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Coming Home

24 images Created 25 Aug 2012

"Coming Home", the story of American soldiers that have physical and psychological injuries sustained during their service in the US military and their individual paths to recovery. While many of the wounds may be "invisible", the pain and suffering these men deal with needs to be recognized and treated.
The government has a history of neglect when it comes to soldiers that have served in wars. The cost to our society to leave hundreds of thousands veterans injured physically and psychologically without proper treatment cannot be overstated. It will surely affect future generations if the men and women that have voluntarily served our country do not get the help they need. It is my intent to tell the stories of these individuals and their paths to recovery.

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  • Michael Carrasquillo was shot five times while serving in the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Afghanistan. Trained as a Combat Life Saver (an interim medic), he was attempting to rescue an injured fellow unit member when he was shot. His life threatening injuries required 44 surgeries and he still suffers from nerve damage and lack of functionality in both arms and hands.
    Michael Carrasquillo
  • Michael Carrasquillo was shot five times while serving in the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Afghanistan. Trained as a Combat Life Saver (an interim medic), he was attempting to rescue an injured fellow unit member when he was shot. His life threatening injuries required 44 surgeries and he still suffers from nerve damage and lack of functionality in both arms and hands.
    Scars and Tattoo
  • This prosthetic finger was created for Michael Carrasquillo. He sustained major injuries and lost his finger when he was shot while on a search mission in Afghanistan. The bullet that destroyed his finger hit his chest. If he hadn't been wearing the newly issued Interceptor body armor, he would not have survived the assault.
    Prosthetic Finger
  • Michael Carrasquillo holds the farewell plaque he received from his unit after being shot in Afghanistan in 2005. Trained as a Combat Life Saver (CLS), he was attempting to aid an injured member of his unit when he was shot five times, leaving him with extensive damage to both arms and hands. <br />
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He was in the process of reenlisting when he was injured, but now is medically retired from the Army and is a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal.
    Farewell Plaque
  • Captain Luis Carlos Montalvàn served 17 years in the US Army and retired on September 11th, 2007. He and other wounded soldiers struggle to get the care they need for their physical injuries, acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) among other wounds sustained while serving in Iraq. Many of these problems, including TBI are "invisible" and therefore less likely to get the attention and care necessary. An alarmingly high rate of suicide among the returning veterans is downplayed and not being properly addressed.
    Luis Carlos MontalvĂ n
  • East Coast Assistance Dogs (ECAD), Inc. provides dogs trained by professionals and troubled youth to people that have a variety of limitations. Tuesday knows more than 80 commands and can help with many daily tasks as well as providing companionship. <br />
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Luis spent two weeks training at ECAD before he could bring Tuesday home. The increase in the quality of life that Tuesday provides to Luis everyday is immeasurable.
    Luis and Tuesday
  • Luis Carlos Montalván displays the medals that he earned while serving 17 years in the US Army. He earned the purple heart after a brutal attack and assassination attempt in 2003.
    Luis's Purple Heart
  • Luis Carlos Montalvàn and his service dog, Tuesday, spend literally every moment of the day together. Tuesday's companionship relieves some of the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder that Luis suffers from, including insomnia, flashbacks and agoraphobia. Tuesday plays a key role in Luis' physical and psychological recovery from the wounds of war.
    Luis and Tuesday
  • Luis Carlos Montalvàn and his service dog, Tuesday, spend literally every moment of the day together. Tuesday's companionship relieves some of the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder that Luis suffers from, including insomnia, flashbacks and agoraphobia. Tuesday plays a key role in Luis' physical and psychological recovery from the wounds of war.
    Luis's Service Dog
  • Luis takes a combination of psychotropic and painkilling medications to relieve the pain of injuries sustained during 17 years of service in the Army. Injuries are commonly misdiagnosed and seeking treatment can be a long and arduous process. Many service members diagnosed with PTSD have even served more than one combat tour due to both personnel shortages and a beleaguered military that has been fighting since 9-11.
    Cocktail Hour
  • A kitchen cabinet contains the many medications necessary to help Luis Carlos Montalván get through each day. Since his first tour in Iraq from 2003-2004, he suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome in addition to the other physical and psychological trauma he sustained during 17 years of military service.
    Medicine Cabinet
  • Luis and Tuesday ride the NYC subway system.
    Luis and Tuesday on the Subway
  • Luis is a retired Army Captain dealing with physical and psychological wounds from combat. Among the wounds, he copes with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the stigma attached to them. <br />
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Up to 400,000 veterans are currently struggling with PTSD and other psychological and physical issues relating to their service during the conflicts in Iraq. It is not uncommon for veterans suffering with PTSD and TBI to feel like outcasts.
    Tuesday at the Strand
  • Luis Montalvan and Tuesday
    Luis and Tuesday at Sunset Park
  • After serving 18 years in the army, Jim Mylott was crushed in his vehicle in Iraq in 2004. He suffered acute traumatic brain injury and is 70% disabled. The VA uses a percentage rating system to determine the benefits each soldier is entitled to. The "Rating Board" consists of a single claims adjudicator with no medical training. Appeals can be lengthy and leave the injured without care and for some, homeless.
    Jim Mylott
  • Three year old Megan plays a key role in her father's recuperation, keeping him in remission and away from the darkness that haunts him after suffering severe traumatic brain injury in Iraq. Jim Mylott says that his daughter is his reward for enduring Hell and reminds him that every day is worth living. Jim says that "living with Traumatic Brain Injury and acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is like having cancer of the soul".
    Jim and Megan
  • "She truly is my angel", Jim Mylott says of daughter Megan. Jim spent 18 months recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury and other wounds sustained in Iraq at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and a medical hold unit at Fort Dix- where he feels the recovering soldiers are sent and forgotten- just like "the land of misfit toys".<br />
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TBI is known as the "signature injury" of the Iraq war with as many as 320,000 soldiers suffering from head injuries. Many of those caused by roadside bombs.
    Floorplay
  • Army Jacket
  • Lee Entwisle and his cat in Brooklyn, NY. He has two cats that provide companionship. Lee, who has had both legs amputated due to exposure to Agent Orange while serving in the Navy in Vietnam, is virtually housebound.
    Lee and Lana
  • Lee Entwisle had both legs amputated due to complications of diabetes. High exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Navy has been a major factor in the decline in his health. Virtually all of his organs have been affected. <br />
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Originally the government denied that Agent Orange caused any physical effects to humans, but it was proven that it causes many debilitating problems to those that were exposed.
    Lee's Legs
  • During the time Sal Grasso was held captive by the Germans in World War II, his family was informed that he was killed in action. He was scheduled to have both feet amputated due to frost bite. <br />
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Fortunately the Stalag 2D was liberated on May 12th, 1945 and he did not have the amputation. He spent one month in a hospital in Paris recovering before returning to the US.
    Ex-POW Sal
  • Kimberly Specht is an Air Force Veteran having served 6 years as a Nondestructive Testing Specialist.  Having spent time in a war zone proved challenging upon return.  Kimberly has since been paired with her Service Dog, Toby, a beautiful Golden Retriever.  Toby was sponsored through ECAD's Project HEAL program for Wounded Veterans of War to help gain independence and cope with the scars of war.  The extreme bond Kimberly and Toby have together has provided Kimberly with the trust, unconditional love, companionship and aid only Toby could provide.  They navigate their new lives one day at time, together.
    Hugs from Toby
  • Kimberly Specht suffers from PTSD and with the help of her Service Dog, Toby, has begun to heal from the trauma that she suffered while serving in the Air Force.
    Kim and Toby in the Grass
  • Kimberly Specht suffers from PTSD and with the help of her Service Dog, Toby, has begun to heal from the trauma that she suffered while serving in the Air Force.
    Playing with Toby
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Leslie Granda-Hill Photography

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