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Friday, January 16, 2015

Vietnam Veterans Showing Younger Veterans How to Heal

Overcoming the Past to Help the Future
WHSV.com
Isabel Rosales
Jan 15, 2015

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) -- Virginia is home to nearly 800,000 veterans, but it's hasn't been until recent wars that the veterans administration studied and understood serious problems impacting our veterans, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide.

One Valley veteran who survived both is now helping other veterans who need a hand.

At the young age of 17, Charlie Joseph volunteered to fight in Vietnam. He joined the service as a confident teenager, not expecting the searing images that would take away more than his youth.

"You see a pile of Vietnamese that you piled up, that you shot that night and then you bury them. Just dig a big 'ole hole with our backhoe and then just bury them," explained Joseph.

He spent a year and a half in Vietnam where the spilled blood bound Charlie to his team. No longer fellow soldiers, but brothers in blood, until his time ran out.
He didn't know it at the time, but he was suffering from PTSD. His guilt and rage led to depression and then to thoughts of suicide.

"And finally one time I had insurance, $500,000 life insurance, and I said well that will take care of them," explained Joseph; however, he never got the chance. A friend dropped by at the exact time Joseph attempted to take his life and gave him a second chance.
read more here
More Stories
Veterans' Resource Guide
Related Links
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1061 website
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1061 Facebook group

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