Wayne's World 2005: Day 47 - A Soldier's Heart, another PBS Special

Staff SGT Donald Wayne West, Jr., enlisted in the United States Army National Guard on September 11, 2001. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Company A of the 150th Combat Engineers served active duty Aug 29, 2004, until Dec 30, 2005. SSGT West returned to college in January, 2006. He married Lauren Ritchie June 9, 2006, at Seaside, Fla., and they have three children. SSGT West completed military service at Camp Minden, LA on Aug 23, 2009.

Monday, February 28, 2005

Day 47 - A Soldier's Heart, another PBS Special

As the War in Iraq continues, the first measures of its psychological toll are coming in. A U.S. Army study estimates that more than one in six returning veterans are suffering from major depression, anxiety, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. For those who have survived the fighting, the battle is not over. For some, the return home can be as painful as war itself. FRONTLINE tells the stories of soldiers who have come home haunted by their experiences and asks whether the government is doing enough to help.

Although as many as five out of six soldiers return home healthy, information like this can help focus our prayers now to cover the particular stresses faced by some of our soldiers who have put their lives in harm's way on our behalf.

The PBS special airs Tuesday, March 1 at 8 p.m. CST. For more information, see:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/heart/

(Photo courtesy of dvidshub.net)