Former NCO fights through PTSD

27 Sep 2010 | Airman 1st Class Melanie Holochwost

Before a nine-month deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq, an active-duty security forces member stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., was on the fast track.

He was promoted below-the-zone to senior airman and selected for staff sergeant on first attempt. Before he was medically retired due to post-traumatic stress disorder, he was being considered for a step-promotion to technical sergeant.

"While I was in Iraq, everything was fine," said Gary Morgan, a 56th Security Forces Squadron unit reserve coordinator. "I was able to focus and do my job. But, everything changed when I came home."

When Mr. Morgan came home, it wasn't long before his marriage and military career both ended.

"My wife told me I was different, but I didn't want to believe it," he said. "Just like alcoholics (who) don't think they are alcoholics, people who suffer from PTSD don't think anything is wrong with them. I was absent without leave for a week, because I didn't want to go to work anymore. Although I love my four girls, I had no desire to be around them. My whole life fell apart."

Mr. Morgan said it is important to listen to family members and friends, because they know you the best.

"Don't wait for help," he said. "If people are telling you that you need help, you need to listen. If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't be here right now."

After being diagnosed with PTSD, Mr. Morgan was medically retired from the Air Force. Then, his life became even more difficult.

"I was unemployed for a year-and-a-half," he said. "I sent out more than 70 resumes and didn't receive any call backs. I didn't have any income for about five or six months, because that's how long it took for unemployment, GI Bill and (Veterans Affairs) paperwork to go through."

Mr. Morgan said everything started to get better when Patty Thurgood, from the Airman and Family Readiness Center, helped him get a job here through the Wounded Warrior Program.

"I started working here at the end of May, and I'm extremely happy with my job," he said. "Security forces members at Luke (AFB) are very supportive of one another, and unit morale is always high."

Mr. Morgan is a tremendous asset to the unit, said Senior Master Sgt. Killjan Anderson, the 56th SFS superintendent.

"When the commander and I learned from the Airman and Family Readiness Center that we had the opportunity to target a wounded warrior for employment, it was a no brainer," he said. "Of course we were pleased to add more manpower, but more importantly, it was an opportunity to pull one of our members back into the cop family.

"Gary brings an invaluable perspective to a unit grappling with many issues stemming from combat deployments," he added. "Just as much as he needs us, we need him."