Iraq Veteran Sammy Vasquez "Undefeated" With PTSD

Vasquez's victory keeps the Pennsylvania product unbeaten after he served two stints in Iraq for the Army and returned with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Boxing has helped Army veteran Sammy Vasquez work through PTSD
LA Times
Lance Pugmire January 21, 2016

"You can't prepare yourself for what you think war is. You see someone you're there with every day, talk about getting home … and then one of them ends up dead. That jacks your brain up … you get a lot of anger, aggression." Sammy Vasquez

Sammy Vasquez is unbeaten in 20 fights, winning 14 of them by knockout.

Undefeated welterweight Sammy Vasquez (20-0, 14 knockouts) and his Saturday night co-main event opponent Aron Martinez of Los Angeles are linked by their desire to win a boxing title one day.

But Vasquez's cause is something more.

"Mine is for America," Vasquez said.

Not only does the Pennsylvania fighter want to discuss his upcoming Fox-televised fight at Staples Center, he feels compelled to open the conversation with a discussion of military service.

Vasquez was 17 when he committed to the idea of joining the Army after being shaken by 9/11 as a younger boy.

He served two duties in Iraq, a 2005-06 stint in which he served on quick-reaction and security teams, and a 2008-09 assignment in which he worked alongside and helped train members of the Iraqi military and police.
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