Brigadier General Loree K. Sutton

Monday, December 07, 2009
Brigadier General Loree K. Sutton

Sixty-eight years ago today, Pearl Harbor was attacked. The following day President Franklin Roosevelt addressed Congress at 12:30 p.m., for six and a half minutes, and within one hour America entered World War II — “a date which will live in infamy.”

Killing in combat, losing beloved buddies, coming home to a strained or even fractured marriage, experiencing “survivors guilt,” witnessing the death of innocent civilians are timeless challenges known to warriors of all ages — past, present and future.

Psychological health concerns are not new to our warriors who have seen combat. Looking back through history, 27 centuries ago in "The Iliad," Homer describes the mental stress that occurs as a result of continuous combat as the “betrayal of what is right.” During the American Civil War post traumatic stress was referred to as “soldier’s heart”; in World War I it was known as “shell shock”; and in World War II “battle fatigue.”

Our journey has gained considerable traction and momentum in helping our warriors and veterans receive care for psychological health concerns across the resiliency, recovery and reintegration continuum of care. However, the stigma associated with seeking help for the invisible wounds of war is still present and all too often blocks our warriors from seeking care. Today, reaching out is an act of courage and strength. This is progress, however, total success will be achieved when warriors and their families will give no more thought to seeking help for brain injuries than they would for a broken leg. We still have a long way to travel but, make no mistake, we will get there — sooner is better.

History and literature point to the human need to find meaning, purpose and value in life’s harshest experiences. Consider Hamlet on his deathbed, making his final request to Horatio: “If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, absent thee from felicity awhile and enter my harsh world and draw my breath in pain to tell my story.”

Withdraw yourself from your comforts to see through my eyes, says Hamlet. Tell the world my story….

Indeed, the experience of sharing one’s story remains as powerful today. This power resides at the heart of our Real Warriors campaign to eliminate stigma. Please check out www.RealWarriors.net and keep in touch — maybe you or someone you know has a story that is ripe for sharing.

Thanks as always for your support — together let’s redouble our efforts to make a positive difference for the greater good!

Yours in service ~
Loree K. Sutton, M.D.
Brigadier General, MC, USA
Director, DCoE