From the Frontline to the Home Front

After they put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, soldiers and veterans return in need of a service to help them to readjust to life at home. In the Peoria area there are many support systems welcoming home our heroes.

Veteran Assistance in the Peoria Area

By Jenny Sharron

PEORIA, Ill. – At the end of a strip of businesses sits a small facility where many Peoria-area veterans can get help.

After returning from active duty, many soldiers and Marines come home with injuries both visible and not.  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the scariest and most overwhelming things that almost all military personnel struggle with after returning from active duty or experiencing a traumatic event.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can be caused by many things, the most common among veterans being repeated flashbacks of being in war zones and witnessing so many deaths or just a singular death of a great friend.

“I just returned from a funeral,” said Staff Sergeant Kenneth Corbitt. “A buddy had committed suicide and we don’t know why. He was a good man and always seemed happy; I just wish I knew why.

It is the mission of Vet Centers to serve Veterans and their families by providing a continuum of quality care that adds value for veterans, families and communities at no cost to the veterans.  The Peoria has served the area since 1979, having several locations along the way.

“We not only offer services to those who suffered a traumatic event while in boot, but also to anyone that suffered sexual trauma,” said Readjustment Counselor C.W. Speight.

Services offered by the Vet Center include counseling, financial advising, and counseling for the families to help returning soldiers adjust to life at home.

Speight also stressed that many people confuse Vet Centers and Vet Clinics.  He says that Vet Centers are more specific to readjusting men and women of service, as well as helping their families learn how to cope and make the adjustment as pleasant as possible.  Vet Clinics are actual hospitals, the nearest being in Danville. Speight described the facility as a super clinic that houses not only a hospital, but an in-house pharmacy, lab, hearing and eye clinic.

Michael Brooks is the superintendent for the Peoria Country Veterans Assistance.  He not only assists veterans with filling their paperwork, but he helps with monetary things as well.

“It’s important that they [veterans] know that they are not alone,” Speight said. “We’re here to help.”

Speight stated that the number of service members he sees on a weekly basis fluctuates because some come in on a weekly basis, bi-weekly basis, and some just drop in as need be.

The Peoria facility is open during business hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If anyone military member or family member is seeking help, they are urged to call the Peoria Vet Center at (309) 689-9708. For more information on Veteran Affairs, visit www.vetcenter.va.gov.

Bradley Fraternity gives back to Wounded Warriors

Members of the Theta Chi fraternity host an annual philanthropy week. In the spring 2013 the fraternity chose the Wounded Warrior Project as their beneficiary. Colby Tapling, a senior member, speaks on what the philanthropy week entails.

From Private to Veteran: A brief overview of Staff Sergeant Kenneth Corbitt’s career in the United States Air Force

Click here below to see a brief overview of the military career of an Air Force Staff Sergeant. All photos are courtesy of SSgt. Corbitt and his wife Megan Coribitt used with their written permission.

Servicemembers make the ultimate sacrifice

An interactive graphic  overviewing the major injuries and death causes that the men and women of service face everyday in the line of duty. To see the whole comprehensive report on injuries and death totals during operations New Dawn, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom here.

[It is my hope to that when scrolling over each section of the chart, a description of each injury would appear {the data is inputted into the program, just not showing}

PTSD: Serve psychological disorder caused by witnessing death of fellow soldiers, flashbacks of deployment, etc.

Traumatic Brain Injury: Usually caused by severe injury caused by things such as blunt force trauma, shrapnel, etc.

Amputation of Major Limb: Removal of legs or arms due to infection or injury

Amputation of Minor Limb: Removal of fingers, toes and other small extremities due to infection or injury

Self-Inflicted Wound: Suicide]