America's Veterans Deserve A Healthy Homecoming

Published November 11, 2009 @ 05:00AM PT

Scott Quilty is a Retired US Army Captain and veteran of the Iraq War.

This Veterans Day, as we continue to try to make sense of what happened last week at Fort Hood, one thing is clear: our country has been deeply scarred by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And, unless we act now, war will continue to reverberate in our communities.

Soon, more than 1.8 million Americans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan will be back home. Along with their duffel bags and their service awards, they'll bring the baggage of their experience: physical injuries and psychological trauma.

Remarkably, there's been no national effort to fully reintegrate these veterans into our communities, and the consequences—veteran unemployment, substance abuse, domestic violence, and higher-than-ever suicide rates—are hurting us all.

I know, I came back the hard way.

In 2006, I stepped on the roadside bomb in Iraq’s “triangle of death.” I can't remember the flight home, but when I woke up—minus an arm and a leg—at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, I realized that my homecoming wasn't going to be defined by a parade, or a kiss of the tarmac.

Indeed, for all veterans, the homecoming process doesn't last a day, or a week. It's a constant effort that involves peers, entire families, and involved communities.

Starting today, Veterans Day, I am asking you to be a part of this effort by joining the Campaign for Healthy Homecoming.

Together, campaign members are collaborating on the first national plan that details the steps we can take to improve the homecoming process.

We're calling this plan a roadmap, because we're convinced that once all of us look at the complete landscape veterans face upon returning home, we'll be able to map the best route to thriving communities.

Whether you're concerned with the GI Bill and veteran education, or PTSD and veteran suicide, you have the power to influence the discussion that will help guarantee a healthy homecoming to those who have served.

It's time to change the way service members come back. That change starts with you.

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Comments (12)

Scott - yours is an inspiring story and a hugely important message that we intend to keep pushing. We have failed veterans returning from wars in the past and it's a blight on our history that we cannot afford to repeat.

Posted by Ben Rattray on 11/11/2009 @ 10:04AM PT
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I am really impressed with the list of supporters of the campaign and I hope this effort leads to a complete shift in the American psyche when it comes to our Vets.

Waving a flag no longer can count as patriotism. Instead, patriotism should be measured by deeds and how we treat our soldiers 1, 5, 10, 50 years after they serve.

Posted by Matthew Slutsky on 11/11/2009 @ 10:51AM PT
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I can't say a thing in criticism of this.

really...

Posted by Bobby Steele on 11/11/2009 @ 11:13AM PT
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God bless Quilly, the other vets and everyone supporting them!

Posted by Aaron Jay on 11/15/2009 @ 02:06PM PT
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I would like to thank Captain Quilty for his valiant and patriotic military service and for his efforts with regard to assisting returning servicemen.The number of men who are willing and able to serve in our military since our War in Vietnam has declined significantly both relatively and absolutely. This represents a failure of our government, our military service organizations, and the American people to care for our returning veterans. Please support Captain Quilty in his efforts to assist returning veterans. I served in the U.S. Army;4th Infantry Division;2/8th Inf.; Republic of Vietnam 1969-1970.

Posted by C.V. Shaw on 11/15/2009 @ 03:35PM PT
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I agree! Anything that we can do for these guys and gals *should* be done!

Our Congress doesn't seem to have a problem finding hundreds of billions for bailing out big corporations or $34 B last year for "foreign aid" so they shouldn't have any problem funding whatever we need for Veteran's programs!

A bunch of phone calls and emails to our senators and congressmen would help!

USN 71-75 USCG 78-89

Posted by Thomas Porter on 11/15/2009 @ 04:04PM PT
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Thank you sir!

Posted by Aaron Jay on 11/15/2009 @ 06:29PM PT
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Dear Mr. Shaw - I have a friend who served for 2 years as a nurse in Vietnam. She has taught me to give this everytime I have an opportunity. Please accept this will all the love and sincerity I have for you:

{a hug} Welcome home, soldier! And thank you!! {hug}

Blessed Be. Jade

Posted by Jade Hawks on 11/15/2009 @ 09:50PM PT
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If war worked, this would be the most peaceful planet in the galaxy! It's time to find another way to deal with each other, and to be aware of the horrors these kids are bringing home with them - any way that each of us can help needs to be done.

This is what one lady is doing, and we can help too.

YouTube - Judith Broder: 2009 Purpose Prize Winner

Posted by Jade Hawks on 11/15/2009 @ 10:10PM PT
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Glad to see the video of Judith Broder who recently won a Purpose Prize for combining her passion and experience to provide free, confidential counseling to returning soldiers and their families. A psychiatrist, she bypassed retirement and decided instead to start an encore career helping soldiers. Her work started in Los Angeles but is spreading with the help of volunteer therapists and donations. Still, projects like Broder's need more recognition and support.

Posted by Alexandra Kent on 11/15/2009 @ 11:05PM PT
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Yesterday I visited the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial in Clinton, OHIO.

About time we honored these brave Americans. Now let's not keep making the same mistake of neglect of our returning men and women who served in our stead.

Provide for all needs of body, mind and spirit of returning veterans.

Susan H. Corrigan, HM

Posted by Susan H. Corrigan, HM on 11/16/2009 @ 06:48AM PT
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AMEN!

Posted by sherry mcculley on 11/16/2009 @ 06:58AM PT
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Author

Retired US Army Captain Scott Quilty coordinates the Campaign for Healthy Homecoming at Survivor Corps, a nonprofit that helps military and civilian survivors of conflict recover from war and rebuild their communities. In 2006, while patrolling the “triangle of death” in Iraq, Scott stepped on an improvised explosive device and lost an arm and a leg. He underwent 18 months of physical rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Today, Scott lives in North Carolina with his wife, baby boy, and two dogs. Follow Scott on Twitter @ScottQuilty.