Speaker 1: Multiple people in my family clean my father, are veterans
Speaker 1: and the troops.
Speaker 2: That have been to war and now they're back and
Speaker 2: think and be grateful for their service, sacrifice, love for
Speaker 2: their country, just unselfishness, all that they do for us.
Speaker 2: There are some people in this country who take extraordinary
Speaker 2: steps to provide for their freedom and security. We forget
Speaker 2: that those people exist.
Speaker 1: We know them as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines,
Speaker 1: and Coast Guard. They call themselves soldiers, seals, rangers, airmen, sailors, devil.
Speaker 2: Dogs, and so much more.
Speaker 1: We call them fathers, brothers, sons and husbands, mothers, daughters,
Speaker 1: sisters and wives. We call them friend and neighbor. These
Speaker 1: veterans answered the call, now we answer theirs. They are
Speaker 1: the best our country has to offer, and we love them. Today,
Speaker 1: we honor them and we serve them. David Malsby is
Speaker 1: your host, and he welcomes you to this community of veterans.
Speaker 1: As together we are building the road to.
Speaker 2: Hope and adib. We are glad to have you along.
Speaker 2: On a Sunday afternoon, the nine to five oh on
Speaker 2: the AM dial here in Houston, Texas. Thank you for
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Speaker 2: right we've got a couple of combat vets in here
Speaker 2: with us. Today adrian's. Back, adrian want to reintroduce yourself
Speaker 2: to the.
Speaker 3: World.
Speaker 4: Hello, Hello so my name Is Adrian. Jones everyone calls Me,
Speaker 4: Jonesy i'm the mentor. ALPHABET i came here Via, Brady
Speaker 4: texas back In april of two thousand and twenty. Three
Speaker 4: graduated program That, october and NOW i giving back working
Speaker 4: There marine and served in two thousand and two to
Speaker 4: two thousand and. Four SO i did two back to
Speaker 4: back fourteen month tours while In iraq combat area.
Speaker 2: Over those. Years, again so.
Speaker 4: Two thousand and, four two thousand and, Two October october
Speaker 4: Two july two thousand and.
Speaker 2: Four, okay loved it so, much you just did. Too
Speaker 2: in a.
Speaker 4: Row, HEY i got there in the staff. SERGEANT i
Speaker 4: remember getting to. Leave What gunny at the, Time actually
Speaker 4: he Said, Joneson you're not going to stay with, me
Speaker 4: AND i was, Like, GUNNY i didn't, Argue SO i
Speaker 4: just stayed with the other fourteen.
Speaker 2: Months probably a good. Choice never seemed to win those
Speaker 2: kind of.
Speaker 4: Archments.
Speaker 2: Sir we also Have, alan Also United States Ring. Corp
Speaker 2: of Every want to introduce, Yourself.
Speaker 3: Yeah hello, world my name Is Alan. Massey i'm From, Friendswood.
Speaker 3: Texas The United States Marine corps four trips To iraq
Speaker 3: from the years two thousand and three to the end
Speaker 3: of two thousand and seven and we are here. Today
Speaker 3: thank you.
Speaker 2: All indeed you, are and glad to have you. Here
Speaker 2: so it's been an interesting WEEK Ptsd Awareness month coming
Speaker 2: to a. CONCLUSION Ptsd Awareness. WEEK Ptsd Awareness day was On,
Speaker 2: Friday Big day At greenoes the every caso. COUNTS a
Speaker 2: lot of folks got some, CHEESE i, hope because, yeah
Speaker 2: every bit of that has donated one hundred percent of
Speaker 2: all cas of sales being donated to The. Foundation so
Speaker 2: very very grateful for those. Folks they've been friends for
Speaker 2: ours for a very very long. Time it is the
Speaker 2: CONCLUSION Ptsd Awareness. Month of, course we Got july fourth
Speaker 2: right in front of, us so looking forward to the
Speaker 2: cell bration of. That but as we close OUT Ptsd Awareness,
Speaker 2: month just one more, TIME i want to say that
Speaker 2: there's hope and you, Know Awareness month may come to an,
Speaker 2: end but really nothing changes the, work the, mission the,
Speaker 2: need the opportunity continues. On there's no waning of opportunity
Speaker 2: to help in our veteran. Community there's multiple opportunities to
Speaker 2: support our vets and their family. Members we at THE
Speaker 2: Ptsd foundation Of america work very hard to stretch every
Speaker 2: dollar donated as far as we possibly, can we have
Speaker 2: The Camp hope Inter Interim housing program for veterans who
Speaker 2: come from all Across, america every. Branch we haven't had
Speaker 2: anyone From Space force, yet But i'm sure it'll. Happen
Speaker 2: but all the other branches have been on our campus
Speaker 2: and in our Program vietnam. Vets we Have Korean war
Speaker 2: vets in our, groups but not in our program At Camp.
Speaker 2: Hope but it's all, free it's all at zero. Cost
Speaker 2: so if if you have the opportunity and the ability
Speaker 2: uh any, dollars you're able to support any volunteer. Hours
Speaker 2: and even AS i mentioned earlier in the, show just
Speaker 2: sharing the, podcast following us on social, media, sharing retweeting
Speaker 2: or whatever they call it now that IT'S x for
Speaker 2: you ASSING i don't know how do. YOU i don't
Speaker 2: even know how you say, that but just sharing the
Speaker 2: story helping us get the word. OUT ptsdusa dot org
Speaker 2: on social media PTSD, usa PTSD. Usa we're gonna take
Speaker 2: a quick, break be right back from more Of road
Speaker 2: To Hope radio in just a, moment and we welcome
Speaker 2: you Back road To Hope. Radio glad to have you.
Speaker 2: ALONG a couple Of Vietnam. VIETNAM a couple of veterans with. Us, yeah,
Speaker 2: yeah it's been a good day so. Far and just,
Speaker 2: anyway a couple of veterans both happen to Be. Marines
Speaker 2: that we don't get that all the, time but both
Speaker 2: marines on the show. Today, adrian remind me when you
Speaker 2: graduated From Camp.
Speaker 4: Hope so it Was october twenty sixth of twenty twenty, three.
Speaker 2: Twenty, three all, right so year and a half, ago
Speaker 2: year and a half. Ago, yeah coming up on. Two all,
Speaker 2: right and you're doing what now for the. FOUNDATION i
Speaker 2: am a mentor Of Alphabet.
Speaker 4: I've been a mentor over a year, now and, uh growing, pains,
Speaker 4: learning you, know this side of the. Program but it's
Speaker 4: it's so much fun working with these. Dealingments it's an
Speaker 4: honor faring to fall in love with. IT i mean
Speaker 4: it's uh just to see the progress and the light
Speaker 4: come on as they, say and just their gratitude, BACK i,
Speaker 4: mean want my heart makes. It it gives me purpose,
Speaker 4: again you, know and, UH i just feel good That
Speaker 4: i'm actually helping another, veteran you, know do some do some,
Speaker 4: betterment self. Betterment so it feels real good right.
Speaker 2: Now so for those. Listening uh don't really know the
Speaker 2: inner workings of the, foundation what we do At Camp.
Speaker 2: Hope What's, uh there's no such thing as typical day
Speaker 2: At Camp. Hope SO i really can't say it that.
Speaker 2: Way it's just somebody who's asked me the other. DAY i, said,
Speaker 2: well it's just never. BORING i DON'T i don't know
Speaker 2: how to say. It it's just it's never boring around. There,
Speaker 2: uh but a, day what what are the things you
Speaker 2: typically do in a course of a day as a
Speaker 2: mentor so.
Speaker 4: The Strict, well just WHEN i saw the mentor, side you,
Speaker 4: KNOW i wake up AND, i of Course i'm being
Speaker 4: grateful for the opportunity to give, back and so you,
Speaker 4: KNOW i get. Prepared IF i have a, class you,
Speaker 4: Know i'll get, ready uh to present my class to the,
Speaker 4: guys whether it be ON ptsd education or gratitude or
Speaker 4: resentment to whatever it. Be and outside of, that you,
Speaker 4: know we're doing some one on one counseling sessions with,
Speaker 4: them you, know between their sessions with their, counselors and,
Speaker 4: uh just hold them accountable for things and helping them
Speaker 4: get what they need as far as education ON ptsd
Speaker 4: and how to cope you, know with the everything that
Speaker 4: comes with.
Speaker 2: It, Alan so you're from, friends WOULD i am born,
Speaker 2: there raised, there right outside of, friends but raised. There,
Speaker 2: yeah for those not, familiar kind of on the south east.
Speaker 2: Side Houston High school was? Her what was your claim
Speaker 2: to fameigh?
Speaker 3: School claim to? Fame in high, School i'd SEE i
Speaker 3: was a decent football.
Speaker 2: Player ah, yeah who gets to decide if you were
Speaker 2: decent or.
Speaker 3: Not, well my coach didn't hate, me so, okay that,
Speaker 3: helps we'll go with. That and the teachers actually enjoyed,
Speaker 3: me you, KNOW i WAS i was always late to,
Speaker 3: class but did my?
Speaker 2: Work you sure they enjoyed that? Part?
Speaker 3: Yeah but uh, no all in, all high school was.
Speaker 3: GREAT i had great teachers and a great.
Speaker 2: Coach what position you? Play wide? Receiver no you did.
Speaker 2: NOT i. Did at one. TIME i was tall and.
Speaker 3: Skinny Now i'm tall in a little heftier middle.
Speaker 2: Age oh, Man uh how tall are? You six? Foot? Are?
Speaker 3: Yeah, okay all, right well that'll. Do YEAH i can
Speaker 3: take a. Hit so it transitioned well over to The Marine. Corps.
Speaker 2: Yeah oh, yeah so high school was. Good life was.
Speaker 2: Good it was it was. Good why'd you de sign
Speaker 2: to join The Marine. Corps, Uh SO i.
Speaker 3: Was WHEN i speak about my, parents my grandmother and
Speaker 3: my grandfather adopted, me so they're my mom and. Dad
Speaker 3: my dad he fought In World war, Two korea And.
Speaker 3: Vietnam SO i got uncles that were in the. Military
Speaker 3: my Sister anita From, Hopkinsville. Kentucky what's, Up? Anita she
Speaker 3: did twenty years in The Air. Force and it's really
Speaker 3: just something that went along with our. Family, okay but
Speaker 3: why the core because is the most difficult and the most.
Speaker 3: Prestigious come, on, Now.
Speaker 2: I've heard a lot of different answers to that. Question
Speaker 2: some of them made sense and some of them not so.
Speaker 3: Much and the ladies like our, UNIFORM i, mean so, yeah.
Speaker 2: See there you. Go that's, yeah that sounds more truthful to.
Speaker 2: Me when did you join two thousand and? Two, okay
Speaker 2: so right on the heels of nine to, eleven right out.
Speaker 3: Of high, SCHOOL i guess, technically SO i joined in
Speaker 3: two thousand and won the summer of two thousand and
Speaker 3: one WHILE i was still a junior in high school
Speaker 3: before nine to eleven. Happened then WHILE i was my senior,
Speaker 3: year nine to eleven, happened AND i was, like, oh all,
Speaker 3: RIGHT i guess Where i'm, going all, right, Neat.
Speaker 2: Yeah well that's Completely that does change it a, lot
Speaker 2: because joining the summer of two thousand and one pre
Speaker 2: nine to, eleven obviously probably war not the first and
Speaker 2: foremost on your. Mind i'm gonna go do my four?
Speaker 2: Years is that what your plan? Was that was my?
Speaker 2: Plan four, years go to, college call it a. Day?
Speaker 2: Gotcha uh the plan got? Interrupted, yeah, yeah quite quite.
Speaker 2: Really and so your first deployment again was when.
Speaker 3: Two thousand and Three's, iraq the initial. Invasion, okay what
Speaker 3: were you?
Speaker 2: DOING i was? Infantry, okay so for guy driving around
Speaker 2: six' ten, right now that knows Nothing about, oh okay, all,
Speaker 2: right yeah so what?
Speaker 3: Was infantry we were the guys with boots on and
Speaker 3: a rifle in. Our hands that was what, we did
Speaker 3: house to house in the middle of, the desert closed with,
Speaker 3: the enemy and simply destroy.
Speaker 5: The.
Speaker 2: Enemy salent was That, Deployment roughly that DEPLOYMENT was i want,
Speaker 2: to say, nine months and then your next deployment ten
Speaker 2: months doing the, same.
Speaker 3: Thing same, exact thing only the second time was more,
Speaker 3: urban warfare going house, to house conducting direct. Action raids
Speaker 3: direct action raids really just a pre. Planned assault so
Speaker 3: we get a whole bunch of intelligence on, a location
Speaker 3: set up our idea of what we're going to do
Speaker 3: when we, get there and that idea goes out, the
Speaker 3: window and we just kind of wing it and do
Speaker 3: the best.
Speaker 2: We can so you're eighteen nineteen years old, doing, this,
Speaker 2: yes sir the very first time you, went up what were?
Speaker 2: You THINKING so i remember when the.
Speaker 3: Invasion happened we crossed the line of Departure into Iraq
Speaker 3: from kuwait and nothing, really occurred but you could hear
Speaker 3: the bombs, going off, the rockets. The gunfire the first
Speaker 3: time our ramp, went down THAT'S when, i, said, oh
Speaker 3: who here we GO AND i i was terrified and
Speaker 3: immediately it.
Speaker 2: Went away how much did it change? For you between
Speaker 2: tour number One and tour? Number four.
Speaker 3: Every tour. Got easier in, my head it was more
Speaker 3: of a routine. Type thing we were, always told, oh
Speaker 3: yeah every time you go back less and less chance of. Coming,
Speaker 3: back well it just it was a part OF who
Speaker 3: i was at, that time so it was simple to
Speaker 3: do my mission EVERY time i.
Speaker 2: Went over and the reminders we go through, these stories
Speaker 2: we understand things can be triggering to some as they.
Speaker 2: Hear these so if you would please get this number into,
Speaker 2: your phone keep. It there it's a it's Our Combat trauma.
Speaker 2: Crisis line it is answered twenty four hours, a day
Speaker 2: seven days a week by a. Combat veteran the number
Speaker 2: is eight seven seven seven ONE seven ptsd eight seven
Speaker 2: seven seven one seven seventy eight. Seventy, three again a
Speaker 2: combat that will answer. The phone and it's important for
Speaker 2: people to. Understand, that so, for instance if you run
Speaker 2: across someone that is struggling and you can, see it they're,
Speaker 2: a veteran, and somehow some way they identify themselves as.
Speaker 2: A veteran, they're struggling, give them give them, the phone
Speaker 2: hit send on that number and let them know when
Speaker 2: you hand them, the phone like a combat veteran is
Speaker 2: going to answer. The phone it will change everything. For
Speaker 2: them eight seven seven seven one seven seventy eight. Seventy
Speaker 2: three four tours over how long a period? Of time
Speaker 2: five and a. Half years how long were you in
Speaker 2: the court altogether five and a?
Speaker 3: Half, years OKAY yep i was given the option after
Speaker 3: third to go immediately back over it'd be with a
Speaker 3: different unit and get out, on time or do a,
Speaker 3: work up which is a training work up with. My
Speaker 3: unit it's gonna be a little longer go back over.
Speaker 3: With them so there was NO way i was gonna
Speaker 3: Leave THE marines i. SERVED with i wanted to, do
Speaker 3: it even if it's a.
Speaker 2: Little longer, of course do the understand, all right we
Speaker 2: will pick that, back up and in just a second
Speaker 2: we're gonna be running to. News break those of you
Speaker 2: LISTENING on kprc nine, To, five oh those of you listen,
Speaker 2: to podcasts enjoy us music for just, a second and
Speaker 2: then we'll be right back with More of Road To.
Speaker 2: Hope radio.
Speaker 5: There's talk on. The street it sounds.
Speaker 2: So Familiar.
Speaker 5: Great expectations is watching You.
Speaker 2: Now as WE Conclude Pgsd. Awareness month i'm just reminded
Speaker 2: that so many so often feel like there's genuinely. No
Speaker 2: hope it just can never. GET better i don't know
Speaker 2: how MANY times i have heard that stated by veterans
Speaker 2: who've come into our program given up, on everything given up,
Speaker 2: on themselves given up on their, family relationships given up
Speaker 2: on whatever. They had and we have so many stories around,
Speaker 2: our campus over twenty three hundred vets who've come through
Speaker 2: our door since we open in. Twenty twelve so many
Speaker 2: stories of guys who. Came in one of our guys who's,
Speaker 2: On today we'll tell you if you ever there and
Speaker 2: happened to run across him in one of, our tours
Speaker 2: he will tell you he Came To camp hope with
Speaker 2: the Mindset of i'm going to. Do it it's the
Speaker 2: Last thing i'm going. To do i'm going to do
Speaker 2: IT so i can tell MY family, i tried AND
Speaker 2: when i, Get home i'll. End it and. We have
Speaker 2: we have so many stories. Like that but today again
Speaker 2: that that individual is on our staff doing a great
Speaker 2: job supporting his fellow veterans and living a, great life
Speaker 2: having a lot. Of fun and he's made a lot
Speaker 2: of Friends Through. Camp hope and they didn't all come
Speaker 2: through it together at the, same time but they all
Speaker 2: have that brotherhood of having come through, the program, and
Speaker 2: man he has built himself a great life and it's fun.
Speaker 2: To see and that may sound impossible. To you i'm
Speaker 2: sure it sounded impossible to him at. The time but there.
Speaker 2: Is hope there is, Life change there is dramatic. Life
Speaker 2: change it. Can, Happen adrian you've experienced that being on
Speaker 2: the other side of the desk basically other side of
Speaker 2: the conversation with the period of. Peer side and you
Speaker 2: mentioned the repurposing and how that is, for you but
Speaker 2: THERE'S also, i mean in the course of what, we
Speaker 2: do we're dealing with first, of all mental health combine
Speaker 2: related mental. Health issues most of the time there's some
Speaker 2: addiction involved, as well a pretty, strong addiction sometimes self
Speaker 2: medicating for ten fifteen Years or vietnam veterans for. Decades
Speaker 2: literally so you've seen some, great stories you've seen some,
Speaker 2: great turnarounds but you've been around long enough to also
Speaker 2: see there's some really tough moments on our campus and what.
Speaker 2: We do how do you stain yourself during? All THAT.
Speaker 4: So i just, remind myself, you Know what i'm doing this,
Speaker 4: all for and what, you know, my repurposing, you know
Speaker 4: and my refocuses well within this and How far, i've come,
Speaker 4: you know in my journey. As well and YOU know
Speaker 4: i take my time to, you know get through their
Speaker 4: emotions and feel it all and, you know grief properly
Speaker 4: and things of. That NATURE but I just i just keep,
Speaker 4: reminding myself you KNOW why i did this and where
Speaker 4: it's got, me today and how can send on my
Speaker 4: own feet with, you know what's going on in, my
Speaker 4: world and and trying to keep being a positive influence
Speaker 4: for the others still, you know, you know watching me
Speaker 4: lead them through this. As, well, so uh it's it's
Speaker 4: kind of a two part THING that. I do but,
Speaker 4: YOU know i just reminded MYSELF that i made this far,
Speaker 4: with SUPPORT so i got to, support too and so
Speaker 4: these other gentlemen can get. Through this so when something,
Speaker 4: tough happens THAT'S what i. USUALLY do i tried and
Speaker 4: MAKE sure i probably, you know take care, of myself
Speaker 4: but still stand firm for The Other veteran.
Speaker 2: Allen for deployments five and a. Half years you're very
Speaker 2: young even when you get out of, the core and
Speaker 2: you know a LOT. ABOUT ptsd, i mean you're not
Speaker 2: new to, the subject and you understand what it is
Speaker 2: and what it, looks like and how it, affects people
Speaker 2: how it's affected. You personally when did you first begin
Speaker 2: to experience some of, those symptoms whether you recognize it
Speaker 2: or somebody had to point it out. To you were
Speaker 2: you still in the core or was? IT after.
Speaker 3: I THINK when i, recognized it it was definitely after. The,
Speaker 3: core however looking back and. SELF reflecting i think that
Speaker 3: the signs were. Certainly THERE while i WAS in i
Speaker 3: was already self, medicating heavily thrill. Seeking behavior just, you
Speaker 3: know boys do things a little bit different than. Girls
Speaker 3: do we always seek out something that's a. Little DANGEROUS but,
Speaker 3: i mean, you know when you decide you're gonna roll
Speaker 3: down the highway at one hundred and twenty hundred and
Speaker 3: thirty miles an hour while you've already had a lot,
Speaker 3: of beer what that does is it doesn't just put yourself,
Speaker 3: In danger it puts other people in danger. As WELL
Speaker 3: and i mean that should have stuck, out immediately but
Speaker 3: it didn't manifest itself to, my s to me for
Speaker 3: years after, probably goodness two three four years After The,
Speaker 3: marine corps.
Speaker 2: Which again for those kind of don't really understand ptsd've heard.
Speaker 2: The bust it kind of become a buzzword, of late
Speaker 2: but don't really. Understand it that's not unusual for it
Speaker 2: to be, A while so two three four years certainly.
Speaker 2: Not unusual i've talked in war vets that, came home went,
Speaker 2: to work raised, their, family uh and never had an
Speaker 2: issue until they retired fifty, years later and then all of,
Speaker 2: a sudden they're sitting on the front porch in the,
Speaker 2: rocking chair and they start having, the anxiety they start
Speaker 2: having the, haunting memories, the flashbacks and they don't know
Speaker 2: what to, do, because like what's this? All about that
Speaker 2: was fifty, years, Ago right so it's not unusual for
Speaker 2: it to be a little. Bit delayed so when you
Speaker 2: noticed it a few, years later what did you do?
Speaker 2: About it, IF anything.
Speaker 3: I did EXACTLY what i knew how, to do which
Speaker 3: was stuff those feelings and those thoughts down, inside myself
Speaker 3: drown them with the bottle and mask them. With drugs
Speaker 3: that's EXACTLY how i dealt with IT until i decided
Speaker 3: it was time to. Seek, help well let me take.
Speaker 3: THAT back i didn't decide it was time to. Seek
Speaker 3: help it was brought very apparent to me by the
Speaker 3: people who loved me and wanted me to progress and
Speaker 3: end up. Loving, myself hey you need. Some help you've
Speaker 3: got some. Major issues and even then it took a
Speaker 3: little while for me to, finally say you, know what
Speaker 3: These people i'm really putting through a whole BUNCH of
Speaker 3: hg double. HOCKEY sticks i need to really. Get something
Speaker 3: did you GO? TO va i did how'd? That go
Speaker 3: i'm a, camp hope, ALL right.
Speaker 2: I. Hear you.
Speaker 3: They do what they, can do so that's. For, real, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2: Yeah. They're overwhelmed and it's like, anything else like literally,
Speaker 2: anything else especially something that, that massive WHICH the va
Speaker 2: is just. So massive it's all about who you meet at.
Speaker 2: The time there's good and they're not. So good it's
Speaker 2: just the way it is no matter where, You go
Speaker 2: so you got to just seek out. The good the
Speaker 2: difficulty there is if you're STRUGGLING, with ptsd first of
Speaker 2: you don't want to go anywhere NEAR, the va especially,
Speaker 2: the debaky because there's just so much going. On there,
Speaker 2: OH man i can't find a. PARKING place a hundred
Speaker 2: guys just standing in front of the door. Like that
Speaker 2: no one wants to go. Through that you don't have TO,
Speaker 2: Have PTSD like i don't want to go. Through that
Speaker 2: it's it's a tough it's a. Tough deal and if
Speaker 2: you if you don't get what, your need think you're
Speaker 2: needing when you go in, the door it's hard to
Speaker 2: ever come back and. Try again it just it's just
Speaker 2: the way it is when you first start. Having, trouble
Speaker 2: adrian how is your what were? You doing what were
Speaker 2: you trying? To do how'd you try to deal?
Speaker 4: With, it OKAY so i got out. Ten YEARS so
Speaker 4: i did ten years eight. Eight MONTHS so i got
Speaker 4: out twenty eleven, and OFFICIALLY and i didn't really notice
Speaker 4: anything until THOSE two i was in TWENTY when i
Speaker 4: was IN. The va at that point, in time, OF
Speaker 4: course i had a plethora of suicide attempts and UH
Speaker 4: so i was in there for some cardiact, heart failure
Speaker 4: BUT so, i was for lack of, better words just to,
Speaker 4: THE point i was more on a. Suicide mission, YOU
Speaker 4: know i was doing these things to uh test limits and.
Speaker 4: STOPPED caring i, don't know a lot of stuff was,
Speaker 4: going WRONG and I just I was i Was given i've. Given,
Speaker 4: UP basically i was drinking heavy and some other, you
Speaker 4: know CHOICE things i was putting in, my body, you
Speaker 4: know and it was JUST like i didn't care about
Speaker 4: ANYTHING because i didn't FEEL like i was worth anything or,
Speaker 4: no purpose. No ANYTHING so i was in a pretty.
Speaker 4: Dark place and, you know if it wasn't for what
Speaker 4: happened to me and everything AND why i WAS the
Speaker 4: va and, you know social, WORKING things i probably wouldn't have.
Speaker 4: Calmed DOWN but i was in a pretty dark place at.
Speaker 2: That point and only how did you hear? About? Camp wow.
Speaker 3: So been, married twice my, first wife she does not
Speaker 3: Know what i'm about to, tell you so she'll eventually. Be,
Speaker 3: LISTENING basically I decided i wanted to end, it all,
Speaker 3: But truthfully i'm too much of a coward to slice
Speaker 3: my wrist or put a bullet in. My Head but
Speaker 3: i'm gonna go out comfortable THE way i. Know how
Speaker 3: i'm gonna Drink and i'm gonna overdose. On drugs so
Speaker 3: we go Down, to galveston get a. Hotel, ROOM well
Speaker 3: i hate to. Do this hang in just, a second,
Speaker 3: very well picked. BACK up I from galveston here in just,
Speaker 3: a minute be right back With, Road hill. Welcome back,
Speaker 3: AND look i know these conversations can get. Really dark
Speaker 3: sometimes we'll move through this dark part here. Fairly quickly
Speaker 3: but people have to understand why there's a need of.
Speaker 3: Camp hope why do you ask, for donations why do
Speaker 3: you ask. For volunteers it's a.
Speaker 2: Real issue we're losing up to forty four veterans every
Speaker 2: single day, between suicide. Overdose addictions so this is a.
Speaker 2: Real story this is a real marine and this is really.
Speaker 2: What happened, so besides you're going to. End it you
Speaker 2: and your wife at the time go Down. To galveston, my.
Speaker 3: Wife, my daughter and myself were down there at a
Speaker 3: really nice beach front hotel. Type, THING anyway i get
Speaker 3: in an argument with her and my daughter leave to
Speaker 3: come back up to the Mainland From, go AUSTIN and
Speaker 3: i attempt to overdose on alcohol. And cocaine my wife,
Speaker 3: comes back we end up going to she takes me
Speaker 3: TO The. Va hospital AT The, va hospital the emergency
Speaker 3: room doctor TOLD me i had a massive heart ATTACK
Speaker 3: and i should probably watch. My lifestyle and that's when another,
Speaker 3: veteran ORGANIZATION somebody i was really close with, from there,
Speaker 3: said hey look there's this Place Called. Camp hope this
Speaker 3: is Probably where alan. Should Be, and stephanie she presented
Speaker 3: me with no. Other OPTION if i really, love HER
Speaker 3: and i really love My, daughter Marley then i'm going
Speaker 3: to go.
Speaker 2: Seek. Help okay and one thing you need to UNDERSTAND
Speaker 2: about i hope you will Understand About camp hope and
Speaker 2: our work AT The ptsd Foundation. Of america we certainly
Speaker 2: understand the effects of traumatic events like you. Just described
Speaker 2: what that does to. The family so we have a
Speaker 2: team that also serves. The family so you may be
Speaker 2: the spouse of someone who is going through that. Dark
Speaker 2: period please give us. A call we have a team
Speaker 2: ready dedicated to, help you and even if we can't
Speaker 2: get to, you directly we will find someone. Some way
Speaker 2: we will bring support to you because we do understand
Speaker 2: that trauma of those watching our veterans STRUGGLE. With, ptsd
Speaker 2: okay so came to. The program you actually worked for
Speaker 2: us for A while, i did and now. You're back
Speaker 2: how long have you. Been back.
Speaker 3: We'll call it three months right, around there just closer
Speaker 3: to two and a.
Speaker 2: Half months we don't need to get into, what happened
Speaker 2: but just why did you make the choice to? Come
Speaker 2: back what was it that? You thought BECAUSE because i
Speaker 2: know IT'S always i don't know, for you BUT when
Speaker 2: i hear this and this happens a lot guys are
Speaker 2: out for, a while they need to come back into.
Speaker 2: The program we don't consider. That failure we consider. That
Speaker 2: success they. Came back that's what we want them. To
Speaker 2: do but there's usually there's a lot, of shame there's
Speaker 2: a lot of. EGO involved i can't, GO back i
Speaker 2: can't go do. That again what was it that caused,
Speaker 2: You side i'm gonna do this, and again not, what
Speaker 2: happened but.
Speaker 3: JUST why i have a really good trait. Of perseverance
Speaker 3: i'm never going to give up. ON myself i no
Speaker 3: longer want to. KILL myself i no longer want to
Speaker 3: die because, Of THIS so i wasn't going to stop
Speaker 3: trying to. Seek, HELP however i do have major trust
Speaker 3: issues when it comes to my personal life and my.
Speaker 3: Personal Issues camp hope is an, amazing PLACE and i.
Speaker 3: TRUST it a major factor is the FACT that i
Speaker 3: as a MENTOR when i. Worked there everybody who's on
Speaker 3: a staff now has gone through. That program and it's
Speaker 3: not like you're talking to some doctor and some white
Speaker 3: coat who just, OH yeah i read.
Speaker 2: This in a book and this is how. You.
Speaker 3: Feel now this man next, To, Me jonesy he's actually
Speaker 3: done and lived EVERYTHING that i. Talk about he's had
Speaker 3: the same thoughts. As me he's gone through the same situations.
Speaker 3: As me how much easier is it to speak to
Speaker 3: somebody who has?
Speaker 2: Your? Experiences, Yeah absolutely and not to get it too
Speaker 2: often too the, scriptural world because everybody's. Into that but
Speaker 2: there is a Passage where paul writes To the Church,
Speaker 2: of corinth and he says he Prays, that God the
Speaker 2: god of, all comfort will comfort you in your trials,
Speaker 2: or tribulations and you have those because once you get,
Speaker 2: through those Comforted, by god you can in turn. Comfort
Speaker 2: others it's the whole shared. Experience THING and i say
Speaker 2: this to people who've Lost their i've dealt with a
Speaker 2: lot of families through, the years Long Before, camp hope, automobile,
Speaker 2: accidents murders all kinds, of things, infants DYING and i
Speaker 2: always encourage them find a group of people who've been
Speaker 2: through that same experience and are a little further down
Speaker 2: the road than you are and can help you navigate
Speaker 2: because those whatever the, trauma is there's some rough days
Speaker 2: in front. Of you as you try to process that
Speaker 2: and cope with it and, go forward you can undo.
Speaker 2: The trauma whatever the. Trauma is so find, the group
Speaker 2: find some people that have that shared experience and a
Speaker 2: little further down the road. For you there's nothing. Like
Speaker 2: It and i'm not against doctors and all that. At
Speaker 2: all that's not. The point but the best is from
Speaker 2: someone who's, been there, done that and not that they
Speaker 2: have all the Answers, like jonesy you don't have all,
Speaker 2: the answers but you've learned a lot by going through
Speaker 2: the program and now being on the other side of,
Speaker 2: the conversation you've learned. A lot you can help a lot.
Speaker 2: Of GUYS and i love what. YOU do i. LOVE
Speaker 2: that i. Love, That okay so three, months in so
Speaker 2: you still got a little ways, to go hopefully a. Long,
Speaker 2: Ways yeah i'm not talking about career or you know
Speaker 2: what your paycheck or if you're even as a. Paycheck
Speaker 2: involved but what are you hoping to gain out of
Speaker 2: this when you're when, you're done when you're ready to
Speaker 2: walk out the gates and move forward in life to
Speaker 2: whatever that. May be it's not, about that but just
Speaker 2: what do? You want what do you want? To?
Speaker 3: Experience man did y'all give me like a question? Sheet
Speaker 3: BEFOREHAND because i already have a. Perfect. Answer okay so
Speaker 3: we had wars usually have crossed eyes like me LIKE what.
Speaker 3: I don't we had a warrior group last night and
Speaker 3: the topic was very similar.
Speaker 2: To that so what my goal is my long term.
Speaker 3: Goal for all of this IS is i put, my
Speaker 3: daughter at seven years old old through some very horrible
Speaker 3: times and now she's sixteen.
Speaker 2: Years old she loves.
Speaker 3: Her dad she thinks her dad is. A superhero still
Speaker 3: through all my faults and all. MY misdirections i have
Speaker 3: a new baby boy who's fourteen. MONTHS old i want
Speaker 3: my daughter to be able To say dad had, an
Speaker 3: addiction he's a, good man he overcame, his addiction and
Speaker 3: he's a. GOOD father i want my young baby boy
Speaker 3: to never be able to say. THOSE things i want
Speaker 3: him to be able TO say i have a, wonderful dad.
Speaker 2: Simple.
Speaker 3: AS that i don't want ANYTHING that i put my
Speaker 3: daughter through to go over to.
Speaker 2: My son what's the bill been for all this the last? Three,
Speaker 2: months oh it's. Super expensive three months of my time.
Speaker 2: So far, that's, it okay. Absolutely free what's been what's
Speaker 2: been your favorite meal since you've? Been there because we've
Speaker 2: had some doozies the last, little while we've some folks
Speaker 2: bringing in some food. CHEF makings i can do shoutouts. For,
Speaker 2: places well just, you know what's what's your? Favorite meal
Speaker 2: you've had a, Camp hope i've Never had. Del, Friscos
Speaker 2: yeah oh, my goodness that was. Pretty good that was
Speaker 2: the day man We Had del friscos and true lux
Speaker 2: all in. One, Day, yeah yeah we had some, serious
Speaker 2: seafood then we had some serious Prime rib, holy moly
Speaker 2: well that was.
Speaker 3: A day did you have a day? Like That marine
Speaker 3: corps UH case b menu, number. FIFTEEN mrs i mean
Speaker 3: that's a. Close, second, Well man i'm happy for the progress.
Speaker 3: You're making thank you, very, much sir super. Super happy love.
Speaker 3: You guys love both, of, you guys and keep both.
Speaker 3: Of you keep doing.
Speaker 2: Your work once, you're done you're not done from doing.
Speaker 2: The work well you, stay, healthy ways take a, clean
Speaker 2: ways stay, moving forward continue doing. The work the things you've,
Speaker 2: been taught just keep doing. Them again our website's ptsdusa
Speaker 2: DOT org Ptsd Post Traumatic stress disorder ptsdusa, dot org
Speaker 2: a crisis line eight seven seven seven one seven seventy eight.
Speaker 2: Seventy three and wherever you listen, to podcasts Look for
Speaker 2: Road To. Hope RADIO may i shout, out somebody, real fast.
Speaker 3: Real fast, All Right marley daddy, Loves You barrett daddy.
Speaker 2: Loves you y'all are. The best there, you go got
Speaker 2: it in? All right thanks for. Joining us we look
Speaker 2: forward to being with you again. Next week for More
Speaker 2: of Road To, HOPE radio i won't do