAVE TO RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU IS JUST A VERY HARD THING.

I'LL CALL YOU WHEN I GET MY PHONE.

>> OKAY.

UM, CHRIS WAS AMAZING.

HE STILL IS AMAZING.

HE ALWAYS MADE EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IF I WAS SCARED, HE WAS MY SECURITY BLANKET HE MADE EVERYTHING BETTER.

AND THEN HE GOT ACTIVATED TO GO TO IRAQ.

HE GOT HURT AND OUR WHOLE WORLD WAS TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN.

>> IN MY LEFT EYE -- THE RIGHT EYE WAS CAN WAS DESTROYED BY OT EYE, THERE'S SHRAPNEL ON THE OPTIC NERVE AND I CAN STILL SEE OUT OF MY PERIPHERAL OUT OF MY RIGHT AND LEFT EYE FOR ABOUT 10% OF IT, SO I CAN SEE, I KNOW THERE'S A POLE COMING BUT, UM-- THE MORE-- I CAN SEE CONTRAST BASICALLY.

BUT THERE'S NO FOCUS OR ANYTHING.

>> MY DREAM WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS NICE LITTLE FAMILY AND WE WERE ALL GOING TO BE SO HAPPY AND EVERYTHING WAS JUST GOING TO BE WONDERFUL AND BEFORE HE WENT TO IRAQ, IT WAS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOUR KIDS.

THE LAST TEN YEARS HAVE BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT BECAUSE FOR A LONG TIME, HE FELT LIKE HE WAS BROKEN AND HE WASN'T WORTHY OF ANY OF US OR THAT HE COULDN'T GIVE BACK TO US, AND IT WASN'T ACTUALLY UNTIL HE STARTED GOING TO THE PTSD GROUP THAT A LOT OF THAT STUFF STARTED TO IMPROVE AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KIDS HAD REALLY STARTED TO IMPROVE AND CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

HE ALWAYS BLAMED HIMSELF THAT IT WAS HIS FAULT THAT HE GOT HURT, THAT IF HE HADN'T GONE TO THE PX THAT DAY OR HADN'T DONE THIS OR HADN'T DONE THAT IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED, AND THAT'S A PRETTY BIG BURDEN TO CARRY AROUND FOR TEN YEARS, THAT IT'S YOUR FAULT THAT THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE.

>> I'VE LIVED IN THE NORTH COUNTRY MY WHOLE LIFE ASIDE FROM WHEN I SERVED IN THE MILITARY.

I LOVE LIVING UP HERE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'VE CHANGED.

SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOMETHING THAT REMAINS CONSTANT IS KIND OF IMPORTANT TO ME.

I WORK EVERY DAY WITH VETERANS THAT COME IN, AND THEY STRUGGLE WITH -- THEY STRUGGLE WITH RELATIONSHIPS AND THEY STRUGGLE WITH WORKING WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S THE WAY THE MILITARY IS STRUCTURED, YOU KNOW, THEY GET HOME AND THEY'RE TO A DEGREE INSTITUTIONALIZED AND EVERYTHING IS PROVIDED, AND WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED, THEY'RE KIND OF LET LOOSE TO TRY TO REINTEGRATE AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT.

WHEN YOU DO, YOU KNOW, OPEN UP AND TALK ABOUT COMBAT AND THEN THE NEXT QUESTION, WELL, HAVE YOU EVER KILLED ANYBODY?

WELL, IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN JUST GOING OUT ON THE STREET LIKE A PSYCHO AND, YOU KNOW, SHOOTING INNOCENT CIVILIANS.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU'RE ACTUALLY-- YOU'RE OVER THERE WHEN YOU'RE ENGAGED WITH THE ENEMY, THEY'RE TRYING TO KILL AND YOU YOU'RE DEFENDING YOURSELF.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WAR IS AND WHAT WE TRY TO PROVIDE-- APPLY IT TO OUR SAME SOCIAL VALUE SYSTEMS HERE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND IT'S JUST DIFFERENT.

IT'S WARPED.

SO A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL PASS JUDGMENT LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T-- YOU DON'T NEED TO-- YOU DIDN'T NEED TO DO THAT.

WHY COULDN'T WE JUST TALK OR HUG IT OUT, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO REALLY BE ABLE TO WORK THAT WAY.

I'LL GET THE DOOR AFTER.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE DOOR.

HERE, I WILL GIVE YOU THIS CANE.

NO, I'M NOT GOING DOWN THE STAIRS THE WAY THEY TRAINED ME TO DO IT.

NO, I'M OKAY.

I DO THE STAIRS THE BEST.

>> KEVIN, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TELLING US THE STORIES THAT THEY HAD OVER THERE IN AFGHANISTAN AND-- >> OH, I'M SURE I WILL.

>> AND IRAQ.

>> I WAS IN THE VIETNAM ERA, AND I WAS STATIONED DOWN IN CAPE COD AND THE ORDERS CAME DOWN FOR THAILAND AND VIETNAM, AND I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES TO GET ONE FOR PANAMA, THE CANAL ZONE DOWN IN PANAMA.

I SORT OF WASN'T HAPPY ABOUT HIM JOINING UP IN THE ARMY.

BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?

PARENT, EVERYTHING WHEN IT WAS A WAR, I WOULD RATHER GO OVER THAN HIM.

THERE WERE KIDS WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT, IT WAS AWFUL.

[ MUSIC PLAYING ] >> HEY!

YEAH, THEY CALLED ME UP THERE AT 1618 YESTERDAY, ASKED ME IF I WAS GOING TO THE CEREMONY YESTERDAY.

THEY CALLED ME 45 MINUTES BEFORE IT STARTED.

SAID, HEY, YOU COMING?

NO.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE MANY MEMBERS THERE OR WHAT?

>> THEY GOT A LOT OF MEMBERS.

>> THERE IS A GREAT AMOUNT OF NEED IN A SOLDER TO COME BACK AND FEEL GROUNDED AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S TO HIS FAMILY, COMMUNITY, OR TO HIS FRIENDS TO WHAT HE OR SHE KNOWS TO BE COMFORTING AND REAL.

WHEN SOLDIERS DO COME HOME OR WARRIORS COME HOME AND THEY TRY TO RE-ENTER WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THE BEST ANALOGY I EVER HEARD IS THE CANOE ON THE RIVER.

WHEN THE SOLDIER OR THE WARRIOR LEAVES, THE MARINE LEAVES, THE AIRMAN LEAVES, THEY HOP OUT OF THE CANOE AND THEY RUN INTO THE WOODS.

THE CANOE GOES DOWNSTREAM.

THE FAMILY IS STILL PADDLING THE CANOE.

WHEN THEY COME BACK, THEY COME BACK TO THE SPOT THEY LEFT.

AND THE CANOE'S NOT THERE.

SO THE SOLDIER, THEY'VE GOT TO GO DOWNSTREAM TO CATCH THE CANOE.

WHEN THEY DO THAT, THEY GOT TO NOW CLIMB BACK INTO THE CANOE, AND IF YOU EVER TRIED TO CLIMB BACK INTO A CANOE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, AND THEN ONCE THEY CLIMBED BACK INTO THE CANOE BECAUSE IT'S STILL MOVING, THEY'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS GOING TO PADDLE.

WELL, THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CANOE HAVE ALREADY BEEN PADDLING AND THEY'VE BEEN MANAGING FINE.

SO THEY'VE GOT TO RENEGOTIATE ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP AGAIN.

>> DAD, HOW DO WE ROW?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT.

>> NO, LIKE TORI IS THE SAME SIDE AS ME OR OTHER SIDE?

>> SAME SIDE.

>> I GUESS WHEN WE WERE DATING, I KNEW HE WAS IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T REALLY THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE HE WAS JUST ONE WEEKEND A MONTH AND HE WOULD GO AWAY FOR HIS TRAINING FOR TWO WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER, BUT THAT WAS REALLY KIND OF IT.

THERE WAS NEVER ANYTHING MORE TO IT UNTIL 9/11.

HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE MOBILIZED BUT THEY WEREN'T SURE WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO BE MOBILIZED, AND THEN WE FOUND OUT IN SEPTEMBER IT WAS GOING TO BE OCTOBER 1ST.

I KNOW IT WAS ALL REALLY KIND OF LIKE NOT REAL.

YOU KNOW, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING, THIS IS THE NATIONAL GUARD.

THE NATIONAL GUARD ISN'T SUPPOSED TO GO OVERSEAS.

IN THE MORNING CHRIS WOULD CALL.

HE CALLED EVERY MORNING BEFORE THE KIDS GOT ON THE BUS TO GO TO SCHOOL.

>> ON MY DAY OFF, JUNE 16TH, MY FIRE TEAM HAD THE DAY OFF AND THEY WANTED TO HAVE THEIR COMBAT PATCHES SEWN ON.

WE WENT TO THE PX.

WE DROPPED OUR SHIRTS OFF TO HAVE OUR PATCHES SEWN ON FOR DOING SOME OTHER STUFF, SOME SHOPPING, HAIRCUTS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

AND I WAS JUST OUTSIDE HAVING A CIGARETTE, WHICH APPARENTLY CIGARETTES CAN KILL YOU, AND A ROCKET HIT BETWEEN THE IN DOOR AND THE OUT DOOR AND I WAS JUST IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.

>> HE WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL THAT WHICH WAS WEIRD BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, HE CALLED EVERY MORNING WITHOUT FAIL BEFORE WE LEFT.

AND I JUST KIND OF FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS OFF, AND THEN I GOT A CALL FROM THE CASUALTY AND ASSISTANCE OFFICE OF THE MILITARY OF THE ARMY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT CHRIS HAD BEEN INJURED IN A ROCKET ATTACK AND THAT HE WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

THAT HE HAD-- I NEEDED TO -- IF CERTIFICATE, I NEED TO MAKE SURE TO GET MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE BECAUSE IF NECESSARY, I MAY BE REQUIRED TO GO TO GERMANY, WHICH WAS WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO SEND HIM, AND THAT SAME NIGHT, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY ABOUT 2:00 IN THE MORNING, CHRIS CALLED.

SOMEBODY HAD GIVEN HIM A CELL PHONE AT THE CACHE HE WAS IN.

HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS SCARED AND THAT HE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING.

[ CRYING ] >> I WAS THREE WHEN MY DAD CAME HOME.

>> I WAS SIX WHEN MY DAD CAME HOME.

>> I WAS FOUR.

>> I WAS EIGHT WHEN MY DAD CAME HOME.

>> I'M HERE.

>> COME ON OVER HERE.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE CLOSER TO OUR DAD THAN OTHER KIDS BECAUSE WE ALMOST LOST HIM, SO WE WANT TO BE CLOSER TO HIM.

>> WHEN HE CAME BACK, HE WAS KIND OF NOT THERE REALLY.

>> OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I'VE REALLY COME TO-- I DON'T WANT TO SAY ACCEPT IT, BUT TO DEAL WITH IT.

I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S-- I HAVE A BETTER GRASP OF MY LIMITATIONS.

>> WHEN HE FIRST CAME HOME, HE REALLY THOUGHT HE COULD STILL SEE.

HE WAS VERY GUNG HO ABOUT DOING THINGS THAT BLIND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DO.

>> I CAN'T GO OUT.

I CAN'T STUMP OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, SNOW BLOW THE DRIVEWAY.

I MEAN, I CAN.

PHYSICALLY I CAN, BUT I MAKE A HUGE MESS WHICH MAKES IT TWICE AS HARD FOR EITHER MARY OR RYAN OR DILLON TO GO OUT AND CLEAN UP AFTER ME.

SO GIVING UP THAT CONTROL WAS REALLY HARD.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE I DO ASSOCIATE WITH HERE ARE VETERANS AND I THINK PART OF THE REASON I ASSOCIATE BETTER WITH THEM IS THEY'RE OLDER.

WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH THE SAME STUFF AND WE CAN KIND OF RELATE MORE, CONNECT MORE.

>> VETERAN STUDENTS, WHEN THEY COLLEGE, SO TO SPEAK, IT'S AN EYE-OPENER.

IT'S A SHOCKER SOMETIMES FOR THEM.

BECAUSE THEY COME OUT OF A WORLD WHERE THINGS ARE VERY PRESCRIBED TO THEM.

AND THEN SUDDENLY, IT'S NOT.

IT'S YOU HAVE TO GO OFFICE TO OFFICE, PLACE TO PLACE AND YOU HAVE TO FIND HOW TO DO THINGS AND YOU HAVE TO FIND YOUR CLASSES AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THROWN UNDER THE CAMPUS AND IT'S YOUR DEAL.

YOU DO IT.

>> FOR THE MOST PART, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

A LOT OF YOUNGER STUDENT HERE'S I CAN'T CONNECT WITH BECAUSE THEY THINK COLLEGE IS A PARTY, I'M GOING TO BE GRADUATING AND I HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THEM WITH JOBS AND THERE'S A CHANCE THEY WILL GET ONE OVER ME AND LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DID.

I HIT THE BOOKS AND HE WANTED TO GO DRINKING YOU KNOW, IT'S-- IT'S KIND OF AN IRRITATING CONCEPT.

ACTUALLY I HAVE A CLASS RIGHT NOW WHERE ALL THE STUDENTS CALL THE PROFESSOR BY THEIR FIRST NAME, AND I ALWAYS REFER TO HIM AS PROFESSOR AND HIS LAST NAME AND ONE DAY A STUDENT SAID WHY DO YOU CALL HIM PROFESSOR, I SAID BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TELL ME NOT TO.

WHEN I WAS IN THE SERVICE, YOU WOULDN'T DARE CALL ANYBODY BY THEIR FIRST NAME.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT RANK THEY WERE.

THEY COULD BE A LOWER RANK THAN YOU, AND IF YOU CALLED THEM BY YOUR FIRST NAME AND SOMEONE AT A A HIGHER RANK THAN YOU HEARD IT, YOU ARE GOING TO GET CHEWED OUT.

>> THERE REALLY IS A WHOLE OTHER LANGUAGE WITHIN THE MILITARY CULTURE AND COLLEGES HAVE THEIR OWN SORT OF CULTURE.

THEY HAVE A CERTAIN CULTURE WITHIN THEM AND PEOPLE TALK IN A CERTAIN WAY.

STUDENTS THAT PERHAPS JUST GOT OUT OF COMBAT SOMEWHERE AND ARE JUST STEPPING BACK ON U.S.

SOIL, SOMETIMES IN SOME CASES DAYS BEFORE THEY COME ONTO THE CAMPUS.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS A GIANT TRANSITION TO MAKE REALLY LEARNING HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE STUDENT IS LEARNING TO DEAL WITH THE WORLD AND LEARNING TO DEAL WITH EVERYONE YOU MAY ENCOUNTER IN THE WORLD AND THAT'S PART OF THE PUZZLE, SO IF THEY CAN'T DO THAT WHILE THEY'RE HERE, LIKELY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

♪ THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANKS.

[ SCATTERED VOICES ] >> GOOD.

THANK YOU.

LIKE I SAID, WEDNESDAY, I GOT MY THIRD INTERVIEW.

THIRD.

FIRST ONE WAS ON THE PHONE.

SECOND ONE WAS IN THE PARK.

>> AND YOU HAVE FOUR ALL TOGETHER?

I THOUGHT WHEN YOU GOT A THIRD, I THOUGHT IT WAS GUARANTEED >> FOURTH IS GUARANTEED.

>> THAT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THAT ONE.

SO I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO GO ALL OUT FOR IT.

>> ONE, TWO, THREE!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] YEA!

>> THE JOB HUNT TODAY HAS BEEN VERY UNEVENTFUL.

I GET E-MAILS FROM DIFFERENT RECRUITERS DAILY.

SO FAR WE'RE NOT FINDING TOO MUCH.

MY WIFE AND I RAN THROUGH QUITE A BIT OF FINANCIAL STRAIN HERE NOT TOO LONG AGO AND FOUND OUT THAT MY MILITARY SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN THAT I SIGNED UP FOR WHEN I JOINED HAD MONEY IN IT, AND WE NEEDED MONEY AND NEEDED IT BAD.

WE WENT GROCERY SHOPPING YESTERDAY WHEN WE GOT THIS MONEY BECAUSE WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD FOOD IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A COUPLE TIMES EVEN VERY RECENTLY WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR GROCERIES AND WE WERE LIVING OFF PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY.

WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR A LITTLE OVER 11 YEARS NOW AND HOLDING STRONG AND EVERYTHING.

SHE'S-- YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING TOUGH TIMES AND SHE STUCK AROUND THE ENTIRE TIME AND NOW SHE'S THE ONLY ONE EMPLOYED.

IF WE KEEP LIVING AS FRUGAL AS WE ARE, WE WILL BE FINE THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST.

IF I HAVEN'T FOUND SOME FORM OF EMPLOYMENT BY MIDDLE OF AUGUST, I WILL TAKE WHATEVER JOB I CAN TAKE.

STOCKING SHELVES AT A GROCERY STORE OR WHATEVER.

THIS ISN'T AN EXCUSE FOR ME NOT TO WORK EITHER.

THIS IS TO HELP US OUT SO I CAN DEVOTE TIME TO THE SERIOUS JOB SEARCH.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE INTERVIEWS I HAVE HAD WHERE THEY HAVE MY RESUME IN FRONT AND READING IT, THEY SEEM TO KIND OF JUST SHUTTER PAST THE MILITARY AND ASK ME ABOUT MY MOST RECENT JOBS AND I THINK A LOT HAS TO DO WITH SOMETHING ABOUT ME THAT PEOPLE AREN'T CRAZY ABOUT.

THAT'S AT LEAST WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

THERE'S SOMETHING I'M PRESENTING IN THE INTERVIEW THAT PEOPLE JUST AREN'T CARING FOR.

[ PHONE RINGING ] >> HERE AT THE VETERANS' SERVICE AGENCY, WE ASSIST VETERANS IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE V.A.

I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF PHONE CALLS IN WITH VETERANS INQUIRING ABOUT GETTING A SERVICE DOG.

SINCE WE LIVE IN A SMALL, TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY WHERE WE KIND OF TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN, WHY NOT START OUR OWN PROGRAM, SO I WORKED WITH THE NORTH COUNTRY VETERANS ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS THE CLINTON COUNTY CANINE CLUB AND PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW VETERANS TO TRAIN AND WORK WITH THEIR OWN DOGS, AND WHILE THEY'RE TRAINING, THEY'RE GETTING THE THERAPY OUT OF IT.

I CAN SIT DOWN WITH JUST ABOUT ANY VETERAN, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY DID IN SERVICE, AND BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEM.

THERE'S A WARRIOR CODE AND AN UNWRITTEN CODE, AND IT'S AN ELITE CLUB THAT UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN THERE, YOU CAN'T BE IN THE CLUB.

I DO THIS JOB BECAUSE I JUST HAPPENED TO STUMBLE ACROSS THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE AND BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.

AND IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE DONE IN SERVICE.

>> MILITARY CULTURE IS YOU'RE WARRIOR.

YOU ARE TOUGH.

YOU DON'T BREAK.

REALITY IS, AT LEAST IN OUR NICHE OF THE COUNTRY, WHEN MEMBERS OF THE 108TH NATIONAL GUARD UNIT DEPLOYED TO IRAQ BACK IN THE 2004-2005 ERA, WE SAW THEM ALL OFF AND WE SAW THEM WHEN THEY CAME HOME, AFTER THEIR YEAR.

EVERY ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD.

THAT GOES INTO COMBAT FACED WITH THOSE SAME ISSUES?

YES.

>> HE'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

I THINK HIS PTSD WAS A BIG PART OF IT.

I THINK HIS TIME IN ESPECIALLY IRAQ REALLY CHANGED HIM.

A LITTLE MORE IRRITABLE.

HIS TEMPER IS SHORT.

HE'S NOT VIOLENT TOWARDS US OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

HE JUST-- WHEN HE NEEDS A BREAK, HE GOES IN THE WOODS.

THAT'S WHAT HE DOES.

ALL RIGHT.

SEE YOU LATER.

>> HE CAN'T DEAL WELL WITH PUBLIC PLACES VERY WELL, AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THE MAN I LOVE IS STILL THERE.

SO-- YEAH.

>> I DON'T LIKE TO ACCEPT THE STIGMA THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT AS MUCH AS I'M OKAY WITH COPING WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'VE DONE AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY THE WAY THAT IT AFFECTS ME, IT'S THE WAY THAT I AFFECT EVERYONE ELSE AND HOW THEY PERCEIVE ME SO SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT EVEN REALIZE BY JUST LOOKING AT ME THAT I MAY BE IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION AND THAT IF I GET AGITATED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY MAY PERCEIVE THAT AS ME BEING A JERK.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY PROCESSES THINGS THEIR OWN WAY.

FOR ME, IT'S JUST COMING OUT HERE AND BEING ABLE TO DO THIS ON MY OWN OR, YOU KNOW, WITH A CLOSE FRIEND, AND THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE TO DO IT.

>> IN SOME WAYS, A PART OF HIM WILL ALWAYS BE OVER THERE.

JUST FOR, LIKE, THE CLOSE FRIENDS HE LOST AND ESPECIALLY IN AFGHANISTAN, THERE'S ONE SOLDIER IN PARTICULAR THAT DIED CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS.

SO THE HOLIDAYS ARE KIND OF A HARD TIME FOR KEVIN.

BUT I THINK ONCE WE BOUGHT THIS HOUSE, HE SETTLED.

US BEING MARRIED AND NOW WITH A CHILD, I THINK HAS MADE HIM FEEL MORE LIKE HE'S AT HOME.

[BIRDS CHIRPING] [ TV NOISE ] >> MY NEW JOB THAT I JUST STARTED ON TUESDAY IS-- IT'S A COMPANY THAT DISTRIBUTES DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND SOME OTHER TYPES OF EXERCISE EQUIPMENT.

IT'S BASICALLY ANYTHING YOU THINK YOU COULD USE TO MAKE YOU LOOK BETTER OR FEEL BETTER.

I REALLY THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY GO INTO MY CAREER.

I DON'T WANT TO SOUND ARROGANT OR IGNORANT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, NAIVE, BUT I REALLY DID HAVE HIGH HOPES THAT I WAS GOING TO GO GRADUATION, CAREER SOMEWHERE, DOING SOMETHING.

MAYBE NOT MAKING OUTSTANDING MONEY BUT MAKING DECENT MONEY AND START TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND AND WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT.

SO THIS LITERALLY A MEANS OF SURVIVAL AT THIS POINT.

>> IT'S STRESSFUL, BUT AS HIM AND I TALK ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING'S GOING TO COME UP.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HE'S GOT THE EDUCATION TO BACK UP FOR IT AND I'M TALKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO COLLEGE.

I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE FOR A WHILE BUT I STOPPED TO WORK FULL TIME.

>> SHE KNOWS IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU GO TO COLLEGE, GRADUATE AND THEN TAKE THE FIRST JOB THAT COMES ALONG, AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALMOST LABEL YOURSELF TO THE POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS, OH, THIS GUY WENT AND GRADUATED COLLEGE AND WENT AND GOT A JOB DOING THIS, WHATEVER, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HE WENT TO SCHOOL FOR AND NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS DEGREE.

I CAN SEE HOW THAT CAN LABEL SOMEBODY.

I REALLY DIDN'T WANT THAT.

I WAS TRYING TO BE AS PICKY AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE JOBS I TOOK AND JUST VERY RECENTLY GOT TO A POINT WHERE IT'S NOT AN OPTION ANYMORE.

THE JOB MARKET IN THIS AREA IS TERRIBLE, AND I DON'T THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE WHO OFFER THE JOBS I JUST THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE UP HERE ARE PLANTED HERE FOR THE MOST PART.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE MOVING SO THE JOBS AREN'T GOING TO BE OPENING UP.

ANDS THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE EXACT SITUATION I'M IN.

I'M WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO RETIRE, MOVE OR DROP DEAD.

SO HOPEFULLY NOT THE LAST ONE.

>> I THINK HE'S-- HE GETS-- HE GETS DOWN FOR THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE EMPLOYERS JUST -- THEY WANT SOMEBODY WITH EXPERIENCE ALREADY.

AND HE FEELS BECAUSE HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, HE'S A VETERAN, HE HAS THE EDUCATION AND I MEAN, HE JUST FEELS DISCOURAGED.

>> I CAN'T AFFORD TO GO DO ANYTHING.

I CAN'T AFFORD TO TRY TO ENJOY MYSELF AND HAVE A GOOD TIME BASICALLY.

IT'S RIGHT NOW, GO TO WORK, COME HOME, AND STRESS ABOUT MONEY.

GO TO WORK, COME HOME, AND STRESS ABOUT MONEY.

AND THAT'S WHAT MY LIFE IS AND I'M REALLY SICK OF IT.

>> I KNOW SOMETHING REALLY GOOD WILL COME UP JUST BECAUSE-- I MEAN, EVERY COLLEGE GRADUATE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T FIND A JOB RIGHT OFF.

I TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY HAD TO WAIT.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND THEY FINALLY LANDED A REALLY GOOD JOB.

IT'S A-- IT'S THE WAITING GAME.

BUT SOME DAY WE'LL GET A HOUSE AND WE'LL GET OUT OF THIS BASEMENT APARTMENT.

SO THINGS WILL COME.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING KIDS IN A YEAR OR TWO.

WE HAVE GOALS.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT AN INDIVIDUAL HERE AND THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL TO ALBANY TO THE V.A.

MEDICAL CENTER, IT'S ESSENTIALLY 170 MILES ONE DAY.

THAT'S A DAY TRIP.

IF YOU'RE GOING DOWN FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE A DOCTOR OR SPECIALIST, AND THERE ARE MANY VETERANS WHO LIVE UP HERE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY THAT DO NOT HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS CAPABLE OF MAKING THAT TRIP OR THEY'RE IN SUCH HEALTH CONDITION THAT THEY CAN'T MAKE THAT TRIP THEMSELVES.

>> I'VE JUST STARTED GOING WITH THE GUYS DOWN THERE.

MY WIFE USED TO TAKE ME DOWN WE USED TO DRIVE DOWN IN THE MORNING AND DRIVE BACK IN THE AFTERNOON AND THAT'S JUST A LOT ON MY WIFE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO DO THE INITIAL CHECK AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS CONSISTENT.

OKAY.

>> WE'LL GET YOU STARTED.

>> OKAY.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE EYE CLINIC TO HAVE MY EYE DIALATED?

>> 10:00.

>> DOES ANYONE LIVES WITH YOU AT HOME?

>> WIFE AND FOUR KIDS.

>> YOU SAID FOUR KIDS?

>> YES.

TWO BOYS, TWO GIRLS.

>> HOW DO YOU MANAGE THAT?

>> A LOT OF TRIAL AND ERROR.

>> I WOULD DESCRIBE CHRIS WITH ONE WORD, RESILIENCE.

CHRIS AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR SEVEN YEARS SINCE I FIRST STARTED AT THE V.A.

HE'S ONE OF THE FIRST VETERANS I BEGAN WORKING WITH.

CHRIS AND I WHEN HE FIRST RETURNED TALKED A LOT ABOUT HIS READJUSTMENT AND TALKED ABOUT V.A.

THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO ASSIST HIM WITH THAT.

I THINK SOME OF OUR GREATEST DIFFICULTIES WAS REALLY HIM ALLOWING US TO HELP HIM.

>> OKAY.

LET'S START AT THIS DISTANCE.

CHRIS, AGAIN, IN ORDER TO SEE THIS, I KNOW YOU TURN YOUR EYE ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT.

>> YEP.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE THIS NUMBER AT THIS POINT?

>> I WANT TO SAY SEVEN.

>> OKAY.

>> ANYTHING ON THIS ONE?

>> NO.

>> AGAIN, IF YOU SCAN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO YOUR RIGHT, ANY PARTICULAR POSITION?

>> FOUR.

>> OKAY.

>> AND JUST GOING TO CHECK YOUR EYE PRESSURE HERE, OKAY.

LOOK STRAIGHT AT THAT BLUE LIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU CAN SIT BACK.

HOW COMFORTABLE ARE YOU TAKING OUT THE PROSTHETIC?

>> OH, NO PROBLEM.

>> BRING YOUR FOOT A LITTLE CLOSER FOR ME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.

>> WE TALK ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES WITH VETERANS AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND THERE'S A CONCERN BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE MUCH ON THE CAMERA.

WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES, LIKE PTSD OR DEPRESSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANT OUTSIDE PEOPLE IN LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS OR TALKING ABOUT PERSONAL ISSUES.

>> PROBABLY ONE OF THE DEEPEST RULES IS WHEN A SOLDIER COMES BACK AFTER SACRIFICING SO MUCH OR A MARINE COMES BACK AFTER SACRIFICING SO MUCH AND NOBODY KNOWS THAT THEY WERE GONE AND NOBODY REALLY CARES.

AND I'M WAITING TO SEE THE EFFECT OF WHAT'S JUST BEEN HAPPENING IN IRAQ ON OUR YOUNG SOLDIERS NOW WHO WERE IN IRAQ BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE DID WAS FOR NAUGHT.

>> ISIS AND ALL OF THEIR MESSAGES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA RAISING THE LEVEL OF CONCERN.

>> WE HAVE TO GET AN IRAQI GOVERNMENT IN PLACE.

>> THE MILITANT GROUPS SOMETIMES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA IS IN CONTROL OF LARGE SWATHS OF LAND IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

>> IN A SENATE HEARING TUESDAY, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN SAID OFF THE BAT U.S.

GROUND TROOPS MIGHT BE NEEDED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ISIS.

>> IT'S JUST-- JUST LIKE HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

I MEAN, THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN VIETNAM.

THEY SENT SPECIAL FORCES IN AND THE TROOPS GO IN AND AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME THEY PULL EVERYBODY OUT AND SAY, OKAY, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING, AND THEY DID IT IN IRAQ, SPECIAL FORCES WENT IN.

THE TROOPS WENT IN, AND YOU KNOW, AFTER ALL THE LOSSES, JUST LIKE IN VIETNAM, YOU LOSE SO MANY, AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH, WE'RE GOING TO PULL THEM OUT, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS EVERYTHING FOR?

I LOST MY EYESIGHT.

HOW MANY SOLDIERS DIED, HOW MANY OTHER SOLDIERS ARE BLIND OR LOST A LIMB OR THE TBI'S THEY HAVE NOW.

I MEAN, IT WAS JUST A WASTE.

>> TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE THERAPY DOG CLASS.

I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, A LOT OF WORK.

I GUESS I'M KIND OF THE GO-BETWEEN.

I KNOW, BECAUSE I WORK WITH ALL THESE VETERANS AND YOU YOU I KNOW THE ISSUES AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY THAT THEY MAY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IN THE CLASS, SO I'M GOING THROUGH THE CLASS WITH THEM AND I'M ALSO HERE TO ASSIST THE INSTRUCTORS IF ANY ISSUES COME UP.

>> ARE WE MOVING CABLES?

>> NO.

>> SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE CAMERAS TO FILM THE CLASS BECAUSE A MAJORITY OF THE VETERANS DON'T WANT TO BE FILMED IN THE CLASS.

I THINK A LOT OF THE VETERANS THAT HAVE SOME OF THE ISSUES THEY DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS ARE LESS APT TO TALK TO THE MEDIA, SO THE MEDIA STRUGGLES TO FIND PEOPLE WILLING TO TALK ON CAMERA.

I'M DOING IT BECAUSE OF MY JOB.

OTHERWISE, YOU WOULDN'T SEE ME IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

>> HE WAS SAYING HE MIGHT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH TRANSPORTATION.

I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WITH HIM.

IF HE COMES TODAY, WE'LL WORK SOMETHING OUT.

HE SAID HE LIVED CLOSE BY.

I'M SURE I CAN PROBABLY SWING BY TO GET HIM FOR THE CLASSES.

>> WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB I UNDERSTOOD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE MY COMFORT ZONE AT TIMES AND TALK TO THE MEDIA AS WELL AS PEOPLE THAT I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO AS PART OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION.

YOU KNOW, A PART OF ME ALSO GETS FRUSTRATED JUST LIKE WHEN I TALK WITH OTHER VETERANS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW -- A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA ARE VETERANS BUT THEY DON'T SHARE THE SAME EXPERIENCES AS OTHERS, AND SOME OF THEM BUILD UP WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND AND SOME LEARNED AND STEAL THAT VALOR.

I EARNED WHAT I EARNED.

I'M NOT ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO PUTS THE CAPTAIN AMERICA T-SHIRT ON AND GOES OUT LIKE A SUPERHERO BOASTING ABOUT MY TIME IN SERVICE.

>> WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE COURSE OF A DAY, VERY OFTEN WE'RE NOT SELF-AWARE, WE'RE JUST DOING, RESPONDING.

ESPECIALLY VETERANS, THEY'RE IN REACTION MODE.

VERY OFTEN, THEY'RE IN REACTION MODE.

THE HEALING OPPORTUNITY OF HORSE THERAPY, YOU KNOW, JUST COMING TOGETHER IN A UNIQUE PLACE, A DIFFERENT PLACE, JUST GETTING SOME SELF-AWARENESS IS A LARGE PART OF IT.

SO GETTING THEM TO A SPOT WHERE THEY'RE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE THINKING, FEELING AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING, IT'S REALLY GOOD.

>> I'VE BEEN A THERAPIST FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.

I HAVE SPECIALIZED IN TRAUMA.

THAT'S BEEN MY SPECIALTY OVER THE YEARS.

I BECAME INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH HORSES BECAUSE I'M ALSO A HORSE PERSON, AND I HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT PEOPLE AND HORSES TOGETHER.

WE WORKED WITH THE V.A.

LAST YEAR.

WE WORKED WITH A BUNCH OF VETERANS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

WE DID A NUMBER OF RETREATS.

CAN YOU JUST TELL US A QUICK ANYTHING YOU WANT TO IT TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?

>> MILITARY I THOUGHT WAS THE CAREER I WANTED.

IT DIDN'T TURN OUT THAT WAY SO I HAD TO START OVER FROM SQUARE ONE.

IT'S BEEN A ROUGH ROAD BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT PRETTY SOON SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN AND GET A CHANCE TA REALLY -- MY WIFE AND I GET A CHANCE TO REALLY LIVE.

>> SO I REALLY WASN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT COMING HERE.

I KNEW I WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITH HORSES AND I LEARNED WE WEREN'T GOING TO RIDE THEM AND DO WHAT YOU EXPECT TO DO WITH HORSES.

WE WERE JUST GOING TO KIND OF LEARN THEM.

GO THIS WAY.

COME ON.

HE AND I HAD A STRONG BOND FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> STOP AND STEP RIGHT THERE.

YEP.

THIS TIME, MAKE HIM STOP RIGHT HERE.

>> WE DID IT THE FIRST TRY.

NO PROBLEM.

JEREMY DID IT THE FIRST TRY NO PROBLEM AND I HAD TO DO IT EIGHT TIMES.

WE'RE NOT STOPPING UNTIL HE GETS IT.

COME ON.

>> YOU ARE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE ME LOOK BAD, AREN'T YOU?

>> BE VERY DELIBERATE IN WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.

STOP AND BRING HIM OVER.

THERE YOU GO!

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HE WAS DOING?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK HE THOUGHT I WAS A SPU STUBBORN GUY, WHICH I AM, AND I THINK AFTER HE REALIZED WE WERE JUST GOING TO KEEP DOING IT UNTIL HE GOT IT RIGHT OR WE GOT IT RIGHT, I THINK THAT'S WHEN HE REALIZED, THAT'S WHEN I'LL STEP OVER THE DAMN THING.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> PERHAPS AND I DON'T KNOW YOU SO I'M MAKING SOME ASSUMPTIONS HERE THAT YOU GO AND YOU HAVE A -- YOU GO AWAY FROM HERE AND YU HAVE A COMMUNICATION WITH ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, SOMEBODY AT WORK OR SOMETHING, AND THERE'S THAT SAME FEELING OF FRUSTRATION AND WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE, THEN OKAY, WELL, WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH STRAUSS AND WHEN MY DIRECTIONS GOT REALLY CLEAR, THEN THINGS WENT SMOOTHLY.

AND TO TAKE THAT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MAKE THAT INTO HUMAN COMMUNICATION.

>> I'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT PROBLEM, PEOPLE ARE LIKE JUST LOOKING AT YOU, I CAN'T TELL IF YOU'RE SERIOUS OR IF YOU'RE MAD OR HAPPY OR WHAT.

I'M LIKE THAT'S NOT GOOD.

I'M SUCH AN EASY GOING GUY ALL THE TIME.

I THINK THIS PROBABLY WOULD BE THE FIRST STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> I USED TO GET VERY FRUSTRATED GOING AND TRYING TO WATCH THEM PLAY SOCCER OR BASKETBALL AND IT WAS JUST PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO, MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO I FINALLY HAD ENOUGH OF IT AND I STARTED PLAYING WITH THE KIDS OUTSIDE.

>> IT'S WNBA TIME.

LET'S GO.

WHY DO YOU GET THE BALL FIRST?

>> I DO.

>> I THINK GOING OUT AND PLAYING BASKETBALL WITH THEM OR KICKING A SOCCER BALL WITH THEM CHANGED A LOT MORE.

I WAS MORE INVOLVED.

>> YOU KNOW YOU GOT TO LET ME WIN, RIGHT?

IF I COULD GO BACK AND TELL MYSELF NOT TO GO TO PX, I WOULD HAVE LISTENED.

BUT WHAT IF I DID NOT GO, THE NEXT CAN DAY -- AND THIS IS FACT, THE NEXT DAY, THERE WAS A CAR BOMB THAT WENT OFF AROUND THE CORNER OF WHERE MY HUMVEE WOULD HAVE BEEN PARKED RIGHT NEXT TO IT WHEN THE CAR BOMB EXPLODED.

THE SERGEANT WHO TOOK MY TRUCK THAT DAY DECIDED HE CAN DIDN'T LIKE IT AND PARKED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, SO WHO KNOWS.

EVENTUALLY I HAD TO COME TO TERMS WITH I'VE GOT WHAT I GOT AND THAT'S IT.

THERE'S NO MORE DRIVING OR WORKING FOR THE STATE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I FULLY ACCEPTED IT OR NOT, I'M PROBABLY ABOUT 95% THERE AT THIS POINT, TEN YEARS LATER.

>> GUYS, GUESS WHAT I BEAT DAD!

>> SHE'S NOT VAIN OR ANYTHING.

>> ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, WE REMEMBER AND GIVE THANKS.

>> IF YOU'VE GOT A VOICE, YOU CAN SHOUT IT ALL YOU WANT BUT UNTIL SOMEBODY LISTENS TO YOU, UNTIL YOU'RE HEARD, YOU DON'T BELONG.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALWAYS HOLD OUR VETERANS CLOSE TO OUR HEART.

>> I THINK MILITARY FAMILIES UNDERSTAND.

IT'S ENGRAINED IN THEIR WHOLE FIBER OF THEIR FAMILY.

THOSE WHO NEVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND.

>> I THINK THAT IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEM, THEN IT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT COMES AROUND ON VETERANS OR MEMORIAL DAY, YOU KNOW, TALK WITH A VETERAN.

BUY HIM A COFFEE AND LISTEN TO HIS STORY.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT HE'S GOT TO TELL YOU HIS WAR STORY ABOUT HIS BUDDY BLEEDING OUT ON THE STREET CORNER.

ASK HIM HOW HIS DAY'S GOING REGULARLY BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S STORY IS DIFFERENT.

I'M NOT TRYING TO PLUG VETERANS, PUT THEM UP ON A PEDESTAL.

THEY JUST SHARE A DIFFERENT SET OF EXPERIENCES THAT GIVES THEM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS THAN SOMEBODY THAT HASN'T DONE IT.

>> I THINK OF MYSELF AS A VETERAN AND THAT'S NOT MY KEY WORD HERE.

MY WIFE WILL HEAR ABOUT IT, MY FAMILY WILL HEAR ABOUT IT.

I DON'T THINK THE THINGS I DO DEFINE ME.

MOST OF THE TIME, I IDENTIFY WITH PEOPLE BEFORE THEY FIND OUT I'M A VETERAN.

IT'S FRUSTRATING TO THINK THAT PEOPLE TRY TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES.

I NEVER LIKED THAT.

I'M NOT A SEGREGATING KIND OF GUY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHY CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS, SOMEONE FINDS OUT YOU'RE A VETERAN, OH, HE SERVED IN VIETNAM OR IRAQ, THEY'RE LIKE, OH, HOW MANY PEOPLE DID YOU KILL?

IT'S LIKE, WOW, NOT WHERE ARE YOU, WHAT UNIT.

IT'S LIKE, HOW MANY PEOPLE DID DID YOU CAN KILL?

IT'S LIKE, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.

WE NEVER TALK ABOUT THAT STUFF.

I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT THE FUNNY STORIES OR, YOU KNOW, FUNNY THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO US.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE SOCIETY DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR THE FUNNY THINGS AT FIRST.

THEY WANT TO HEAR THE DETAILS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF WARRIOR YOU WERE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, I SURVIVED, SO I'M A GOOD ONE.

♪♪ >> THE EAR IS KIND OF A THICK SKIN SO WHAT I'M ACTUALLY DOING IS I'M ACTUALLY SLOWLY SPLITTING THAT EAR IN HALF AND IT HELPS DRY THE EAR AND DRY THE ELK BETTER.

>> HE'S GOTTEN INTO TRAPPING AN , LIKE, SKINNING FUR, THE WHOLE THING KIND OF -- IT'S NEW TO ME.

I'M NOT USED TO IT, BUT HEY, IT MAKES HIM HAPPY, AND -- OH, WHATEVER HE'S INTO, I GUESS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND THEN YOU GO IN AND GIVE YOUR WIFE A BIG HUG AND YOU SMELL LIKE RACCOON AND IT MAKES HER REALLY HAPPY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I WAS HOOKED ON ARCHERY, BOW HUNTING AND SINCE I WAS TEN YEARS OLD, I DEVOTED MY ENTIRE LIFE TO LEARNING EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT ARCHERY.

>> I WANT TO TRY A COUPLE DISTANCE SHOTS, THOUGH.

THERE.

GOOD JOB.

>> RYAN TOLD HER BEFORE HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO HIM THAT YOU COME EVEN THOUGH HE CAN'T SEE.

>> IT WAS FRUSTRATING.

MY WIFE WOULD MAKE ME GO TO THE GAMES AND THEN I REALIZED I WASN'T GOING JUST FOR THAT.

I WAS GOING SO THAT THEY KNEW I WAS THERE.

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I SAW YOU DO WRONG.

>> NOTHING.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> PRODUCTION OF "ON HOME GROUND" WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: WOODMEN OF THE WORLD WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE DANNEMORA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION.

YOU CAN OWN ON HOME GROUND ON DIFD FOR $19.95 PLUS SHIPPING AND HANDLING.

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