A look at Wyoming's new veterans

A look at Wyo's new veterans
Casper Star-Tribune Online - Casper,WY,USA
By CHAD BALDWIN
Star-Tribune editor
Sunday, July 6, 2008 2:06 AM MDT

You've read and heard the reports for months: Veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are struggling with physical and psychological wounds, including traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Like so much of the national coverage of violence and death in the Middle East, these reports have become something of a blur for many of us. Unless you know a veteran who's having problems, the news about the after-effects of war tends to fly by quickly -- perhaps reinforcing your position against the war, if you're of that opinion, but not really sinking in.

The Star-Tribune has published dozens of stories about men and women from Wyoming who've served in Iraq and Afghanistan since those conflicts began. We've covered every funeral of the state's slain servicemen. We've written about and photographed several send-offs and welcome-home ceremonies for Wyoming National Guard units. We've taken a look at how their families cope while they're gone. We've done some stories about efforts to help the troops once they come home.

What we haven't done is take an in-depth look at how our servicemen and women are doing since they've returned. Until now.

Starting in today's paper, the Star-Tribune will publish a multi-Sunday series, "Back from War," examining the lives of a number of Iraq war veterans -- and what's being done to help them and others. A team of reporters and photographers has been working on the project for several months.

Our initial objective was to see if Wyoming's newly minted war veterans are having the same experiences as their counterparts across the country. We have found that is indeed the case.

Many veterans are doing fine. They've adjusted to life on the home front and have settled well back into their civilian lives. Others, however, are dealing with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems stemming from their time overseas.

Finding veterans willing to share their stories has been difficult. Staffers with the Wyoming National Guard, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other organizations have provided some help, but the search took considerable time. A number of veterans we contacted had compelling stories, but they weren't willing to tell them publicly. Others let us into their homes and their lives, and for that we are grateful.
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