PERSONAL JOURNEYS

The colonel's war Eric Welsh is on a mission to help veterans combat the unseen battle scars of PTSD. Posted: 12:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013

BY MARK DAVIS - THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Welsh talks to veterans at the Salvation Army Red Shield Center in Atlanta. Welsh a retired U.S. Army colonel speaks to these men each Saturday. PTSD is nothing new. In World War II, it was called shell shock. Soldiers returning from Civil War battlefields complained of "soldier's heart." PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM

Saturdaymorning,rainyandgrayanddismalinthewaythatonlymid‐Augustdowntowndownpourscanbe.Thewaterrunsdownthesidewalkinsilverrivulets,pastahandfulofguysseekingshelterunderanoverhangattheSalvationArmy’sRedShieldshelteronLuckieStreet.“EricWelsh?Col.Welsh?”oneguysaysinanswertoaquestion.Hepointsathinfingeratalockeddoor.Hislooseshirtflapsinthewind.“He’sinthere.He’salwaysinthereonSaturdays.”

Personal Journeys: The colonel's war http://www.myajc.com/gallery/news/personal-journeys-colonels-war/gCFkW/#4086832

“Inthere”isaroomwhere15peoplesitinhaphazardrows.Theyarethinandoldand

fatandyoung,13menandtwowomen.Theyhavethismuchincommon:Theyservedin

themilitary;theyarehomeless;andtheysuffer,invaryingdegrees,fromposttraumatic

stressdisorder—PTSD.

AndthereisWelsh,retiredcolonel,U.S.Army,lookingdecidedlylikeacivilianinaworn

Poloshirtandoldcargoshorts,flip‐flopsflappingonthetiledfloor.Heisawalking

contradiction:Maybeamanleavesthemilitary,butitdoesn’tleavehim.Despitehis

weekendattire,Welshlooksasifhe’saddressingthetroops.

Actually,heis.Forthesepeopleinthisroomonthisrainydayarelockedinabattle.If

theycannotwinthiswaragainstPTSD,Welshwarns,theyaredone,sunk,KIA.

MICHAEL YON

Welsh salutes the fallen. He commanded a battalion that lost 28 soldiers during 2006 and 2007 in Mosul, Iraq. When Welsh ... Read More Welsh—warrior,grandsonofthemostfamousMarineofalltime,singledad,Coca‐Colaexecutive—fixesthemwithastare.Hedoesnotblink.

“Youareinafight,”hesays,“afightforyourlives.”

Welshknows.Theirbattleishis.

2‘Savedmylife’

EricWelshwasborninOxnard,Calif.,in1965.Hismotherdiedwhenhewas8,theresultofan“unhealthylifestyle.”Hisdad,areluctantparent,oftenleftthechildalone.AnearlymemorythatstalksWelsh:He’sakid,rummaginginaDumpsterforfood.

Ayearafterhismotherdied,Eric’sfathertooktheboytolivewithhisgrandmother.Byage9,Ericwas,inessence,anorphan—oneparentdeceased,theotherabsent.Hisgrandmother,notfeelingequaltoraisinganotherchild,enrolledhimattheMiltonHersheySchoolinHershey,Pa.

“Thatschoolsavedmylife,absolutelysavedmylife.”

Foundedbythechocolatemagnate,theschoolwasmadeforsomeonelikeyoungEric:aplacewhereakidcouldfindpurposeinalifethat,sofar,hadnone.Heplayedfootball,wrestled,baseball.HewenttoKentStateUniversity,wherehemadeadiscovery:Anathletewho’s“5‐foot‐nothing”needstothinkaboutwhathe’lldowhenhiscollegiatecareerisover.

Oneday,hestoppedatthemilitaryrecruitersofficesnearcampus.HestuckhisheadintheMarineCorpsoffice,wherearecruiterwastoobusytotalkatthemoment.Hesteppedtothenextdoorway,andthusdidhislifetakeoneofthosebigturnsthatcomesalongeveryonceinawhile.

TheArmyrecruiterhadtimetotalk.DidWelshhaveabirthcertificate?Welshdidnot.Noproblem,therecruiterreplied.Whowereyourparents?Welshprovidedtheinformation,includinghismother’smaidenname:JanetBoyington.Therecruiterlookedup.

“Justoutofcuriosity,”heasked,“areyoukinto‘Pappy’Boyington?”

Gregory“Pappy”Boyington,thefamedWorldWarIIMarineCorpsairacewhose“BlackSheepSquadron”becamethestuffofbooksandfilms?Welshdidn’tknow.TherecruiterdidsomequickdigginganddeterminedthattheyoungmaninhisofficewasthegrandsonofthemostfamousMarineaviatorofalltime.

“Signthis,”therecruitersaid.Withthestrokeofapen,WelshbecameastudentsoldierinKentState’sROTCprogram.

ThesmilingrecruitersteppednextdoortotelltheMarinewho’djustjoinedtheArmy.

WelshexcelledintheROTCprogram.Bythetimehegraduatedin1988,asecondlieutenantwithabachelor’sdegreeinpoliticalscience,hewasreadytoservehiscountry.ItbeganatFortBenning.

Again,heexcelled.TheArmytrainedhiminavarietyofdisciplines—airborne,ranger,reconnaissance.He’dscoredwellinaptitudetests.Eachwasaplumassignmentforayoungofficer.

Helivedasoldier’slife,movingfromoneassignmenttothenext:Germany,domesticpostings,theMiddleEast.Hegotintroducedtowarin1990asOperationDesertStorm,thefirstIraqiwar,wasbrewing.Welshandotherswereamongthefirsttroopstoputbootsonthatdustyland.Inthecomingyears,he’dreturntothatdesertcountry.

“Thatwasprobablythebeginningofbeingintherightplaceattherighttime,”hesays.“Orthewrongplaceatthewrongtime.”

WhenWelshcameback,hewasmarked.Thekid,hishigher‐upshaddecided,hadpromise.Avarietyofassignmentsfollowed.Eachtestedtheyoungofficer’smettle,andeachhehandledwithaplomb.

IfhehadanydoubtthattheArmyhadplansforhim,Welshlaidthatasidewithhisnextposting,in2003:asaspecialassistanttoAirForceGen.RichardMyers,atthetimeheadoftheJointChiefsofStaffatthePentagon.Hewasrubbingelbows,sharingthesamespace,withthenation’stopmilitaryleaders.

Butwarwasn’tthroughwithhim.

3Aprayerincombat

Theimagesareshaky,poorlyshot,andforgoodreason:It’snoteasytoholdyourcamerasteadywhenchasingtheenemy,orwhentheenemyischasingyou.Thepicturesare,inthetruestsense,cinemaverite.CananythingbemorerealisticthanwatchinganarmoredpersonnelcarriergetblastedbyanIED,animprovisedexplosivedevice?

“Look.”Welsh,sittingatthedinnertableinhishome,pointsathislaptopscreen.“I’mabouttogetblownup.”

Oncue,anIEDeruptsinflameandsmokefromthepavementbesidethetanHumvee.It’safieryuppercut,ahellofawallop.WelshisinsidetheHumvee.

Anothervideo,“AnormaldayinIraq,”flashesonthelaptop.Itbeginswithanothersubterraneanexplosion,ablastsopowerfulthatanearthenwalleruptsfromthedesert.TheimageshiftstoacrewofsoldiersinaBlackHawkhelicopter.Thebigmachinethundersoverthedesert,castingashadowacrosssand.Thesoldierslaughandpoint.You’reremindedofkidsonafieldtrip,kidswithguns.

Thevideos—hehasmany—areremindersof2006‐07,whentheArmysentWelshtoIraqagainascommandingofficerofthe2ndBatallion,7thCavalry,thesamecavalryunitoncecommandedbyLt.Col.GeorgeCuster.ThesoldierswerepostedtoMosul,northofBaghdad,whereinsurgentslitteredroadsideswithbombsandconductedapersistentguerrillawar.Thesurgewason,anditwasuptothebattaliontokeeporderinMosul.

Mosul.God,whatahellishplace.Welshsufferedsomanyroadsidebombsthatphysiciansdiagnosedhimwithtraumaticbraininjuries,orTBI.Theinjurycanoccurwhenthebraincollideswiththeinsideoftheskull,rattlingitsothoroughlyitmaycausememoryloss,impairedcognitiveskills,moodswingsorevendeath.ExposuretomultipleexplosionsisaprescriptionforTBI.

MosulwasacauldronofIEDs.WelshrecallsJuly2,2007.HisHumveewasrollingalongaroadinMosulwhenheheardaboom,feltthevehicleshakeasifthegroundwasabouttoswallowit.Theforceoftheblastknockedhimout.Whenhecameto,Welsh,shruggingoffhislatestconcussion,returnedtohistroops.Aphysicianstoppedhim.Howmanyblastsdoesthismake?thedoctorasked.Welshthought.“Idon’tknow,”hereplied.

Ascanofhisbrainrevealeddamageonbothhemispheres,permanentlyaffectinghismemoryandsomemotorskills.Withoutrealizingit,Welshhadstartedperformingsometaskswithhislefthandthatoncehe’ddonewithhisright.Thebrain,eveninjured,compensates.

Welshusedtobeabletoreciteacoupleofdozennumbersafterquicklycommittingthemtomemory;thesedays,hecanmakesixorsevenbeforefaltering.Hestruggleswithnames.Thedoctorshaveatermforit:“degradedexecutivemanagementcapability.”

Ifuntreated,hisTBIcancauseseizures.Welshmakessurehetakeshismedicine;toomuchisatstakenotto.Heacceptstheinjurywithasoldier’sstoicism.Otherguys,hefigures,haditworse

“Icanhaveabsoluteclarityinsomethings,andinothersIcannot.”

Onenumberhe’llneverforget:28.That’showmanysoldiershelostinthat15‐monthdeployment.WhenhetalksaboutMosul,Welshisthereagain—intheheat,andthedust,andthedirt,“nervesonfire.”Welshcannottalkaboutthatwithoutwagingasmallerwarwithhisemotions.

There’sDunkleberger—BrentDunkleberger,astaffsergeant,agoodguy.HewasthefirstinthebattaliontodieinMosul,Dec.12,2006,thevictimofanRPG,arocket‐propelledgrenade.WelshlearnedlaterthatDunkleberger’swifecollapsedwhenofficersbroughtherthenews.

ThelastonesoccurredOct.31,2007,whenamassive,buriedIEDblastedaBradleyarmoredvehicle.Theexplosionblewtheturretoffthesmalltank,claimingthelivesofSpc.BrandonSmithermanandCapt.TimothyMcGovern.

ItalsotemporarilyclaimedWelsh’sresolve.

Whenheheardthattwowerekilled,Welsh—hewasoutsidethecityatthetime—aimedhisHumveetowardMosul.Hearrivedtoseeashatteredvehicle.Steppingtotheground,hesagged.He’dworkedcloselywithMcGovern.

JamesPippin,hiscommandmastersergeantandthebattalion’sseniorenlistedsoldier,guidedWelshtoawalledcourtyard.Hewrappedanarmaroundhiscommandingofficer’sneck.

“AlmightyGod,Iaskyourblessing,strengthandwisdomonmybattalioncommander,”Pippinprayed.“Granthimtheclarityofthoughtthathewillinspireusandgetusthroughthisextraordinaryrendezvouswithdestiny.”

Pippin,nowretiredfromtheArmy,figuresthatwastheonlytimehesawhiscommandingofficerwaver.“Hegotafterthebadguysinabigway.Hewasanasty(expletive).“Andthat’sahugecompliment.”

4‘Reflection’ofothers

PTSDisnothingnew.InWorldWarII,itwascalledshellshock.SoldiersreturningfromCivilWarbattlefieldscomplainedof“soldier’sheart.”HerodotusmentionedthestressofbattleinhisaccountoftheBattleofMarathonin490BCE.

ButneverbeforehasPTSDbeensoprevalent.OfficialsattheAtlantaVeteransMedicalCenterestimatethat30to40veteransarereferredtoitsPTSDteameveryweek.Twoyearsago,thehospitalidentifiedabout7,500casesofPTSDamongitspatients.

ThenumberofPTSDsufferershasbeensteadilygrowing,saidDr.LisaNajavits,aprofessorofpsychiatryatBostonUniversitySchoolofMedicineandalectureratHarvardMedicalSchool.She’stheauthorof“SeekingSafety:ATreatmentManualforPTSDandSubstanceAbuse.”WelshusesthemanualwhenworkingwithveteransattheSalvationArmy.

NajavitsrecallsgettingaphonecallfromWelshearlierthisyear.Hewasaveteranwho’dundergonetraumaincombatandearlierinlife,Welshtoldher.HewantedtouseherbooktohelpothervetsconfrontandcontroltheirPTSD.

AlthoughneverdiagnosedwithPTSD,Welshknewthemonsterwhenhesawit.

“Iwasvery,verymoved,”saysNajavits.“He’slivedit—thebestandtheworst.Heconnectswithveteranswhomayfeelalone.Ijustthinktheworldofwhathe’sdoing.”

SodoesKevinHall,leadcaseworkerforspecializedservicesattheSalvationArmyshelter.Hallwasnotaneasysell:Hefrequentlyhearsfromwould‐bedo‐gooderswhodon’tfollowupontheirpromisestoworkattheshelter.SowhenWelshofferedtoworkwithveteranssufferingPTSD,HallgaveacautiousOK.

ByWelsh’ssecondsession,saysHall,heknewhe’dmadetherightdecision.“Theguys

(veterans)arealwaystalkingaboutit,”saidHall,alsoaveteran.“He’slivedit,he’swalkedit.”He’sstillwalkingit,saysDaryllWhitehead,anAirForceveteranwhoendedupatthecenterafterwashingoutofhislastjobbecauseheclashedwiththeboss.SalvationArmyworkersfoundhiminCentennialPark.Whitehead,57,wantstoreturntoschooltolearnhotelmanagement.

“Thecolonel’slikeareflectioninthemirror,”saysWhitehead,atallmanwhoconsiderseachwordbeforehereleasesit.“He’sareflectionofourselves.”

5Anewcareer

WelshlivesinatownhomeineastCobb.HesharesitwithCobyandWillie,hissons,andBarnsley,abig‐headedyellowLabradorretrieverwhofollowshimonplodding,silentfeet.He’striedhardtomakeitarealhome;onarecentevening,scentedcandlesburnedonatablelaidoutwithHalloween‐themedplacemats.Heis,afterall,dadandmom.

Hedoesn’tliketotalkabouthisex‐wife,whomhemetwhileayoungofficeratFortBenning.ThecourtsawardedWelshcustodyofhissonswhenhegotdivorcedthreeyearsago.

Theylovetheiroldman.Hegaveupamilitarycareertolookafterthem.

“Truthbetold,heismybestfriend,”saysCoby,16,whoseweightlifterphysiquebringstomindateenStallone.“Noonecouldbethereformeanymorethanhim.”Willie,14,nods.

Ahomeofficejustofftheentrywayisafour‐walltestimonytomilitaryservice.Itislinedwithmedals(hehas18),includingapurpleheartandawardsforvalor.Shadowboxesdisplaytheranksofanofficermovingsteadilytowardageneral’sstar.HehasablackStetsonwornonlybytheselectfewwhoserveinthecavalry.

Welshretiredtwoyearsagoaftertalkingwithhisuncle,GregoryBoyington,theairace’sson.AnAirForceveteran,BoyingtonmetWelshlessthanadecadeagoafterawriterworkingonabookaboutBoyington’sfamousfathertoldhimaboutaguyintheArmywhosemomhadbeenJanetBoyington.Theretiredpilotsoughthimout.

“We’vebeenfastfriendssince,”saysBoyington.

WelshdeployedtoIraqagainin2010.Whenhecamebackin2011,hisunclehadsomeadvice:“Forgetaboutgettingageneral’sstar.Itwouldtaketoolong.

“Amilitarycareerisawonderfulthingwhenyou’reayoungofficer,”saysBoyington,whoretiredafternearlythreedecadesofservice.“Butwhenyougetolder,it’saloteasiertogetajobinyour40sthanadecadelater.”

Welshlistened.Heretiredat46,movedtothemetroareaandgotapositionwiththeCoca‐ColaCo.Earlierthismonth,thecompanynamedhimglobaloperationsdirectorof

theEkocenterinitiative,whichprovidessafedrinkingwater,wirelesscommunicationsandotherservicestoimprovelivingconditionsin20nations.

Welshhasasimplerreasonforleavingthemilitary.“Iwasn’tgoingtoletmysonsbeonemoreinalonglistoftragediesfromthiswar.”

It’salsothereasonWelshspendshisSaturdaymorningsattheSalvationArmyshelter.Helostsoldiersincombat;hecannotabidethelossofmoreinpeacetime.Welshcannotsavethemall,buthehastotry.

“IfIdon’tdothis,thenI’vefailed.”

6Atopavolcano

AnotherSaturdaymorning,theOctobersunwinksbetweenhigh‐rises,acoolwindblowsalongLuckieStreet.Nearby,GeorgiaTechisgearinguptopoundSyracuseUniversityonthefootballfield.Itisabeautifulday.

ThingsarenotasrosyinsidetheSalvationArmyshelter,wherenearly40mensitattables.Theyareworn,andafraid,andangry.Welshstandsatopafigurativevolcano.

“Anynewpeoplehere?”heasks.

“Maurice,”onemanoffers.“Marines.”

“Joe.UnitedStatesNavy.”

“Francis.ThirdRangers.”

Welshgivesabriefsketchofhislife—orphan,homeless,28yearsintheArmy,and“waytoomanydeployments,”hesays.Hereachesforatried‐and‐truephrase:

“Iwasalwaysinthewrongplaceatthewrongtime.”

Wrongplace.Thistouchesachord.Mennod.Whetherincombatornot,theyunderstandthosetwowords.They’veallbeenthere,hellyes.

Amanraiseshishand.Itisabighand,attachedtoabigarm.HewasintheArmy.

“IgottiredoffeelinglikeIwastheonlyone(withPTSD),”hesays.“I’matrainwreck.”Hescanstheroom.

“Noreflectiononanybodyhere,butIdon’ttrustyou.Noneofyou.”

Aslenderyoungmanisnext.Helooksasifheshouldhaveplayedfootballforhishighschoolteamthenightbefore.AHumveehithiminIraq,shatteringhisknee.He’sfightinganaddictiontopainkillers.

“Asakidgrowingup,watching‘Rambo,’Ithoughtthemilitarywassobad‐ass—explosives,youknow.”Helooksathiskneeandshrugs.“Overthere,Igothurtalittle

bit.”Welshnods.“Weallgothurtalittlebit.”

Andsoitgoes.OnemansayshefeelsasifhiscontributionstoAmericawereignoredwhenhegothome.AnothersayshegotoutoftheArmy,losthishome,thentookabulletinthegutsinastreetfight.

AformerRangerraiseshishand.HewasintheseventhgradewhenterroristsattackedAmericaonSept.11,2001.Hegrewupwantingtoavengethedeathsofsomanyinnocents.Now,hesays,hisfamilythinkshe’snuts.

“This,”hesays,sweepinghisarmsabout,“istheonlyplaceIcantalk.”

AbigmaninasleevelessT‐shirtsitsattheback,agloweringpresence.“Icanrelatetothatyoungman.”

HejoinedtheArmyastheVietnamWarwounddown.Asacivilian,hewentlookingfortrouble,takingdrugsandfighting.Nosurprisethathefoundit.

“Ihungwithviolentpeople,”hesays.“Thedrugshelpedmedealwithmystresslevels.”

WelshfixestheyoungRangerwithasternlook.“Youlistening?That’syouin10or15years.”

AmanwearingapurplePoloshirtthatstrainsacrosshischestnods.“NotlongagoIbustedthisguyontheheadwithaCokecan.”

Thisgoesonforahalf‐hourlonger.Themenyell,pointfingers,tellafewtoshutupandurgeotherstotalkmore.Welsh,stillwearingthosegoofyflip‐flops,movesfromtabletotabletotable.

“Ihearya,”hesays.“Iknow.Brother,Iknow.”

Thecookcomesinandtellseveryoneheneedstheroomtofeedfolks.Everyonelookssurprised.Wheredidthetimego?

Somemenfileout,whileothershangaround.Emotions,onceloosed,aren’tsoeasilyreinedin.

Welshspends10moreminutestalking,oneonone,withsomeoftheguys.Eachleavespromisingtoreturn.

“Seeyounextweek,”saysWelsh,whothenoffersalittlebombhedropsateverysession:

“Whileweweretalking,”hesays,“twovetscommittedsuicide.”

Welshstandsdown.Theirbattle,foranotherweekatleast,iswon.Soishis.

Asinglefather,WelshshareshishomeineastCobbWelshjugglesthedemandsofwork,volunteerandkeepingwithhisteenagesons,CobyandWillie."Truthbetold,foodonthetableforCoby(right)andWillie.Welshheismybestfriend,"Cobysaysofhisfather."Noonehasasimplereasonforleavingthemilitarytwoyearsagocouldbethereformeanymorethanhim."Willienods."Iwasn'tgoingtoletmysonsbeonemorein alonglistoftragediesfromthiswar.”PHILSKINNER/PSKINNER@AJC.COMPHILSKINNER/PSKINNER@AJC.COM

Asinglefather,WelshshareshishomeineastCobbWelshtalkstoveteransattheSalvationArmyRedShieldwithhisteenagesons,CobyandWillie."Truthbetold,CenterinAtlanta.WelshisretiredU.S.Armycolonelspeaksheismybestfriend,"Cobysaysofhisfather."NoonetothesemeneachSaturday.PTSDhasneverbeensocouldbethereformeanymorethanhim."Willienods.Prevalent.OfficialsattheAtlantaVeteransMedicalCenter estimatesthat30to40veteransarereferredtoits PTSDteameveryweekPHILSKINNER/PSKINNER@AJC.COMPHILSKINNER/PSKINNER@AJC.COM

WelshtalkstoveteransattheSalvationArmyRedShieldWelshtalkstoveteransattheSalvationArmyRedShieldCenterinAtlanta.WelsharetiredU.S.ArmycolonelCenterinAtlanta.WelshisretiredU.S.ArmycolonelspeaksSpeakstothesemeneachSaturday.AfterreadingatothesemeneachSaturday.AfterreadingabookaboutPTSD,WelshcontactedtheauthorandsaidbookaboutPTSD,Welshcontactedtheauthorandsaidhewantedtouseherbooktohelpothers.Dr.Lisahewantedtouseherbooktohelpothers.Dr.LisaNajavits,theauthorof“SeekingSafety:ATreatmentNajavits,theauthorof“SeekingSafety:ATreatmentManualforPTSDandSubstanceAbuse”saidshewasManualforPTSDandSubstanceAbuse”saidshewasverymoved.“He’slivedit—thebestandworst.Heverymoved.“He’slivedit—thebestandworst.Heconnectswithveteranswhomayfeelalone.Ijustthinkconnectswithveteranswhomayfeelalone.Ijustthinktheworldofwhatheisdoing”Najavitssaid.theworldofwhatheisdoing”Najavitssaid.PHILSKINNER/PSKINNER@AJC.COMPHILSKINNER/PSKINNER@AJC.COM

WelshtalkstoveteransattheSalvationArmyRedShieldU.S.soldiersfromDemonCompany,2ndBattalion,7thCenterinAtlanta.WelsharetiredU.S.ArmycolonelCalvalry—Welsh’scommand—comeunderfirefromSpeakstothesemeneachSaturday.PTSDisnothinginsurgentsinwesternMosulinNovember2007.new.InWorldWarII,itwascalledshellshock.SoldiersWelshsufferedsomanyroadsidebombsthatreturningfromCivilwarbattlesfieldcomplainedofphysiciansdiagnosedhimwithtraumaticbrain“soldier’sheart.”Injuries,orTBI.MosulwasacauldronofIEDs.PHILSKINNER/PSKINNER@AJC.COMAPPhoto/MaytaAlluruzzo,file

Welshsalutesthefallen.HecommandedabattalionWelshwithhiscollectionof“LeadershipsCoins.”‐giventhatlost28soldiersduring2006and2007inMosul,tohimbyseniorcommandersforactsofexcellenceduringIraq.WhenWelshtalksaboutMosul–heistherehis28yearmilitarycareer—athisMariettahome.Welshagain—Intheheat,andthedustandthedirt.WelshvolunteerstohelphomelessveteranssufferingfromPTSD.cannottalkwithoutwagingasmallwarwithemotions,Thisdenisafour‐walledtestimonyto28yearsofmilitary“soldier’sheart.”service.

PhotocourtesyofEricWelshPHILSKINNER/PSKINNER@AJC.COM

HOWWEGOTTHESTORYAsthenation’spopulationofreturningwarveteransgrows,theAJCcontinuesitscommitmenttoreportingonthechallengesthesemenandwomenfaceastheyre‐entercivilianlife.PromptedbyaseriesofarticleshereadintheAJC,retiredCol.EricWelshcontactedstaffwriterMarkDavistotalkaboutposttraumaticstressdisorder,whichplaguesbetween11percentand20percentofIraqandAfghanistanwarveterans.WhenDavislearnedWelshwasvolunteeringtohelphomelessveteranssufferingfromPTSD,heattendedasessiontoseeWelshinaction.Daviswasimpressedandknewhe’dbebackbecauseWelsh’sstorywasonethatneededtobetold.SuzanneVanAttenFeaturesEnterpriseEditorpersonaljourneys@ajc.com

Aboutthereporter

MarkDavisjoinedtheAJCin2003afterworkinginPhiladelphia,TampaandhisnativeNorthCarolina.AgraduateoftheUniversityofNorthCarolina‐ChapelHill,Davishasreportedonheroes,bumsandcreaturesthatwalk,swim,crawlandfly.

Aboutthephotographer

PhilSkinnerhasbeenaphotojournalistattheAJCfor16years,workingonavarietyofstories,includingtheMasters,Olympics,AtlantaBraves,presidentialcampaigns,hurricanesandallkindsofhumanintereststories.PreviouslyheworkedattheSun‐Sentinel,theBocaRatonNews,theSarasotaHeraldTribuneandtheJupiterJournal.

FORVETERANSInobservationofVeteransDay,today’sPersonalJourneyonEricWelshispartofafour‐partseriesaboutthemenandwomenwhoserveourcountryinthemilitary.Saturday

TheAtlantaHistoryCenter’s“StoriesofSacrifice:ListeningtoAmerica’sVeterans,”letsvisitorslisteninonpersonalaccountsofsacrificeandbraveryduringitsprogramMonday.

Monday

Somereturningveteransencounterchallengeswhenattemptingtore‐enterthecivilianworkforce.HireHeroesUSAisanAlpharetta‐basednonprofitorganizationthathelpsformerwarriorslandjobsaftertheyreturnfrommilitarycampaigns.

Tuesday

Morewomenthaneverbeforeareservinghigh‐stressrolesinthemilitary.WelookatanAtlantaVeteransAdministrationprogramthathelpsreturningfemaleveteransovercomesomeofthetraumasthey’veexperienced.