'How has serving impacted you?' the US Army asked on Twitter ahead of Memorial Day. The slew of heartbreaking replies from veterans was gut-wrenching:
"How has serving impacted you?" the US Army asked on its Twitter account days before Memorial Day.What came next was unexpected and heartbreaking. The tweet prompted a slew of gut-wrenching replies from veterans and their family members, including accounts of living with post-traumatic stress disorder and stories of suicide.One such response came from college professor Lacy M. Johnson.
"My cousin committed suicide while on duty at the armory after coming home from a tour abroad," Johnson said. She later tweeted that she did not want to speak to journalists about family's experience. My cousin committed suicide while on duty at the armory after coming home from a tour abroad. — Lacy M. Johnson May 25, 2019 Kristen L. Rouse, founding director of the NYC Veterans Alliance, told CNN Monday the tweets showed that veterans haven't been and need to be heard. Read More"We are going on 18 years of war, continuous war in multiple countries, the cost of these wars has been born by our military, by our veterans community, by their families who often feel invisible and ignored," said Rouse, who served more than 23 years and has been on three tours in Afghanistan.
— U.S. Army May 25, 2019 "As we honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice this weekend by remembering their service, we are also mindful of the fact that we have to take care of those who came back home with scars we can't see," a second tweet read. As we honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice this weekend by remembering their service, we are also mindful of the fact that we have to take care of those who came back home with scars we can't see.
— U.S. Army May 25, 2019 Lindsay Rodman, spokeswoman for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, told CNN Monday there's still so much that can be done for veterans. "We currently see a lot of people with mental health struggles who reach out to us," said Rodman, who is a Marine veteran. Rodman said not every veteran is being reached by the VA with reasons varying from a lack of outreach, to some vets not qualifying for such benefits.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Soldier surprises daughter at high school graduation after not seeing her for yearsU.S. Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Tillman missed his daughter Kayla's four years of high school due to his military service—so he was determined not to miss her high school graduation:
Read more »
US Army Twitter question highlights toll of America's warsQuestion by the US Army's Twitter account draws in some 10,000 replies, which paint a harrowing picture of the toll the American wars have taken on those who fought them.
Read more »
Pakistan army says lawmakers critical of military behind checkpost attackAt least three people were killed and 15 others, including five soldiers, were injured when a group of people attacked a Pakistan army checkpost near the tribal North Waziristan town of Boyya.
Read more »
Pro-army party in Thailand to cement deal to keep junta leader as PM: lawmakerA pro-army in Thailand will cement a deal on Monday to gain enough parliamentary...
Read more »
An Army dad surprised his daughter with a huge graduation hug after years overseasGraduation day was already shaping up to be a huge moment in Kayla Tillman's life, but it was made even more memorable by a surprise visit from her father, who's been serving overseas in the Army for years.
Read more »
New evidence links Colombia army chief to civilian slayingsDocuments provided to the AP link the head of Colombia's army to the alleged cover-up of civilian killings in the mid-2000s. The general says he had no involvement or responsibility in combat operations at the time and had a purely administrative role.
Read more »
Army veteran indicted in bomb plot against white supremacist rally in Long BeachMark Domingo was charged with providing material support to terrorists and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, the U.S. attorney's office said.
Read more »
U.S. Army asked 'How has serving impacted you?' Vets and their families responded honestly on TwitterMany of the more than 7,000 responses to the tweet paint a complicated portrait of the realities of military life.
Read more »