Houston Texas News
Jay Velasquez is an Iraq war veteran who served as a chaplain's assistant. He had planned to join a seminary when he returned, but is now considering college.
STEVE CAMPBELL: CHRONICLE
Jan. 19, 2008, 10:08PM
Back from war, but not the same
Memories stay with veterans and add to trauma
By ROSANNA RUIZ
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Veteran Jay Velasquez doesn't need snapshots to remind him of Iraq.
In his mind, the 28-year-old finds himself back in the war zone when he sees a pile of trash that could conceal an improvised explosive device along a Houston road. On a nighttime walk, a car seemingly steers right for him. His nerves bristle when he's in crowds.
Velasquez, among the 1.6 million who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, recently joined the ranks of about 400,000 other veterans in Southeast Texas, about half of whom live in Harris County.
The vets — about 5,000 in Houston who served in the current wars — are now reunited with families, back to work, or like Velasquez, back to a college classroom.
But in many ways, the war remains with them.
The transition from war zone to civilian life can take several weeks or much longer for some veterans, including Velasquez, who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.
Velasquez, 28, returned to his hometown in August after a stint in San Antonio. In Iraq, he served with the 82nd Airborne and was among the first wave of troops at the start of the war.
"There's something about putting yourself in an environment where you can die," said Velasquez, who is seeing a counselor at a Veterans Affairs Vet Center.
He also found a weekend retreat program for veterans that, he said, saved him.
The program, Vets Journey Home, allows veterans to talk freely with one another without fear of judgment. He now serves as one of the retreat staff members and considers it his new mission to help others make the transition to civilian life.
Jay Velasquez is an Iraq war veteran who served as a chaplain's assistant. He had planned to join a seminary when he returned, but is now considering college.
STEVE CAMPBELL: CHRONICLE
Jan. 19, 2008, 10:08PM
Back from war, but not the same
Memories stay with veterans and add to trauma
By ROSANNA RUIZ
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Veteran Jay Velasquez doesn't need snapshots to remind him of Iraq.
In his mind, the 28-year-old finds himself back in the war zone when he sees a pile of trash that could conceal an improvised explosive device along a Houston road. On a nighttime walk, a car seemingly steers right for him. His nerves bristle when he's in crowds.
Velasquez, among the 1.6 million who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, recently joined the ranks of about 400,000 other veterans in Southeast Texas, about half of whom live in Harris County.
The vets — about 5,000 in Houston who served in the current wars — are now reunited with families, back to work, or like Velasquez, back to a college classroom.
But in many ways, the war remains with them.
The transition from war zone to civilian life can take several weeks or much longer for some veterans, including Velasquez, who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.
Velasquez, 28, returned to his hometown in August after a stint in San Antonio. In Iraq, he served with the 82nd Airborne and was among the first wave of troops at the start of the war.
"There's something about putting yourself in an environment where you can die," said Velasquez, who is seeing a counselor at a Veterans Affairs Vet Center.
He also found a weekend retreat program for veterans that, he said, saved him.
The program, Vets Journey Home, allows veterans to talk freely with one another without fear of judgment. He now serves as one of the retreat staff members and considers it his new mission to help others make the transition to civilian life.
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