15/Jan/2009
Central Vets Help Soldiers Know They Are Not Alone
By Claire Ohlsen
Meet Gerald Reid, the self-proclaimed “head honcho” of Central’s Veterans Helping Veterans. Reid founded the group three years ago, after people came to him asking to get something started. Before he became active in Central, he was the six-year president for In-country Veterans in Brusley, La.
Reid described Central Veterans as an outreach group for current or former soldiers, especially those with disabilities who must present correct paperwork to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for health care and benefits.
He served almost 20 years in the Navy and Army, including time in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam as a “river rat.” He was also stationed in South America for a time. In the early 1970s, he was even asked to be President Nixon’s bodyguard. Reid laughed as he remembers his wife telling him no. “I had no choice,” he said.
The Most Challenging Task
One of the hardest things for a veteran is helping new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan deal with flashbacks from the fighting.
“We sit there and when they cry, we cry with them. We’re there,” he said.
Many returning soldiers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a serious condition in which the feelings from a distressing event revisit through flashbacks. PTSD can cause cold sweats, night terrors and screaming, especially during the night.
Reid said fellow veterans are sometimes a better companion during this time than a professional psychologist because they understand what the other is going through. They feel the pain that no one else has ever felt or will feel.
“They [therapists] never walked the walk and talked the talk. And we have, so we know where they’re coming from,” Reid said.
He explained that other veterans know what can trigger these flashbacks because most of them have been through the same thing. Reid said he suffered from PTSD himself, so he can relate.
“When we start talking to them, they listen to us. And we try to put ourselves right back in that situation,” he said, “We bring them out real slow until they realize where they’re at.”
Many older veterans never received this kind of therapy when they returned from wars. Reid said it is even good for these former soldiers to talk about what it was like in the service.
The next step in recovering from PTSD involves a psychologist, if the veteran is willing. Sometimes a six-week program at the Air Force base in Little Rock, Ark., can help. This program is designed for returning soldiers struggling with reentry.
“They’re tired of fighting the war. After all these wars they’ve been fighting. Some of them still are taking their lives away. We try to get in there and show them there is a better life,” Reid said.
Reid described how wives can get involved as well. Wives talk with other younger soldiers’ wives because, like Reid and other veterans from old wars, they have been through the same situation.
Reid’s wife and other wives in Veterans Helping Veterans play an auxiliary role in the group, said Garnett Brister, a wife of a member who assists in preparing food for the monthly meetings.
The women organized the group’s participation in Relay for Life by running a booth and cooking food. The wives also help needy families without food and patients at Children’s Charity Hospital in New Orleans during Christmas.
Reid said of the wives, “Without them, we wouldn’t have the group. We gotta have them backing us.”
Vietnam Wall Visit
In addition to companionship, members of the organization help veterans with odd chores they cannot complete on their own, like cleaning the yard after a storm or lifting heavy things. Reid and Lee said the group is open to helping with anything.
In 2007, the group made an appearance along with many other people from around Central when the Vietnam traveling wall traveled through the area.
“They’ve never seen this many people turn out… The truck driver (of the wall) said he broke down crying because he’s never seen anything like this before,” Reid said.
Central was decorated in red, white and blue and everyone showed their patriotism. The organization regularly presents the colors at funerals and public events. The members talk to students at schools about wars and the cost of freedom.
Eventually, they want to take a trip to New Orleans to visit the World War II museum and then take their wives out.
“We’ve always got something cooking. The board will come up with something for the year,” he said.
Plans and activities for 2009 will be discussed at the January 17 meeting at the Demco Electric building in Central. Veterans, combat or non-combat, who would like to get involved with the group or would like a fellow veteran to talk to are welcome to contact Central Veterans Helping Veterans. Reid can be reached at 225-262-6864.
By Claire Ohlsen
Meet Gerald Reid, the self-proclaimed “head honcho” of Central’s Veterans Helping Veterans. Reid founded the group three years ago, after people came to him asking to get something started. Before he became active in Central, he was the six-year president for In-country Veterans in Brusley, La.
Reid described Central Veterans as an outreach group for current or former soldiers, especially those with disabilities who must present correct paperwork to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for health care and benefits.
He served almost 20 years in the Navy and Army, including time in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam as a “river rat.” He was also stationed in South America for a time. In the early 1970s, he was even asked to be President Nixon’s bodyguard. Reid laughed as he remembers his wife telling him no. “I had no choice,” he said.
The Most Challenging Task
One of the hardest things for a veteran is helping new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan deal with flashbacks from the fighting.
“We sit there and when they cry, we cry with them. We’re there,” he said.
Many returning soldiers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a serious condition in which the feelings from a distressing event revisit through flashbacks. PTSD can cause cold sweats, night terrors and screaming, especially during the night.
Reid said fellow veterans are sometimes a better companion during this time than a professional psychologist because they understand what the other is going through. They feel the pain that no one else has ever felt or will feel.
“They [therapists] never walked the walk and talked the talk. And we have, so we know where they’re coming from,” Reid said.
He explained that other veterans know what can trigger these flashbacks because most of them have been through the same thing. Reid said he suffered from PTSD himself, so he can relate.
“When we start talking to them, they listen to us. And we try to put ourselves right back in that situation,” he said, “We bring them out real slow until they realize where they’re at.”
Many older veterans never received this kind of therapy when they returned from wars. Reid said it is even good for these former soldiers to talk about what it was like in the service.
The next step in recovering from PTSD involves a psychologist, if the veteran is willing. Sometimes a six-week program at the Air Force base in Little Rock, Ark., can help. This program is designed for returning soldiers struggling with reentry.
“They’re tired of fighting the war. After all these wars they’ve been fighting. Some of them still are taking their lives away. We try to get in there and show them there is a better life,” Reid said.
Reid described how wives can get involved as well. Wives talk with other younger soldiers’ wives because, like Reid and other veterans from old wars, they have been through the same situation.
Reid’s wife and other wives in Veterans Helping Veterans play an auxiliary role in the group, said Garnett Brister, a wife of a member who assists in preparing food for the monthly meetings.
The women organized the group’s participation in Relay for Life by running a booth and cooking food. The wives also help needy families without food and patients at Children’s Charity Hospital in New Orleans during Christmas.
Reid said of the wives, “Without them, we wouldn’t have the group. We gotta have them backing us.”
Vietnam Wall Visit
In addition to companionship, members of the organization help veterans with odd chores they cannot complete on their own, like cleaning the yard after a storm or lifting heavy things. Reid and Lee said the group is open to helping with anything.
In 2007, the group made an appearance along with many other people from around Central when the Vietnam traveling wall traveled through the area.
“They’ve never seen this many people turn out… The truck driver (of the wall) said he broke down crying because he’s never seen anything like this before,” Reid said.
Central was decorated in red, white and blue and everyone showed their patriotism. The organization regularly presents the colors at funerals and public events. The members talk to students at schools about wars and the cost of freedom.
Eventually, they want to take a trip to New Orleans to visit the World War II museum and then take their wives out.
“We’ve always got something cooking. The board will come up with something for the year,” he said.
Plans and activities for 2009 will be discussed at the January 17 meeting at the Demco Electric building in Central. Veterans, combat or non-combat, who would like to get involved with the group or would like a fellow veteran to talk to are welcome to contact Central Veterans Helping Veterans. Reid can be reached at 225-262-6864.
