I am very happy to be here today to talk with you about a very serious subject I
with you about a very serious subject I
with you about a very serious subject I invite you to go on a journey with me
invite you to go on a journey with me
invite you to go on a journey with me we’ll be going to Vietnam we’ll be going
we’ll be going to Vietnam we’ll be going
we’ll be going to Vietnam we’ll be going to some places deep in the heart some
to some places deep in the heart some
to some places deep in the heart some dark places some academic places some
dark places some academic places some
dark places some academic places some intriguing places and then to
intriguing places and then to
intriguing places and then to possibility and hope so
possibility and hope so
possibility and hope so come along last December I was in
come along last December I was in
come along last December I was in Vietnam with a group of fellow veterans
Vietnam with a group of fellow veterans
Vietnam with a group of fellow veterans on a journey of healing and
on a journey of healing and
on a journey of healing and reconciliation there I learned about a
reconciliation there I learned about a
reconciliation there I learned about a very important concept moral injury I
very important concept moral injury I
very important concept moral injury I learned about one pathway to healing
learned about one pathway to healing
learned about one pathway to healing this injury and I discovered that I had
this injury and I discovered that I had
this injury and I discovered that I had incurred a moral injury during my
incurred a moral injury during my
incurred a moral injury during my service in the Vietnam War I’m sharing
service in the Vietnam War I’m sharing
service in the Vietnam War I’m sharing this with you today for two reasons to
this with you today for two reasons to
this with you today for two reasons to help expand our understanding of the
help expand our understanding of the
help expand our understanding of the challenges that many veterans experience
challenges that many veterans experience
challenges that many veterans experience as they return home from war and to help
as they return home from war and to help
as they return home from war and to help fellow veterans who may be experiencing
fellow veterans who may be experiencing
fellow veterans who may be experiencing moral injury to see it to understand it
moral injury to see it to understand it
moral injury to see it to understand it and to find some of the peace and the
and to find some of the peace and the
and to find some of the peace and the healing that I’m finding as I tend this
healing that I’m finding as I tend this
healing that I’m finding as I tend this wound
when I was with my fellow veterans in
when I was with my fellow veterans in Vietnam we were walking in the district
Vietnam we were walking in the district
Vietnam we were walking in the district of coochie when we encountered madam kee
she was sweeping her courtyard she
she was sweeping her courtyard she welcomed us into her home we sat at her
welcomed us into her home we sat at her
welcomed us into her home we sat at her dining room table and in front of her
dining room table and in front of her
dining room table and in front of her family altar and she shared some of her
family altar and she shared some of her
family altar and she shared some of her story with us her brother had been
story with us her brother had been
story with us her brother had been killed in a napalm attack during the war
killed in a napalm attack during the war
killed in a napalm attack during the war I said I feel bad about what we did in
I said I feel bad about what we did in
I said I feel bad about what we did in your country no madam kee said don’t
your country no madam kee said don’t
your country no madam kee said don’t feel that way you were just doing what
feel that way you were just doing what
feel that way you were just doing what you were told to do I had a surprisingly
you were told to do I had a surprisingly
you were told to do I had a surprisingly intense emotional response to Madame
intense emotional response to Madame
intense emotional response to Madame Kees forgiveness
Kees forgiveness
Kees forgiveness tears of joy and grief and relief welled
tears of joy and grief and relief welled
tears of joy and grief and relief welled up frequently during the rest of the
up frequently during the rest of the
up frequently during the rest of the journey and at times I tears still well
journey and at times I tears still well
journey and at times I tears still well up when when I speak of Madame Kees
up when when I speak of Madame Kees
up when when I speak of Madame Kees forgiveness those tears were my clue
forgiveness those tears were my clue
forgiveness those tears were my clue that I had incurred a moral injury but I
that I had incurred a moral injury but I
that I had incurred a moral injury but I didn’t realize that at that time and my
didn’t realize that at that time and my
didn’t realize that at that time and my emotions didn’t make sense to me let me
emotions didn’t make sense to me let me
emotions didn’t make sense to me let me tell you why I was in Social Work school
tell you why I was in Social Work school
tell you why I was in Social Work school in 1969 when I received my draft notice
in 1969 when I received my draft notice
in 1969 when I received my draft notice I believed that the war was morally
I believed that the war was morally
I believed that the war was morally wrong and I applied for conscientious
wrong and I applied for conscientious
wrong and I applied for conscientious objector status because I did not want
objector status because I did not want
objector status because I did not want blood on my hands for killing in a war
blood on my hands for killing in a war
blood on my hands for killing in a war that I felt was morally wrong I served
that I felt was morally wrong I served
that I felt was morally wrong I served as a combat medic with a hundred and
as a combat medic with a hundred and
as a combat medic with a hundred and first Airborne Division in the last
first Airborne Division in the last
first Airborne Division in the last major battle of the Vietnam War after I
major battle of the Vietnam War after I
major battle of the Vietnam War after I left a combat role I provided medical
left a combat role I provided medical
left a combat role I provided medical care in the local villages so here’s
care in the local villages so here’s
care in the local villages so here’s what puzzled me
what puzzled me
what puzzled me I carried no weapon I killed no one I
I carried no weapon I killed no one I
I carried no weapon I killed no one I helped my fellow soldiers and I helped
helped my fellow soldiers and I helped
helped my fellow soldiers and I helped the local villages so what was the
the local villages so what was the
the local villages so what was the source of my moral injury and guilt as I
source of my moral injury and guilt as I
source of my moral injury and guilt as I have discovered I was morally injured
have discovered I was morally injured
have discovered I was morally injured when I was compelled to witness and to
when I was compelled to witness and to
when I was compelled to witness and to support killing in a war that I felt was
support killing in a war that I felt was
support killing in a war that I felt was morally wrong and what was the source of
morally wrong and what was the source of
morally wrong and what was the source of my intense emotional response to Madame
my intense emotional response to Madame
my intense emotional response to Madame Kees forgiveness when madam key said
Kees forgiveness when madam key said
Kees forgiveness when madam key said don’t feel that way you were just doing
don’t feel that way you were just doing
don’t feel that way you were just doing what you were told to do she was
what you were told to do she was
what you were told to do she was directly acknowledging my moral injury
directly acknowledging my moral injury
directly acknowledging my moral injury and guilt and she was doing so with care
and guilt and she was doing so with care
and guilt and she was doing so with care and kindness Madame key was
and kindness Madame key was
and kindness Madame key was demonstrating the Vietnamese community
demonstrating the Vietnamese community
demonstrating the Vietnamese community approach to addressing veteran trauma
Bret lits is a psychologist with the
Bret lits is a psychologist with the United States Department of Veterans
United States Department of Veterans
United States Department of Veterans Affairs the VA brett describes the
Affairs the VA brett describes the
Affairs the VA brett describes the causes of moral injury this way it’s
causes of moral injury this way it’s
causes of moral injury this way it’s perpetrating failing to prevent bearing
perpetrating failing to prevent bearing
perpetrating failing to prevent bearing witness to or learning about acts that
witness to or learning about acts that
witness to or learning about acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and
transgress deeply held moral beliefs and
transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations dr. Jonathan Shea also
expectations dr. Jonathan Shea also
expectations dr. Jonathan Shea also indicates that moral injury can result
indicates that moral injury can result
indicates that moral injury can result from betrayal of what’s right by someone
from betrayal of what’s right by someone
from betrayal of what’s right by someone who holds legitimate authority in a
who holds legitimate authority in a
who holds legitimate authority in a high-stakes situation but one soldier
high-stakes situation but one soldier
high-stakes situation but one soldier described the source of his moral injury
described the source of his moral injury
described the source of his moral injury very simply it’s when the head says to
very simply it’s when the head says to
very simply it’s when the head says to do what the heart says is wrong David
do what the heart says is wrong David
do what the heart says is wrong David Wood is author of what we have done the
Wood is author of what we have done the
Wood is author of what we have done the moral injury of our longest Wars David
moral injury of our longest Wars David
moral injury of our longest Wars David describes a story of moral injury in
describes a story of moral injury in
describes a story of moral injury in Afghanistan a young marine was in a
Afghanistan a young marine was in a
Afghanistan a young marine was in a bad firefight there were casualties on
bad firefight there were casualties on
bad firefight there were casualties on both sides Marines and Taliban out of
both sides Marines and Taliban out of
both sides Marines and Taliban out of the corner of his eye he saw a figure
the corner of his eye he saw a figure
the corner of his eye he saw a figure spraying bullets from an assault rifle
spraying bullets from an assault rifle
spraying bullets from an assault rifle when he got the figure in his sights he
when he got the figure in his sights he
when he got the figure in his sights he saw that it was a boy 12 or 13 he took
saw that it was a boy 12 or 13 he took
saw that it was a boy 12 or 13 he took aim and fired according to military
aim and fired according to military
aim and fired according to military rules of engagement it was a justifiable
rules of engagement it was a justifiable
rules of engagement it was a justifiable kill he was accomplishing his mission he
kill he was accomplishing his mission he
kill he was accomplishing his mission he was protecting his fellow Marines and he
was protecting his fellow Marines and he
was protecting his fellow Marines and he was protecting himself but when the
was protecting himself but when the
was protecting himself but when the young marine returned home to civilian
young marine returned home to civilian
young marine returned home to civilian life he found that he had a bruise on
life he found that he had a bruise on
life he found that he had a bruise on his soul
his soul
his soul a painful violation of the civilian
a painful violation of the civilian
a painful violation of the civilian rules of right and wrong since 1980
rules of right and wrong since 1980
rules of right and wrong since 1980 post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD has
post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD has
post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD has been the major tool that we have used to
been the major tool that we have used to
been the major tool that we have used to understand the impact of battle trauma
understand the impact of battle trauma
understand the impact of battle trauma on veterans the specific term moral
on veterans the specific term moral
on veterans the specific term moral injury first appeared in a research
injury first appeared in a research
injury first appeared in a research article in 2009 and it appeared there
article in 2009 and it appeared there
article in 2009 and it appeared there because there are problems that PTSD
because there are problems that PTSD
because there are problems that PTSD cannot address it can’t explain these
cannot address it can’t explain these
cannot address it can’t explain these these problems doctor Jonathan Shay is a
these problems doctor Jonathan Shay is a
these problems doctor Jonathan Shay is a psychiatrist who devoted his career to
psychiatrist who devoted his career to
psychiatrist who devoted his career to serving veterans in the VA who were
serving veterans in the VA who were
serving veterans in the VA who were diagnosed with PTSD dr. Jonathan Shea
diagnosed with PTSD dr. Jonathan Shea
diagnosed with PTSD dr. Jonathan Shea describes powerfully and simply why it
describes powerfully and simply why it
describes powerfully and simply why it is so crucial for us to look at moral
is so crucial for us to look at moral
is so crucial for us to look at moral injury and I’ll get to that later but
injury and I’ll get to that later but
injury and I’ll get to that later but right now I’m going to talk to you about
right now I’m going to talk to you about
right now I’m going to talk to you about the experience of moral injury the VA
the experience of moral injury the VA
the experience of moral injury the VA describes the experience of moral injury
describes the experience of moral injury
describes the experience of moral injury this way
this way
this way highly aversive and haunting states of
highly aversive and haunting states of
highly aversive and haunting states of inner conflict and
inner conflict and
inner conflict and turmoil shame guilt anxiety anger
turmoil shame guilt anxiety anger
turmoil shame guilt anxiety anger alienation withdrawal and self
alienation withdrawal and self
alienation withdrawal and self condemnation alcohol or drug use
condemnation alcohol or drug use
condemnation alcohol or drug use emotional numbing underemployment or
emotional numbing underemployment or
emotional numbing underemployment or unemployment failed or harmed
unemployment failed or harmed
unemployment failed or harmed relationships and self harming including
relationships and self harming including
relationships and self harming including suicide research shows that there’s a
suicide research shows that there’s a
suicide research shows that there’s a direct link between moral injury and
direct link between moral injury and
direct link between moral injury and suicide because guilt is a major trigger
suicide because guilt is a major trigger
suicide because guilt is a major trigger for suicide so this is quite a list and
for suicide so this is quite a list and
for suicide so this is quite a list and I think you can see by looking at this
I think you can see by looking at this
I think you can see by looking at this list why it is so crucial for us to give
list why it is so crucial for us to give
list why it is so crucial for us to give moral injury close scrutiny so as I said
moral injury close scrutiny so as I said
moral injury close scrutiny so as I said in since 1980 PTSD has been the major
in since 1980 PTSD has been the major
in since 1980 PTSD has been the major tool that we’ve utilized and moral
tool that we’ve utilized and moral
tool that we’ve utilized and moral injury appeared in 2009 because it’s fit
injury appeared in 2009 because it’s fit
injury appeared in 2009 because it’s fit filled in the gaps where there were
filled in the gaps where there were
filled in the gaps where there were problems that PTSD cannot explain
problems that PTSD cannot explain
problems that PTSD cannot explain so dr. Jonathan Shea describes very
so dr. Jonathan Shea describes very
so dr. Jonathan Shea describes very simply why it’s so crucial for us to
simply why it’s so crucial for us to
simply why it’s so crucial for us to look at moral injury PTSD is rarely what
look at moral injury PTSD is rarely what
look at moral injury PTSD is rarely what wrecks veterans lives or crushes them to
wrecks veterans lives or crushes them to
wrecks veterans lives or crushes them to suicide moral injury does both
I discovered some intriguing information
I discovered some intriguing information while I was in Vietnam and I want to
while I was in Vietnam and I want to
while I was in Vietnam and I want to share this with you because I think it
share this with you because I think it
share this with you because I think it can help us as we seek to help our
can help us as we seek to help our
can help us as we seek to help our veterans with moral injury the
veterans with moral injury the
veterans with moral injury the vietnamese experienced staggering levels
vietnamese experienced staggering levels
vietnamese experienced staggering levels of death destruction and privation
of death destruction and privation
of death destruction and privation during what they call the american war
during what they call the american war
during what they call the american war for example three million Vietnamese
for example three million Vietnamese
for example three million Vietnamese died versus 58,000 Americans but despite
died versus 58,000 Americans but despite
died versus 58,000 Americans but despite this great disparity in levels of trauma
this great disparity in levels of trauma
this great disparity in levels of trauma dr. Levin how of the Institute of
dr. Levin how of the Institute of
dr. Levin how of the Institute of psychology in Hanoi states that the
psychology in Hanoi states that the
psychology in Hanoi states that the chronic and comprehensive breakdown
chronic and comprehensive breakdown
chronic and comprehensive breakdown often seen among American veterans is
often seen among American veterans is
often seen among American veterans is absent among Vietnamese veterans dr. Lee
absent among Vietnamese veterans dr. Lee
absent among Vietnamese veterans dr. Lee describes protective factors in Vietnam
describes protective factors in Vietnam
describes protective factors in Vietnam that affect the way the Vietnamese
that affect the way the Vietnamese
that affect the way the Vietnamese responded to the war let’s take a look
responded to the war let’s take a look
responded to the war let’s take a look at one of these protective factors
at one of these protective factors
at one of these protective factors Vietnamese communities have a different
Vietnamese communities have a different
Vietnamese communities have a different relationship with their veterans than we
relationship with their veterans than we
relationship with their veterans than we do here in the u.s. in the u.s. veterans
do here in the u.s. in the u.s. veterans
do here in the u.s. in the u.s. veterans often feel that they must bear the
often feel that they must bear the
often feel that they must bear the burden of their invisible wounds on
burden of their invisible wounds on
burden of their invisible wounds on their own and they feel reluctant to
their own and they feel reluctant to
their own and they feel reluctant to share their stories in a civilian
share their stories in a civilian
share their stories in a civilian community dr. edy tick is author of
community dr. edy tick is author of
community dr. edy tick is author of warriors warriors return restoring the
warriors warriors return restoring the
warriors warriors return restoring the soul after war dr. tick describes the
soul after war dr. tick describes the
soul after war dr. tick describes the relationship of Vietnamese communities
relationship of Vietnamese communities
relationship of Vietnamese communities to their veterans in Vietnam communities
to their veterans in Vietnam communities
to their veterans in Vietnam communities have been traditionally witnessing their
have been traditionally witnessing their
have been traditionally witnessing their warriors stories and they’ve been doing
warriors stories and they’ve been doing
warriors stories and they’ve been doing it in homes and pagodas and community
it in homes and pagodas and community
it in homes and pagodas and community centers they’ve been doing this on a
centers they’ve been doing this on a
centers they’ve been doing this on a spontaneous basis for hundreds of years
spontaneous basis for hundreds of years
spontaneous basis for hundreds of years Vietnamese communities feel that the
Vietnamese communities feel that the
Vietnamese communities feel that the stories soldiers the stories
stories soldiers the stories
stories soldiers the stories soldier’s stories feel that they feel
soldier’s stories feel that they feel
soldier’s stories feel that they feel that they
that they
that they are belong to the community as a whole
are belong to the community as a whole
are belong to the community as a whole and that they share they have the
and that they share they have the
and that they share they have the responsibility to carry these stories in
responsibility to carry these stories in
responsibility to carry these stories in their hearts Vietnamese communities feel
their hearts Vietnamese communities feel
their hearts Vietnamese communities feel a shared responsibility for the decision
a shared responsibility for the decision
a shared responsibility for the decision to go to war so how can we apply this in
to go to war so how can we apply this in
to go to war so how can we apply this in the u.s. first morale injuries not a
the u.s. first morale injuries not a
the u.s. first morale injuries not a medical diagnosis this is a wound that’s
medical diagnosis this is a wound that’s
medical diagnosis this is a wound that’s in the moral spiritual and social arenas
in the moral spiritual and social arenas
in the moral spiritual and social arenas therefore Medical Care might be helpful
therefore Medical Care might be helpful
therefore Medical Care might be helpful at times but in order to truly address
at times but in order to truly address
at times but in order to truly address this wound holistic care is required
this wound holistic care is required
this wound holistic care is required doctor EdTech describes the components
doctor EdTech describes the components
doctor EdTech describes the components of holistic care
of holistic care
of holistic care it addresses mind body heart and spirit
it addresses mind body heart and spirit
it addresses mind body heart and spirit in community guided with transcendent
in community guided with transcendent
in community guided with transcendent meaning there are places in the VA where
meaning there are places in the VA where
meaning there are places in the VA where such holistic care is being provided in
such holistic care is being provided in
such holistic care is being provided in addition to the work of these skilled
addition to the work of these skilled
addition to the work of these skilled professionals the involvement of the
professionals the involvement of the
professionals the involvement of the community is required in order to
community is required in order to
community is required in order to complete holistic care let me let me
complete holistic care let me let me
complete holistic care let me let me describe one approach to involving our
describe one approach to involving our
describe one approach to involving our communities with our veterans there are
communities with our veterans there are
communities with our veterans there are community listening circles where
community listening circles where
community listening circles where veterans and civilians can gather in a
veterans and civilians can gather in a
veterans and civilians can gather in a small group where veterans can share
small group where veterans can share
small group where veterans can share their stories as a part of their healing
their stories as a part of their healing
their stories as a part of their healing there’s several requirements for such a
there’s several requirements for such a
there’s several requirements for such a circle first a group of veterans who are
circle first a group of veterans who are
circle first a group of veterans who are willing to share their stories in a
willing to share their stories in a
willing to share their stories in a civilian circle and a group of civilians
civilian circle and a group of civilians
civilian circle and a group of civilians who are trained and committed to this
who are trained and committed to this
who are trained and committed to this work who are willing to listen to
work who are willing to listen to
work who are willing to listen to difficult stories with open
difficult stories with open
difficult stories with open compassionate and with strong hearts
compassionate and with strong hearts
compassionate and with strong hearts they need to be willing to own their
they need to be willing to own their
they need to be willing to own their part of the responsibility for sending
part of the responsibility for sending
part of the responsibility for sending the soldiers to war and in order to true
the soldiers to war and in order to true
the soldiers to war and in order to true we honor these life and death stories a
we honor these life and death stories a
we honor these life and death stories a sacred space is required it’s a sacred
sacred space is required it’s a sacred
sacred space is required it’s a sacred space not a religious space so what are
space not a religious space so what are
space not a religious space so what are the consequences if we do not take
the consequences if we do not take
the consequences if we do not take action to expand our understanding of
action to expand our understanding of
action to expand our understanding of moral injury and how to attend this
moral injury and how to attend this
moral injury and how to attend this wound recent research shows that 25% of
wound recent research shows that 25% of
wound recent research shows that 25% of veterans who are at risk for moral
veterans who are at risk for moral
veterans who are at risk for moral injury upon returning home from war so
injury upon returning home from war so
injury upon returning home from war so if we take that 25% and we look at
if we take that 25% and we look at
if we take that 25% and we look at veterans who served in Vietnam Iraq
veterans who served in Vietnam Iraq
veterans who served in Vietnam Iraq Afghanistan I calculate that at least
Afghanistan I calculate that at least
Afghanistan I calculate that at least 1.2 million veterans are at risk for
1.2 million veterans are at risk for
1.2 million veterans are at risk for moral injury if we do not take action to
moral injury if we do not take action to
moral injury if we do not take action to expand our understanding of the injury
expand our understanding of the injury
expand our understanding of the injury and and how to address it 1.2 million
and and how to address it 1.2 million
and and how to address it 1.2 million veterans may not receive the help that
veterans may not receive the help that
veterans may not receive the help that they need to deal with this crushing and
they need to deal with this crushing and
they need to deal with this crushing and life-threatening wound so how can we as
life-threatening wound so how can we as
life-threatening wound so how can we as a community gather together to address
a community gather together to address
a community gather together to address this problem I have some recommendations
this problem I have some recommendations
this problem I have some recommendations we can support public dialogue like
we can support public dialogue like
we can support public dialogue like we’re doing today to heighten awareness
we’re doing today to heighten awareness
we’re doing today to heighten awareness of moral injury support research to
of moral injury support research to
of moral injury support research to increase our understanding of this
increase our understanding of this
increase our understanding of this injury and support community-based and
injury and support community-based and
injury and support community-based and holistic programs for our veterans more
holistic programs for our veterans more
holistic programs for our veterans more specifically you can find one of these
specifically you can find one of these
specifically you can find one of these community listening circles and
community listening circles and
community listening circles and participate if there’s not one in your
participate if there’s not one in your
participate if there’s not one in your area I suggest that you seek out
area I suggest that you seek out
area I suggest that you seek out guidance and support if you’re
guidance and support if you’re
guidance and support if you’re interested in creating such a circle I
interested in creating such a circle I
interested in creating such a circle I invite our communities to follow the
invite our communities to follow the
invite our communities to follow the example of madam key to acknowledge
example of madam key to acknowledge
example of madam key to acknowledge moral injury in community and to do so
moral injury in community and to do so
moral injury in community and to do so with care
with care
with care and with kindness and finally have you
and with kindness and finally have you
and with kindness and finally have you ever felt awkward or uncomfortable in
ever felt awkward or uncomfortable in
ever felt awkward or uncomfortable in the presence of a veteran I have some of
the presence of a veteran I have some of
the presence of a veteran I have some of us veterans can have a pretty rough
us veterans can have a pretty rough
us veterans can have a pretty rough exterior if you find yourself feeling
exterior if you find yourself feeling
exterior if you find yourself feeling awkward or uncomfortable in the presence
awkward or uncomfortable in the presence
awkward or uncomfortable in the presence of a veteran consider this the person in
of a veteran consider this the person in
of a veteran consider this the person in front of you may be experiencing moral
front of you may be experiencing moral
front of you may be experiencing moral injury and that fact guarantees that
injury and that fact guarantees that
injury and that fact guarantees that you’re standing in the presence of a
you’re standing in the presence of a
you’re standing in the presence of a kind compassionate heart thank you
kind compassionate heart thank you
kind compassionate heart thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment