The
Illinois Latino Family Commission continues to honor Veterans this month by
sharing stories about the experiences our veterans have had when
they return home.
Adam
Navarro was 22 years old when he decided to enlist the U.S. army. One year
later, he was sent with the 101 Airborne Division to Eastern Europe, specifically
to Kosovo. He had the duty to patrol areas that were pockets of
different battles at the time.
When he was
discharged in 2003 and arrived to Chicago, he was jobless, homeless, depressed
and hopeless to get back on track. It took him six years to reach the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) for help. While using the benefits he has as a
Veteran, he learned he had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which had kept him isolated during those long years.
“I am a VA
successful story” Navarro says. Through VA, he was able to get a home, get
psychiatric help and he is today studying English at DePaul University while
working as a Real Estate Agent. But that doesn´t mean the road has been easy; he
accepts he needs more time than his peers to study and concentrate. “It takes
me more time, but I am going on my own pace” he says. Navarro also admits that he faced an “outdated
system with a vast bureaucracy that needs major policy changes”. Nonetheless,
he is glad he found a lot of great people at VA who were willing to help him
despite the limited resources.
Navarro
is concerned about the high numbers of homeless and untreated veterans he has
seen. He urges them to seek help, giving them the message that there will
always be something we can hold on to survive in order to make a change to be
a happy person.
Thank you
for your service, Adam.
No comments:
Post a Comment