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Earlier this year my kid brother, Rich, took his own life. Rich loved this country and devoted his adult life to its defense, first as a combat infantry officer in the Army, during which time he fought in Iraq, then as part of the US Intelligence Community, where he served in a covert capacity until his suicide. He will be missed by his three kids who brought light to his dark inner world, by their mom who tried tirelessly to help him, and by the warfighters and intelligence officers who operated steadfastly alongside him. I don’t pretend to understand the range of factors that produced this tragic result. What’s clear, though, is that combat exacted a heavy toll on Rich’s mental health and changed him in profound ways. He hid his anguish behind smiles and jokes and hid it well. Most were never aware of his struggle. But those closest to Rich observed that, over the years, he was increasingly haunted by flashbacks, became ever more hypervigilant and detached, and sunk deeper into negative thoughts about the world and his place in it. For many of us, war is distilled into words and images that we consume on social media. We remark upon it with concern, but have the luxury of setting the unpleasantness aside. The horrors touch them, way over there. Those on the front lines have an entirely different experience. They don’t forget the sight of men they’ve come to consider brothers, torn apart; the smell of burning flesh in an exploded car; the sound of grenades, hurled at them, detonating nearby. We can’t expect our warfighters to snap back to their former selves after being steeped in such brutal violence. Too often they don’t. My brother was just one of a significant minority of combat vets from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who carried the hell of war back home. To honor Rich, I’ve set up a gofundme for The Boulder Crest Foundation (@BoulderCrestPTG). Since 2013, this charity has helped more than 100,000 veterans, active servicemembers, and first responders transform their struggle with trauma into strength. Their Warrior PATHH training includes a 7-day in-person retreat, followed by 90 days of support and accountability. It is offered to participants at no cost. I wish my brother had the opportunity to be part of this program. If you can, please join me in supporting the brave men and women who have made enormous sacrifices on our behalf. I will match all contributions up to $10,000. Thank you for taking the time to consider this cause, it means a great deal to me. gofund.me/bf1e6fbb

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