Reproduced from KFBM Stations, Channel 8, San Diego

From Fighting In Iraq To Homeless In San Diego

Last Updated:
02-14-08 at 7:41PM

According to the Department of Defense, 130,000 troops have returned home after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. A growing number of those veterans are homeless. News 8's Dan Cohen has the story of one Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran who fought in Iraq, and also fought to get off the streets.

The 28-year-old former Marine and National Guardsman saw things in Iraq he doesn't want to remember.

"I know what being over there can do to a person," he said. "I didn't expect to deploy to Iraq with the National Guard, but that's the way it turned out."

He asked that his identity be concealed after a rough six months, with support and help he's turning his life around.

"I basically went from the war to trying to be a civilian," he said.

That didn't work out. He bounced from state to state, ending up in San Diego, on the streets.

"I guess because of my behavior and stuff when I got back I was kind of hard to be around," he said. "My family wanted me to get some help, they knew something wasn't quite right with me. It was hard for them to deal with."

Like so many other returning veterans, he didn't recognize the signs he needed help.

"I know when I got back I didn't want to be around anybody… the last thing I wanted to do was ask for help or any kind of program," he said.

In part because Iraqi veterans fear the stigma of having post-traumatic stress disorder.

"They may not know they have it, I guarantee it," the former Marine said. "Looking back, I know I was suffering from PTSD. My nerves were pretty raw and I was drinking a lot."

The experts say substance abuse is common among some veterans. It dulls their emotions.

The Iraqi veteran says the military should do more to help returning vets deal with PTSD.

"There is an environment of kind of discouraging talking about PTSD and that sort of thing," he said. "Their attitude is well kind of like, well you know, we all had to do it, you know, it's part of the stress of combat, deal with it."

Bob McElroy is an expert on the homeless.

"The tragic part is the fact that we're seeing more of these kids on the street," McElroy said.

More and more veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are showing up in homeless shelters across the nation and here in San Diego. Some who can't find jobs or afford rent find shelter at St. Vincent de Paul. Others have substance abuse problems and get help at the Alpha Project. Still others hang out along the Embarcadero in the company of homeless Vietnam veterans.

Along the Embarcadero, tourists stroll among military history, passing by homeless Vietnam vets like they're part of the landscape. Today is the government and society better equipped to help this generation of war vets?

"There doesn't seem to be the safety net within the system to deal with the unique issues these kids have," McElroy said.

But some Iraqi veterans have found help and counseling at the Veterans Village San Diego. The compound of mismatched buildings on Pacific Highway provides shelter, job training, counseling, food and clothing.

"It was pure luck really I heard about this place," the former Marine said.

Andre Simpson runs the village and says this is the first wave of troubled Iraqi vets.

"The numbers are going to grow, unfortunately," he said.

What happens to a returning vet if there are not enough rooms and services?

"I don't even want to think about what would happen to a person who couldn't access care that they needed," Simpson said.

The unidentified Iraqi veteran knows what would happen to him.

"I would probably still be on the streets," he said.

He has a message for his comrades.

"For all the combat veterans out there that are struggling, you know I would hope they give something like this a shot," he said. "A lot of them have really severe problems because of this war.

"I have some hope. I didn't have that six months ago."