Written By Dr. Deborah Little
For your sacrifice and service. For your families sacrifice and service. Let us not only take time to honor you on this day but to remember and take a step through history because without it, we cannot honor this nation’s Veterans fully – those who came before and after.
If you scroll to the end of this statement you will find contact information for mental health services for Veterans and their family members. We at UTHealth in the Department of Psychiatry are tremendously proud to offer these mental health services and have grant services available – generously provided by the State of Texas – to do so. If you are a Veteran, a family member of a Veteran, or have a favorite Veteran you think might be interested, take note of the contact information at the end of this post. Post-traumatic stress is real, it often comes hand in hand with depression, and we take it quite seriously and offer the best in evidence based services for Veterans and their family members who are hurting. Reach out – we get you.
Let’s start with the highlight of the year – at least for me.
– While all Veteran’s Days are special, THIS Veteran’s Day we (or at least me) get to reflect on the privilege of having watched with pride the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. To celebrate with the less than 1% of the more than 16 million Veterans who are still living and served in the Armed forces during WW II and all of the families of those no longer with us. What an honor. Those celebrations, speeches, and living veterans reminded us of a generation filled with bravery, commitment and honor. The core of all of our Veterans.
– Marching through history that we must remember on this day, and honor on this day, the Veterans of the largely forgotten or spoken about Korean War. Tiny by comparison but still, over 1.7 million Americans served, my father among them, 133,000 wounded or killed, 7,600 still unaccounted for to this day. My father still won’t wait in line for food or get on a ship or boat – that trip over did it for him. From talking with Veterans of this War, I know many feel the same.
– After seeing so much combat – even if we didn’t call it war – we must always set aside a moment on Veterans Day to say a special thanks to our Vietnam Veterans. We sure didn’t welcome them home and our VA system failed them. Refusing to acknowledge PTSD and treating pain appropriately. As a society, we didn’t thank them then, we need to remember to do it now. Over 3 Million troops deployed, over 2.7 serving in the Republic of Vietnam, and over 360,000 killed or injured or requiring care of some kind. With a remarkable estimate of 30% returning with PTSD. More than 18% still do – of them 7% women who served.
– The 1990-1991 Gulf War. It may have only lasted a couple hundred hours yet about 1/3 are sick with something called Gulf War Illness or Gulf War Syndrome. They have been since the war. Toxins including pesticides are the known cause. Yet we have no answers for them. Almost 35 years later.
– And then 9/11. The VA projects over 3 Million Veterans deployed with more than half with multiple deployments with more than 800,000 National Guard soldiers deployed. A twenty year war. More than 30% who deployed returned with PTSD and 20% with Traumatic Brain Injury.
And then the “minor” conflicts. Wars without names. Wars against drug cartels. Military actions supporting or protecting others. Special forces activities. Hundreds of military bases or other facilities in other parts of the world with troops separated from their families. Mysterious illnesses and so many injuries.
But with all of this sacrifice, there has been service above all. When one considers this history, how can you not thank a Veteran today (and everyday)?
We here at UTHealth are tremendously grateful for this remarkable amount of service that spans decades. We stand ready to do our part. The Trauma and Resilience Center at UTHealth is funded in part by the State of Texas to provide mental health services to Veterans who have suffered from traumatic experiences and are living with symptoms caused by those traumatic experiences. If you are a Veteran, or a family member of a Veteran, who has been affected by trauma, you can contact us at 713-486-2630.
If you are a Veteran or know a Veteran who is in a mental health crisis get help immediately by contacting the Veterans Crisis Line (Call 988, Text 838255, Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room).
Deborah M. Little PhD
Proud Granddaughter to two WWII Veterans (Army, Navy); Daughter to a Korean War Veteran (Army); Neice to two Vietnam War Veterans (Marines, Navy); Cousin to two OIF Veterans (Marines); Cousin to four OEF and OIF Veterans (Marines, Army) and,
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Director of Research, Trauma and Resilience Center