War doesn’t end when the guns go silent.
For over two centuries, American service members have stood on the front lines—from the trenches of Europe and the jungles of Vietnam, to the deserts of the Middle East and mountains of Afghanistan. They’ve fought with honor, followed orders, and sacrificed their youth, limbs, minds, and in many cases, their lives.
But for millions, the deepest wounds were carried home—unseen, unspoken, and untreated.
At the Battle Buddy Response Team®, we know this reality all too well. We’ve built our mission around one core truth: most of the suffering veterans endure doesn’t come from war—it comes from what happens after.
A Legacy of Silence
From the Civil War to Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. military history is filled with tales of heroism. But there’s a parallel story—one of betrayal, neglect, and silence.
• After World War I, soldiers returned with “shell shock,” misunderstood and often labeled weak.
• In Vietnam, combat veterans came home to protests and stigma instead of parades and healing.
• Post-9/11 veterans, despite modern medicine and mental health awareness, still fall through the cracks—many dealing with PTSD, TBI, depression, and survivor’s guilt in silence.
The VA’s 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report found that 6,392 veterans died by suicide in 2021 alone—an average of 17 per day. Many were not in combat roles. Many had no diagnosis. But they carried the weight of war all the same.
Source: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/data.asp
War Doesn’t Care About Your MOS
One of the biggest misconceptions is that only combat veterans experience trauma. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Mechanics. Medics. Truck drivers. Communications. Admin. Countless veterans in non-combat roles were mortared, ambushed, or thrust into chaotic situations with no preparation—and no recognition afterward.
Their trauma was dismissed because it didn’t fit neatly into a definition. Their injuries weren’t visible. Their battles weren’t documented.
We’ve heard it again and again:
“I wasn’t in combat, so I didn’t think I deserved help.”
“I was in a convoy, we got hit, and no report was ever filed.”
“They said it didn’t qualify for a Purple Heart.”
But war doesn’t care about job titles. Trauma is trauma. Pain is pain. And it’s time we stop pretending otherwise.
Failed by the System
Veterans across generations report a system that fails to recognize their sacrifice:
• World War II and Korea veterans often internalized their trauma for decades, fearing shame or dishonor.
• Vietnam veterans were denied benefits or labeled malingerers, especially when PTSD was still being debated.
• Iraq and Afghanistan veterans faced red tape, long VA waitlists, and an overwhelming sense that nobody was listening.
In some cases, soldiers declined the Purple Heart, saying they didn’t deserve it because they could walk, while their brothers couldn’t. Others never got the chance—their TBIs, psychological trauma, or moral injuries weren’t considered “worthy” enough.
When the Truth Gets Buried
There are stories the military and government don’t want to talk about. Like the Nisour Square massacre.
Or the under-armored Humvees sent into IED zones.
Or the whistleblowers, like Scott Thomas Beauchamp, who tried to tell the truth and were shut down.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Thomas_Beauchamp_controversy
Even now, countless veterans suffer in silence, wondering if anyone will believe them, or if their story is worth telling.
We’re here to say: It is. And we’re listening.
This Is Why We Exist
At Battle Buddy Response Team®, we aren’t here to blame—we’re here to break the silence.
We step in when others back away.
We listen when no one else will.
And we respond when the system doesn’t.
We serve veterans from all eras and all MOS backgrounds because the battlefield doesn’t end at the border. The trauma often begins once the uniform comes off.
If you’re a veteran with a story that was never told, or pain that was never validated—you’re not alone.
We see you. We believe you. And we’re here to fight beside you.
Verified Resources for Support & Information
• VA Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Data
https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/data.asp
• Wounded Warrior Project
https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
• VA Iraq & Afghanistan Veteran Research
https://www.research.va.gov/topics/oef-oif.cfm
• PTSD in Non-Combat Veterans – Reddit
• Collateral Murder – Iraq War Footage
https://collateralmurder.wikileaks.org
• Nisour Square Massacre – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisour_Square_massacre
• Scott Thomas Beauchamp Story
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Thomas_Beauchamp_controversy
• Under-Armored Vehicle Reports – NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/world/middleeast/29armor.html
• Journal of Psychiatric Research – PTSD Study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4168809
• VA Combat Veteran Eligibility
https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/veterans.asp
• ProPublica – Purple Heart Denials
https://www.propublica.org/article/soldiers-with-brain-trauma-denied-purple-hearts-adding-insult-to-injury
• Retroactive Purple Heart – Reddit Thread
Applying for Retroactive Purple Heart
byu/TheRabbitReddit inVeterans
We’re not just another veteran nonprofit—we’re a family of warriors, standing shoulder to shoulder in the fight to heal what war broke.
If you need help, want to share your story, or just want to be heard—reach out. We’re here.
Contact Us:
https://battlebuddyresponseteam.org
info@battlebuddyresponseteam.org
(855) 777-BBRT
#battlebuddyresponseteam
#truthinservice
#veteransmatter
#traumaistrauma
#invisiblewounds
#supportallveterans
