The Vegas Voice 11-19

For Guts or Glory?
By: Chuck Dean / Vet 2 Vet
In the mid ‘80s it was like a light came on. I
woke up to the reality of how spending a year
in a war zone affected you.
I had some new peculiarities, but since I didn’t understand what
was going on, I chalked it up to “that’s life, and let’s get on with it.”
However, I learned that if you put garbage into a can, no matter how
tightly you clamp down the lid, it will pop off sooner or later.
That’s why it is called “POST-traumatic stress disorder” - which
means it usually comes along later on. And heaven forbid if you’re not
ready when that can explodes.
It happened that way for thousands of vets and many ended up in
prison, with broken marriages and shattered lives. For me, I was lucky
enough to find out before too much damage was done.
When I did wake up, I didn’t settle for just getting help for myself, but
was burdened for the sake of other vets who also struggled. That’s why
I began writing.
I wanted to get the word out to help vets avoid some unnecessary
grief. I certainly knew I was no Hemingway but I didn’t let that stop me.
I began writing simple explanations of PTSD and other transitional
challenges for vets to understand. I am not a professional therapist but
knew I could talk to vets in their voice and perhaps help them.
I began passing on information they may miss from complicated
literature from the VA. I did not begin writing for the glory of being an
author, I did it from the guts of being a vet that wanted to help others
make a better transition.
My first book “Nam Vet: Making Peace with your Past”, written in
1987, is still alive and well on Amazon.com. It amazing to see where it
has landed over the years.
It’s been a humbling experience for a guy who barely passed his high
school English courses.
Welcome home and have a safe Veterans Day.
In the photo: Nancy Sinatra, General Myers, Joint Chief of Staff,
and Anthony Principi, the then VA Secretary.
Chuck Dean served as an Army paratrooper in Vietnam and
through that experience was led to address the many transitional
issues veterans struggle with. He is the author of several important
books for veterans. All can be found on Amazon at: http://www.
amazon.com/author/chuckdeanbooks
Expires 11/30/19
18
November 2019