Veteran reaches out to help others connect

Veteran looks to make connection

Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. —
A local veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom is looking to connect fellow members of the armed services who served in this conflict, in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Keith A. Lucas of Osage Beach is encouraging these soldiers and sailors to join him and other veterans at the VFW Post 5923 in Camdenton as a way to deal with the after effects of the battlefield.

For many veterans who have served in combat, conflict continues once they are home — the internal wounds of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and what is known as survivor's guilt.

For some soldiers who make it home, while others did not, there is a feeling of guilt, which can lead to depression and, in extreme cases, suicide.

Lucas has seen first hand what survivor's guilt can do. In his first few weeks in Iraq, there was a suicide at his camp. Lucas discovered the body of a non-commissioned officer who had been stricken with guilt after a younger soldier had been shot and killed near him.

But it doesn't have to be another tragic ending for soldiers who feel this way. Talking about what happened with those who have 'been there' can help, he said.

For Lucas, his time in Iraq was "the best experience I never want to do again.”

"It helped me see what was important in life, and that is family,” Lucas said. “It brought me back to God.

 I learned to pray again. Most of all it taught that your time on Earth is short and not guaranteed, you should use every minute wisely, let people you care about know that they are important and live for now."

The Camdenton VFW pays the membership dues the first year, Lucas said.

"It's really a positive thing to get involved with people who have the shared experiences of combat," he said. "They'll pay for the first year, so what do you have to lose?"
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Veteran looks to make connection