Veterans Deserve More Victories At Home (NAPSA)—After the Sept. 11 attacks, Bobby Body enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Habbaniyah, Iraq, where he joined a 12-man team that would travel from Ramadi to Fallujah. Their mission was to draw insurgents into the open and detain them. In broad daylight, in hostile cities, hunting down the enemydayafter day, Body’s team routinely encountered dangerous confrontations. Less than a year into his deployment, Body’s Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb, severely injuring his left arm and leg. He was transported back to the United States, where he endured several surgeries. Eventually, his left leg was amputated. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, Body was thrust into a new reality. Body’s story is not that uncommon for America’s veterans. Postservice challenges, visible and invisible scars from war, can be devastating and overwhelming.For many, theylast a lifetime. In Body’s case, he sought support and turned to competitive weightlifting as a positive outlet to help cope with PTSDandtherealities of living as an amputee. With the support of family and friends plus help from DAV (Disabled American Veterans), Body went on to compete in a World Weightlifting Championship representing the United States, competing against able-bodied weightlifters. Body’s victory was becominga weightlifting champion. Jim Sursely is a husband, father of four, grandfather, Army veteran and triple amputee, having lost both legs and his left arm at age 21 while serving in Vietnam. Despite the challenges of living with his wartime injuries, Sursely’s victory is proving there are no limitations when it comes to pursuing his life’s passions, which include spending time with family, mentoring new genera- tions of disabled veterans, and bow hunting. Sursely rarely misses an opportunity to go on a hunting trip with friends, battle buddies and younger veterans. With support and determination, America’s veterans can stay strong, physically and mentally. When a routine parachute jump left Army Veteran CeCe Mazyck, 82nd Airborne Division, paralyzed from the waist down, she figured her dream of earning a college degree in fashion was grounded. Mazyck’s victory was finding the strength and support to finish her education. Support Network Important When you ask veterans like these what enables them to move past the loss, anger, frustration or fears that accompany the kind of trauma they’ve endured, the answeris a networkof support. “I constantly tell fellow veterans that you don’t have to try to do it all on your own,” says Body. “Organizations like DAV will help you every step of the way with any type of disability you may have, whetherphysical or psychological.” DAVis a veteransservice organization created to support veter- ans of all generations and their families—from helping veterans access benefits they’ve earned, such as health care, education and disability, to connecting them to meaningful employment opportunities. DAV has helped more than a million veteransin life-changing ways. “Often,it’s that extra support that lays the path to victory,” explains Sursely. “I'm always counseling young veteransto reach out for support. It’s OKto ask for help—you’ve earned and deserveit.” Learn More To see more veterans’ victories and find out about how you can help support America’s veterans, go to www.victoriesforveterans.org.
