"War Vet Village," where battled scarred vets can heal

Oct 4, 2011
"War Vet Village," where battled scarred vets can heal
"Once a Marine, always a Marine." It's not just a slogan. For most of our vets, war is with them forever. But there's a farm in Scott County where vets are helping vets find peace.
Posted: 8:37 PM Oct 4, 2011
Reporter: Kate Burgess

ONEIDA, Tenn. (WVLT)--"Once a Marine, always a Marine." It's not just a slogan. For most of our vets, war is with them forever. Battered and broke, many suffer from depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and have trouble transitioning to life at home. But there's a farm in Scott County where vets are helping vets heal wounds and find peace.

That's where you'll find Shawn Welch, who fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He remembered the war as "a mixture of excitement, terror, and fun."

A mixture, a rush, he craved after he got home.

"First things I got involved with were things that sped me up. Got me the excitement of war, such as cocaine. It progressed and I realized I was in a lot of pain as well, so I started to get involved in pain killers and heroin."

Adding to the grief he already felt.

"I have really bad back pain. I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. And I have some kind of unknown stomach condition."
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