Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Multiple people in my family clean my father, are veterans.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Troops that have been to war and now they're back.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
And think and be grateful for their service.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Sacrifice, love for their country, just unselfishness, all.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
That they do for us.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
There are some people in this country who take extraordinary
steps to provide for the freedom and security.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
We forget that those people exist.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
We know them as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines,
and Coast Guard. They call themselves soldiers, seals, rangers, airmen, sailors, devil.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Dogs, and so much more.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
We call them fathers, brothers, sons and husbands, mothers, daughters,
sisters and wives. We call them friend and neighbor. These
veterans answered the call, now we answer theirs. They are
the best our country has to offer.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
And we love them.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Today, we honor them and we serve them. David Malsby
is your host, and he welcomes you to this community
of veterans. As together we are building the road to hope.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
And indeed we are glad to have you along. On
a Sunday afternoon, those of you listening through Radio KPRC
the nine to five oh on the AMD, I'll thank
you for joining us as you drive endlessly around the loop.
Those of you listen through podcast thank you so very
much for doing so. Truly appreciate it. When you look
up Road to Hope Radio, wherever you listen to podcasts,
(01:45):
find Road to Hope Radio, hit that subscribe button. It'll
automatically download each and every week when the new show drops.
So appreciate you doing that, and truly heroic awards to
those who who share the stories, share the episodes because
you never know whose life might be impacted. We have
(02:07):
a lot of stories, a lot of veterans sharing what
their reintegration issues were, what happened while they were in combat,
other things in life, through the traumas in life, and
how they're coping, how they're learning, how they're progressing and
moving forward. So one guy's story may hit someone a
little different than any other. So every show, every opportunity,
(02:29):
is a great opportunity to share with someone who might
be in need of what we do with the PTSD
Foundation of America and Camp Hope. So thank you for
hitting that subscribe but big thank you to our show
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couple of combat vetsm in here with us, Today, tyrone
glad to see you. Back we got to work on
your cap game.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
THOUGH i kind of like, it even though It's.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Atlanta, yeah it's a story behind These i'm gonna tell
you one.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Day oh, okay but they always end up In. Texas so, yeah,
yeah why because it's. BETTER i want to reintroduce yourself
to the, World. Tyrone, Yes I'm Tyrone.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
BROWN i am a combat veteran who came through the
program Of Camp hope in twenty two and NOW i
went out on my own and, worked got a certification
in mental, health AND i really understood a, lot learned
a lot about, myself AND i wanted to take those
things THAT i learned back To Camp, hope WHERE i
(04:57):
got my start, at and help some other.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Veterans, awesome glad to have you, Back. Jonathan want to
introduce yourself to the.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
World, yeah my name Is Jonathan. Abraham i'm also a combat.
Vet two, tours one, direct one To. Afghanistan i'm currently
In campope right, now been there three months, ACTUALLY i
think ninety days. Today it has definitely changed my, life
saved my. Life And i'm just grateful to be.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Here very. Cool glad you're. Here Jonathan. Abraham that's about.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
As that's powerful biblical names as you can possibly.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Get thank.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
You, yeah that's definitely my. Mother DEFINITELY i got.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
You.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Yeah where are you? From Originally?
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Dallas, yeah born and Raised, dallas born In Baylor. Hospital you,
know so Big cowboys. Fana so Sorry i'm In, houston
but you, KNOW i Guess i'm the Only cowboy fan.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Around, well you're still in the. Program that's a traumatic,
life right, there being A cowboys. Fan there's some unnecessary
trauma going on in your life right.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Now, yeah when you start seeing him At smith doing
die for, commercials you, know it's been a long time
since you got A Super bowl, Er, yate even a.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Playoffs, yeah it has been a. Minute it has definitely
been a. Minute we'll get into a little bit of
your story as we go along in the. Show PTSD
usa dot org is the website for the organization PTSD
usa dot. Org you can follow us as an organization
on social. Media ptsd us a PTSD usa that's On,
(06:28):
facebook the formerly loan As, twitter the X, machine and
also on. YouTube ptsd US a really do appreciate it
when you follow us on each of those share, stories retweet.
Them whatever it is again getting the word out somebody
coming across the organization that's in need of what we.
(06:52):
Do it's it's always. Incredible spent a little time this
past week in a number of speaking games and one
happened to be up a New, caney which is kind
of northeast Of, houston just a little ways and The
chamber Of commerce is directly across the highway From, greenos
(07:15):
tex mex who's been tremendous supporters of ours for, many many.
Years and it gave me the opportunity to tell all
these small business owners with The chamber Of, commerce like
you can be a part of something really, spectacular Like
gringos has raised a lot of, money but they've also
helped save. Lives i've interviewing a guy where how'd you
(07:36):
hear About Camp Hope THAT i saw it on the.
Menu that's how it. BECAME i never knew it. Existed
so a lot of things businesses can do you can
be a part of. It we're going to take a quick.
Break we'll be back with more Of road To Hope
radio in just a moment and we welcome you back
(08:10):
road To Hope. Radio David. Maulsby, here we've Got tyrone
who is a graduate Of Camp hope staff member doing
great work helping our. Veterans. Uh we Have Jonathan Jonathan.
ABRAHAM i can say that name about ten, times the
very powerful like that's. WOW i loaded both barrels on that. One,
(08:32):
well it's.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Crazy Sometime i'll Get abrams and you know when The,
bible it was First abrams And. Abraham SO i have
to correct people sometimes it feels.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Good, yeah very. Nice all. Right so you're from The dallas, area, yes, sir,
Okay so prior to prior to joining the, military what
was what was life like for you?
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Prior? SO i graduated from A christian rock Called Christian
academy that's right Outside dallas AND o TWO.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
GRADUATE i went to college for a semester for, business
and my basics dropped out at that. Point you, KNOW
i WAS i was always working from the age of
fifteen and never really got into any. Trouble. Uh it
was a good.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Kid but what did you do in high? School play? Sports?
Speaker 3 (09:25):
YEAH i PLAYED i, Did ACTUALLY i did play baseball
and football my sophomore year baseball shortstop at second.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Base there you. Go did you hit a?
Speaker 3 (09:33):
CURVE i, could BUT i could never hit a home.
RUN i could run the bases, fast so ALL i
needed to do was put the pall in action AND
i get to that.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Base all.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Right, yeah but we. Did uh we did win state
my baseball my my sophomore.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
Year.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Uh and then we got to win uh state my
football and football my senior. Year so, uh it was pretty.
COOL i mean it was TWO, a but it was
still it was still, awesome still. Awesome LIKE i, SAID
i stayed. Busy h had, had you, know a lot to,
do SO i really didn't get into much. Trouble but
ONCE i did, GRADUATE i moved, out immediately got on my,
(10:08):
own you, know started started, drinking started just getting into
the wrong, crowds, wrong wrong wrong people, places. Things but my,
grandfather who was a Retired Air force he was like
my best. FRIEND i always could go to him on
(10:29):
IF i had any, problems any. Issues and at one
POINT i was getting a lot of tickets BECAUSE i
had a nice, cars SO i would never pay my,
tickets SO i would end up going to. Jail i've
probably been in jail like twenty six times over just tickets.
Alone ONCE i realized you could set out two grand
and one DAY i just stopped paying. Them SO i
was going to jail a. Lot SO i went to
(10:52):
talk to my grandfather and my uncle who actually lives
In shreport is also Retired Air. Force maybe over. There
they KNEW i was having have some troubles and they
were talking to me about. Joining SO i actually at
the time had a lot of warrants still for tickets and,
this that and the. OTHER i went and talk to the,
recruiter and the recruiter made a bunch of promises to
me that he could get me in and clear my,
(11:13):
record get all these things taken care. Of SO i
decided to. Join and that was two thousand and seven
WHEN i went to basic AND i was actually in basic.
TRAINING i was. In it was my. BIRTHDAY i turned
twenty two in basic. Training talk about the worst birthday
in the. World but you, know it was still a great.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Idea oh, goodness, yeah, yeah great. Planning sounds Like i'll
just go to.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Jail, WELL i think everybody thought it was going to
be another crazy, BIRTHDAY i, Guess so today's getting get
in BEFORE i, can you, know it's. Crazy my recruiter
pulled out my record from all my arrest and it
like hit the, floor rolled out and he, says you
have to call Me houdini IF i can still get
you in with, this and just. Laughed but, yeah if
we are able to do. It and one of the
(11:58):
greatest Decisions i've ever.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Made are you? Based uh?
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Liver SO i was basic training Obviously San Antonio lachlan,
Uh and THEN i went TO i was stationed in
a Little Rock Air Force, base home of The. Hirks
he won thirty squadron and, uh my mos uh was it's,
armed it's aviation resource management. SYSTEMS i know that's a,
lot but really what we were doing is just keeping
(12:22):
track of the the flight, crew the stuff that was in,
there their. Flights really just data. Entry that's WHAT i.
Did and it WAS i. Angleized it was very. Boring
so sound, boring, yes it. Was so when OPPORTUNITY i
didn't want to get carbon. Tunnel SO i decided to
(12:43):
volunteer because when they would come by and ask if
anybody when to volunteer to help security forces and go
overseas deploy and you, KNOW i couldn't wait to just
do something. ELSE i wanted to do, more you. Know
ever since nine to eleven that was like a big.
THING i JUST i wanted to be able to go
over there and do, something do something. More SO i
volunteered great thankfully The Air. Force we only deployed for six.
(13:06):
Months you, KNOW i felt. Bad everybody else deployed for
like thirteen to fourteen, months but we only had to
deploy for. Six but THEN i end up getting deployed To,
Ballot iraq and eight six months of security. Forces what
were you? Doing so at the, beginning we were just
guarding gates and escorting locals in and off the flight.
(13:28):
LINE i guess they were like. Trustees they would help
poor concrete on the flight, lines or they would be
doing other. Stuff so really it was just you, know
guarding entry. POINTS i never got to really like get
into any action like firefights the first, time because it
was just you, know it wasn't it wasn't as boring
(13:49):
because you knew you were getting mortar rounds coming. In
you were having to worry, about you, know checking everybody,
out making sure nobody was carrying any contraband or. Anything
and sometimes you had to get physical and and, uh you,
know detailing, people BUT i witnessed a lot of. THINGS
i witnessed a mortar attack that was right next to.
Me actually one, time the alarm started going off and
(14:11):
we were running AND i go to get in the
shelter and there's people that it's already full this, bunker
and it was full so THAT i couldn't go. IN
i had to run about fifty yards to another. One,
WELL i don't know what it, was but as soon
AS i got to the other, bunker the ONE i
had passed up got. Hit so we had to run
and you, know help get those people to, safety carry
offs people and nobody. Died a lot of, Injured but
(14:34):
that that deployment wasn't you, know too. Wild it was
the second DEPLOYMENT i went ON uh in two thousand
and nine THAT i had to witness BECAUSE i end
up volunteering for the same. Thing ONCE i got. BACK
i don't know what it. WAS i just wanted to
go back. Out ORIGINALLY i thought it was just BECAUSE
i had a lot of money from going overseas and
(14:55):
hazardous duty pay was good and you don't spend any
money while you're over. There you can put your bills on.
Hold so as soon AS i got, back there was
another opportunity to, go like four months, later SO i
ended up deploying. Immediately but this TIME i went To, Bargeram,
afghanistan and uh that that was really.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
BAD i.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
WITNESSED i witnessed a lot of firefights at the entry
points because like once again we're we're transporting locals in
and out the base and on a, bus and there
would be times where firefights would happen or as we're
pulling people in and and, uh thank god for The
marines At, army you, know they were they were the
(15:35):
ones that pretty much protected us coming in and. Out but,
uh you KNOW i got TO i got to see
some pretty bad. Things you. Know we were we were
at this Old russian base and it was like a.
Funnel we were surrounded by, mountains so we were getting
mortared multiple times a. Day and it's just just some
(15:58):
sad things that were going on over.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
There, yeah as a, reminder we understand as we go
through the course of a show like, this there can
be some things that might be triggering to some who
are listening to this. Show so won't you take this
number down eight seven seven seven one seven seventy eight seventy.
(16:19):
Three IT'S ptsd eight seven seven seven one seven seventy
eight seventy. THREE a combat veteran will answer the. Phone
it won't be someone who's just reading something off a
script on a computer. Screen this will be someone who's
been there and done, that come, home made the trend,
(16:42):
decision and is now much Like tyrone is sharing with
those who are in the, program those who are needing the,
program sharing that which was shared with. Him so that's
the beauty of the. Program again eight seven seven seven
ones seventy eight seventy, three a combat veteran will answer the.
(17:04):
Phone and if you will go to our website again
ptsdusa dot, org you will find all the information out
About Camp, hope which is our interim housing project and,
program but also information about our support groups which we
run for our first, responders law, enforcement combat. Veterans also
(17:24):
our support groups for family members friends help them understand
what happened to their loved, one WHAT ptsd was, doing
WHY i was doing it the way it, was and
how they could support and help their loved. Ones so
ptsdusa dot org here's the one thing that might help
you check it. Out everything we do at zero cost
(17:46):
to the veteran or their, family zero cost eight seven
seven seven one seven seventy eight seventy THREE PTSD usa dot.
Org we write back with more than just a, moment.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Food drums the crab in, place.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
And welcome.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Back all.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Right so you're talking a little bit about your time
both In, iracked your second deployment To, afghanistan and nine
when did you exit The Air?
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Force it was definitely immediately after that second, deployment you,
know just thinking about it now while we were on.
Break just it was a lot to take. In uh and,
UH i JUST i, ISOLATED i, isolated immediately started you,
(18:54):
know smoking, weed. Drinking within three four, MONTHS i get
popped for. Marijuana so it was literally twenty Ten march
WHEN i got Out general and honorable, discharge and that
(19:14):
was that was when the spiral starts spiraling. Down was
in a lot of pain just thinking about things THAT i,
witnessed THINGS i, saw and, uh you, KNOW i just
didn't know how to reintegrate it back into. Society AND
i know a lot of guys feel the same. Way
you come at your first year the hero and then
(19:36):
you come back and then it starts everybody starts feeling
sorry for, you and then they become scared of you
because you, know they you got triggers or you start having.
Episodes so, like LIKE i, SAID I i accidented In
march of twenty.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Ten did they do anything other than discharge. You did
they any kind of diagnosis?
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Anything, no, sir they it Was it wasn't even a
reintegration program or what you gonna call. It it was just,
bye give me A u, haul get my, stuff and
we'll follow you out to go back To. Dallas, yes, sir,
immediately four hour. Drive, really the last three, MONTHS i
was driving every weekend back To dallas four hours every,
weekend AND i would literally be partying and doing stuff
(20:20):
so crazy THAT i would literally wake up at three
Am monday morning drive straight into work From. Dallas.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Again more really good planning, There, yeah, no.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Definitely you would think an air force or an airman
would have better planning than, that but uh, no, NO i,
was uh, yeah all.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Right so even, THEN i, mean that's you're. Out. No nine,
Ten you're in pretty bad. Shape sounds like the, isolating
which is all the studies tell us that when someone
is doing the self medicating thing once they get to. Isolation,
uh it's. Critical you got to you got to be
(21:03):
very concerned about suicide at that. Point, yes, Sir so twenty,
ten you're in a dark, Spot you're you're struggling back In.
Dallas uh did you seek? Help did you talk to?
Speaker 3 (21:18):
ANYBODY i didn't end up going not at. All the
one good Thing i've always or the one Thing i've
always been good at is making. Money AND i say
by getting a, job you, know no. Matter even in twenty,
TEN i was immediately going to this old dealership ice
(21:39):
to sell cars for WHEN i was, young AND i
was selling cars in the summer and then and at
this Time i'm using And i'm using hard you, know
and LITERALLY.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
I was your drug.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Choice oh it was the at the, beginning it was
opiates of Hydro codon twenty, TEN i went from to
making one to ten to twenty a, day also doing
meth at the same, time kind of like a roller.
Coaster AND i was literally doing that at, work walking
out with a suit and tie and selling cars and
(22:16):
really good at, it so making a lot of. Money
and THEN i ended up going to my uncle at
the time was a, big big TIME ceo for a
body shop and he wanted me to come and work
for Their so that's What i've done for the last fourteen.
Years BUT i have self medicated since, then like every,
(22:38):
day all day, long fourteen. Years at first was hydro,
cotones then it went to, heroin then it went to,
fittanhl WHATEVER i could find that was stronger and, cheaper
AND i would literally be in the bathroom doing it
and coming out, working AND i figured IF i was
making money and paying, bills AND i was, okay still
isolating for about four to five, years THOUGH i would
(23:00):
SAY i had a girlfriend at the time from like
twenty eleven twenty. Fourteen she didn't know anything about. It
she was actually going to school to be a, psychiatrist,
so but you, KNOW i was working all the, time
and then WHEN i was, HOME i really still kind of,
isolated and she kind of, noticed and she thought she
(23:24):
didn't know what to think BECAUSE i was hiding it from.
Her well end up leaving her getting we've split, up
and THEN i met the mother of my children and
once again still. Using and at this Time i'm on
heroin and math just killing all the. Pain something bad
happens us memory pops up used flashback us definitely not
(23:50):
even thinking about THE, va still not thinking about THE,
va not thinking about, help thinking as long AS i
pay my, BILLS i can do this.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Myself for, you you mentioned some of the flashbacks and
memories and all the. Triggers how much of what you
were trying trying to deaden was pushed by that versus
whatever trouble you were having back at.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Home so you're telling me say it, Again you're asking
about the actual TRIGGERS i would.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Have.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
So, Yeah so when you were using to cover the
pain you talked about the flashbacks. Struggles how much of
it was that that you were trying to cover versus
just stuff that was going on in day to day life, today.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
It was mostly the, flashbacks THE, ptsd the military because
at the, time you, KNOW i was causing pain to,
people BUT i wasn't realizing WHAT i was doing, right
BECAUSE i definitely wasn't going and seeing my family LIKE
i used. TO i wasn't seeing my grandfather LIKE i
used to Every. Sunday BUT i was still taking care
(24:57):
of business and doing my. Things oh where were?
Speaker 2 (25:01):
They?
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Mesquite which is it's, yeah mesquite So and at that
TIME i was living In North dallas And, addison so
it was already like a twenty five thirty minute. DRIVE i,
worked you, Know monday Through saturday or Half, saturday SO
i was always. BUSY i loved working the. MORE i just, work, work,
work WHATEVER i could to take my mind off of anything. Else. Yes,
(25:23):
well THEN i in two thousand and, FOURTEEN i meet
my the mother and my, children and within three or
four months of knowing, her get her. PREGNANT i was
about thirty at the. Time uh and at the, time at,
thirty you, KNOW i really wanted, kids might have a big.
Family you, know there's a lot of, siblings a lot
(25:46):
Of BUT i ended up getting pregnant within three. Months
and then you, know we have our first. Child and
at this, point even when she's having the child and,
Pregnant i'm still USING i, Mean i'm talking about from
twenty ten to a year and two months.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Ago every, day, okay and for time s we're gonna
move a little. Bit but that started in, Ten so
you got here in fifteen twenty. Five i'm, Sorry so
fifteen years, Later i'm presuming something must have happened that Drove,
Okay so, YEAH i figure this. Out so.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Had my end up having a child and end up
having another. Daughter uh literally a month after she's given that.
One then So i'm using all this, time start feeling
guilty for Everything i'm, doing BUT i just self medicate more.
So then she ends up finding, out leaving, me and
(26:49):
at this POINT i am. Down if SHE i come,
back they're all. Gone and of course now it's on.
Boom i'm going all the. Way so this Point i'm
using more Than i'm, working lose my. Job THEN i
ended up getting Uh, so THEN i started going to THE.
Va it was like eleven years later AFTER i get,
out started going through their, programs couldn't get any, help
(27:11):
end up catching a, charge feeling each.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Charge they'd give you some sort of sort of.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Diagnosis at the time it WAS ptsd depression, anxiety you,
know AND i hadn't later on BEFORE i go to.
Prison Uh so at the time it was JUST ptsd
anxiety and. Depression This, yeah The DALLAS, va they do
a thirty day rehab and then they send you To,
bonham which is like an extended rehab In. Texas uh but,
(27:39):
Man i'm using While i'm At, bonham While i'm going
through the, program cheating the system Because i'm not getting
their help the HELP i. Need these the counselors were
facing their computers more than, me and it just didn't
just seemed LIKE i was just a. Number and Uh
so THEN i ended up staying In bonham because it's
Just i'm running away from. Everything and that's WHERE i
(28:00):
ended up catching my, charge my possession, charge felony, charge
and that was, well that was see twenty twenty. Two twenty,
yeah twenty twenty. Two tried to go to veterans, court
end up doing veterans court for about six. MONTHS i
went to the valor program At Collin. County end. Up
(28:26):
it's a funny, story BUT i ended up using and
trying to rig the drug test with a you'urinator or A.
Wizonator got. Popped So Judge roach at the time kicked
me out Of Veterans. Court SO i had to go
serve my.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Time, okay we're gonna take a final, break and when
we get, back we'll talk about how you Found Camp
hope and what's what's happening while you've been. There all,
right SO ptsdusa dot org for all things About Camp.
Hope we'll be right back with more of Road Hope
radio in just a, moment and we welcome you. Back
(29:19):
Got Jonathan abraham in the studio with this inn Ed
States Air force veteran two, tours fifteen years of struggle
before you Found Camp. Hope so you spent some time
after picking up the charge there in bottom getting kicked
out of The Veterans. Court what happened after? That how
(29:42):
did you Find Camp?
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Hope, well right BEFORE i went to, PRISON i ended
up two. TIMES i did On. Fittannah the first time
WAS i can't really say accident Because i'm using, It
but the first TIME i wasn't trying to AND i
did a buddy of, mine you, know save me. Narcatible
the second TIME i actually did try to od and
take my, life and my mom found me and called
(30:07):
the you, know, paramedics and AND i ended up getting
narkin and. Saved, well at that TIME i had warrants
for my, felony violation of probation And Veterans court and all.
That SO i ended up going to prison right after.
That AND i gotta, say IF i hadn't forgien for
my mom or, THAT i probably wouldn't be here right. Now,
Uh but you, KNOW i love you. Mom. Uh but
(30:30):
WHEN i got WHEN i was in, prison my mom
was telling me about this place Called Camp. Hope And
i'm just, Like, mom it's probably just ANOTHER va Program i've,
Done i've done that, before just not but she kept.
Talking every time we talked on the, phone she would
tell me something new about. It SO i did a
year in. PRISON i get out AND i immediately started
looking this place. Up what is it really?
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Like what?
Speaker 3 (30:51):
It started listening to or watching YouTube videos of people
in their interviews and and, uh and just looked at
the website and then started. CALL i called the number
that you gave and and, UH i think it Was.
Kenny kenny answered the, phone AND i think it was
like The dallas. Representative, man great, guy he, walked he
(31:14):
talked me through, everything you, know made me it was
just great listening to another veteran for like the first
time a combat or even just somebody that could relate
and and just talking to him was just you could
already tell something was different about this. Program AND i
MEAN i told, him, Yeah i'm, interested let's. Go let's
(31:35):
go ahead and get this. Going well at that, POINT
i was, like well maybe about a week or, two well,
Know kenny was calling me every day just to check on,
me see HOW i was, doing and, uh so we
finally get the ball. Rolling took me a while to
find MY dd two, fourteen which was all it was all,
like you, know wadded up with. Water BUT i found
it and had to get some other identification to TO
(31:57):
i like to talk to him on my, hands but
SO i ended up finding, it sending it to, him
and then sending my you, know idea to prove it was,
me and and uh and it took about two weeks
for me to go BECAUSE i was. Delaying i'd been
out of, prison like LIKE i, said two weeks and
he's calling me every day to check on, me not
really just, hey come, in just seeing How i'm, doing
(32:19):
and just really, great just talking to him for thirty
forty five minutes and just let me know if.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
You're ready to go.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Tomorrow how'd you get? Here, well they they set up a.
Thing WELL i finally said let's, go CAUSE i was
getting the itch to go use again And i'd only
been out two. WEEKS i thought prison was gonna save
me maybe not want to come. BACK i was getting the,
itch AND i knew that prison would have wasn't. ENOUGH
i needed the icing on the. Cake this play sounds,
great let's go and he, goes all, right, Well i'm
going to send people your way at seven thirty in the. Morning, okay, Okay,
(32:46):
well what like a bus or AM i gonna have to?
Take you? Know, well first he asked me IF i
wanted to fly, out and at the, TIME i didn't
have my. License IF i had my, license they would
have flown me out the next, day which it sounded,
cool BUT i didn't have my license at the. Time
Uh so they send these other two veterans to come
get me that, morning seven point, thirty and these veterans
drive me. HALFWAY i can't remember what city it. Was
(33:09):
but what was cool is one of the guys that
picked me. UP i think his name Is. John he
was actually one of the VIDEOS i had. Watched oh,
okay and so it was. Cool him And ritchie were
the ones that picked me up halfway. Through so it's
really cool to be able to talk with them and
kind of get ready for. It but you don't know
what You're you're, scared you're, nervous you're having second. Thoughts
But i'm talking about the DAY i showed up. There
(33:31):
it was, immediate just just. Powerful it was like the
JUST i can't even it's hard to. Explain john.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Great. People he's now the ops manager on, campus so
he's the one is always who's going where to get
what or move somebody from one place to. Another richie's
in our outreach team saw Him wednesday. Afternoon well what
a story he has money my.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
Good, yeah he Did Warrior warriors group last. Night.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Yeah just. Wow. Uh, anyway, okay so you, uh you've
been here three, months, days ninety days. Exactly you mentioned
your mom was down. Again i'm do that off, air
but was that her first visit? Down? Yes, okay so
how did that? Go it was?
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Amazing, uh you, know the LIKE i, SAID i don't
like to talk in front of a lot of, people
BUT i was able to get up and show my
mom some appreciation right before the, service which made us,
both you, know cheer. Up and because my mom has
been through a lot And god, lover she is my,
rock her, faith her, strength her forgiveness is a lot
(34:44):
of the Reason i'm still.
Speaker 4 (34:45):
Here when she, left what did she have to? Say
oh she, was she was she was like tears of.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
Joy.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Uh she could. SEE i, mean we must have laughed all.
Day that's. Awesome she met probably thirty different veterans and
it was just it was. Great she but at the very,
end she after all this fun we had and all these,
laughs she, said wasn't it great to be able to
have all this fun today and not, use not, drink
(35:20):
and to be honest with you to the. Campus you,
know it's five, acres but really we almost have to
make up our own games and stuff sometimes just because
there's Not but That sunday there just happened to be
so much to. Do but even then we're able to
just sit around the fire and laugh and tell stories and,
jokes and being around other combat, veterans it just feels so.
(35:41):
Different i've done THE va programs with no offense but
just all, Veterans but it just you don't have that
feeling you do when you walk into Camp. HOPE i,
mean from literally day, one my days have gotten better
and better and better and better and. Better and there's
things that will pop up that'll try to bring you back.
Down pop won't let you. Fall it just won't appeared
(36:03):
to peer. Program tyrone and his long classes are. GREAT
i mean he i.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Love which one's more long, Winded tyrone Or.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
Anthony, oh oh that's, okay that's they're different long they're. Different,
win okay the different win To, No, TYRONE i can.
Listen i'll be in the front row like like just arms,
forward staring at just listening to his stories and his
and his and relating to his stuff and his. Stories.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Wow super happy For you're really happy you and your
mom had that opportunity this Past. Sunday, oh he had
a family make gumbo for. Everybody so there was a
lot of good things going.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
On it was.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Great it was to keep keep doing, it keep Keep.
Tyrone you've been really quiet. Song now let you close
out the show. Here you got about a, minute SO
i just want you to talk to the guy who's
out there. Struggling and it may be maybe a family,
member uh that's, Watching but just speak to that person
that doesn't want to get. Help.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
MAN i want to let you know that everything you're
thinking in your head is not what it. Is we
think that people don't care about us. Anymore we think
that we're the worst of the, worst but we're. Not
you do not have to do this. Alone it's one
of the most valuable lessons THAT i learned Since i've
been Through Camp. Hope i'm not alone. Anymore so come, home,
(37:27):
Brother come.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Home.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
YEAH i. Again one of the speaking engagements THAT i
had this, week there were a couple Of vietnam vets
there and When richie was standing up sharing a little
bit of his, story which is obviously you, know decades After,
vietnam see it in their eyes and fours all over
(37:54):
here's we're starting to well up in the eye's eyes
were getting red and. Swollen and some of the, guys
have you talked about more than fifteen years of a
lot of drug? Stuff? Yeah, Yeah well think about these
guys doing it for five decades and just the heartache
that comes with all. That So i'm grateful that you've
taken the advantage Of camp Hop. Tyrone thank you for
(38:18):
what you, do h and every, day truly grateful for.
You appreciate it. AGAIN ptsdusa dot org is the website
for The FOUNDATION ptsdusa dot. Org also on social, MEDIA
PTSD Usa, facebook x and, YouTube Ptsd foundation Of america
on The. Instagram please follow, Along please download h and
(38:43):
every week Of road To Hope radio wherever you listen to.
Podcasts just look For road To Hope. Radio thanks for
being with, Us we look forward to being with you
again next. Week for More road To Hope RADIO pas
Multiple people in my family clean my father, are veterans.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Troops that have been to war and now they're back.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
And think and be grateful for their service.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Sacrifice, love for their country, just unselfishness, all.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
That they do for us.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
There are some people in this country who take extraordinary
steps to provide for the freedom and security.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
We forget that those people exist.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
We know them as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines,
and Coast Guard. They call themselves soldiers, seals, rangers, airmen, sailors, devil.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Dogs, and so much more.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
We call them fathers, brothers, sons and husbands, mothers, daughters,
sisters and wives. We call them friend and neighbor. These
veterans answered the call, now we answer theirs. They are
the best our country has to offer.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
And we love them.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Today, we honor them and we serve them. David Malsby
is your host, and he welcomes you to this community
of veterans. As together we are building the road to hope.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
And indeed we are glad to have you along. On
a Sunday afternoon, those of you listening through Radio KPRC
the nine to five oh on the AMD, I'll thank
you for joining us as you drive endlessly around the loop.
Those of you listen through podcast thank you so very
much for doing so. Truly appreciate it. When you look
up Road to Hope Radio, wherever you listen to podcasts,
(01:45):
find Road to Hope Radio, hit that subscribe button. It'll
automatically download each and every week when the new show drops.
So appreciate you doing that, and truly heroic awards to
those who who share the stories, share the episodes because
you never know whose life might be impacted. We have
(02:07):
a lot of stories, a lot of veterans sharing what
their reintegration issues were, what happened while they were in combat,
other things in life, through the traumas in life, and
how they're coping, how they're learning, how they're progressing and
moving forward. So one guy's story may hit someone a
little different than any other. So every show, every opportunity,
(02:29):
is a great opportunity to share with someone who might
be in need of what we do with the PTSD
Foundation of America and Camp Hope. So thank you for
hitting that subscribe but big thank you to our show
sponsors allow us to spend a little time with you
each and every week. A Corey Diamond and Design that's Acri,
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again same. Thing you're gonna have, somebody some company coming
to your home and provide. Services you want to make
sure you're doing business with not only reputable, company but
people who share your. Values Oops steam has been great
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around our. Police oopsteam Dot. Com and then when you're
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ready to buy your little piece A texas for your dream,
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buy the, property you can build on it when you are.
Ready Republic Grand ranch dot. Com all, right got a
couple of combat vetsm in here with us, Today, tyrone
glad to see you. Back we got to work on
your cap game.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
THOUGH i kind of like, it even though It's.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Atlanta, yeah it's a story behind These i'm gonna tell
you one.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Day oh, okay but they always end up In. Texas so, yeah,
yeah why because it's. BETTER i want to reintroduce yourself
to the, World. Tyrone, Yes I'm Tyrone.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
BROWN i am a combat veteran who came through the
program Of Camp hope in twenty two and NOW i
went out on my own and, worked got a certification
in mental, health AND i really understood a, lot learned
a lot about, myself AND i wanted to take those
things THAT i learned back To Camp, hope WHERE i
(04:57):
got my start, at and help some other.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Veterans, awesome glad to have you, Back. Jonathan want to
introduce yourself to the.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
World, yeah my name Is Jonathan. Abraham i'm also a combat.
Vet two, tours one, direct one To. Afghanistan i'm currently
In campope right, now been there three months, ACTUALLY i
think ninety days. Today it has definitely changed my, life
saved my. Life And i'm just grateful to be.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Here very. Cool glad you're. Here Jonathan. Abraham that's about.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
As that's powerful biblical names as you can possibly.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Get thank.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
You, yeah that's definitely my. Mother DEFINITELY i got.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
You.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Yeah where are you? From Originally?
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Dallas, yeah born and Raised, dallas born In Baylor. Hospital you,
know so Big cowboys. Fana so Sorry i'm In, houston
but you, KNOW i Guess i'm the Only cowboy fan.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Around, well you're still in the. Program that's a traumatic,
life right, there being A cowboys. Fan there's some unnecessary
trauma going on in your life right.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Now, yeah when you start seeing him At smith doing
die for, commercials you, know it's been a long time
since you got A Super bowl, Er, yate even a.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Playoffs, yeah it has been a. Minute it has definitely
been a. Minute we'll get into a little bit of
your story as we go along in the. Show PTSD
usa dot org is the website for the organization PTSD
usa dot. Org you can follow us as an organization
on social. Media ptsd us a PTSD usa that's On,
(06:28):
facebook the formerly loan As, twitter the X, machine and
also on. YouTube ptsd US a really do appreciate it
when you follow us on each of those share, stories retweet.
Them whatever it is again getting the word out somebody
coming across the organization that's in need of what we.
(06:52):
Do it's it's always. Incredible spent a little time this
past week in a number of speaking games and one
happened to be up a New, caney which is kind
of northeast Of, houston just a little ways and The
chamber Of commerce is directly across the highway From, greenos
(07:15):
tex mex who's been tremendous supporters of ours for, many many.
Years and it gave me the opportunity to tell all
these small business owners with The chamber Of, commerce like
you can be a part of something really, spectacular Like
gringos has raised a lot of, money but they've also
helped save. Lives i've interviewing a guy where how'd you
(07:36):
hear About Camp Hope THAT i saw it on the.
Menu that's how it. BECAME i never knew it. Existed
so a lot of things businesses can do you can
be a part of. It we're going to take a quick.
Break we'll be back with more Of road To Hope
radio in just a moment and we welcome you back
(08:10):
road To Hope. Radio David. Maulsby, here we've Got tyrone
who is a graduate Of Camp hope staff member doing
great work helping our. Veterans. Uh we Have Jonathan Jonathan.
ABRAHAM i can say that name about ten, times the
very powerful like that's. WOW i loaded both barrels on that. One,
(08:32):
well it's.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Crazy Sometime i'll Get abrams and you know when The,
bible it was First abrams And. Abraham SO i have
to correct people sometimes it feels.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Good, yeah very. Nice all. Right so you're from The dallas, area, yes, sir,
Okay so prior to prior to joining the, military what
was what was life like for you?
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Prior? SO i graduated from A christian rock Called Christian
academy that's right Outside dallas AND o TWO.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
GRADUATE i went to college for a semester for, business
and my basics dropped out at that. Point you, KNOW
i WAS i was always working from the age of
fifteen and never really got into any. Trouble. Uh it
was a good.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Kid but what did you do in high? School play? Sports?
Speaker 3 (09:25):
YEAH i PLAYED i, Did ACTUALLY i did play baseball
and football my sophomore year baseball shortstop at second.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Base there you. Go did you hit a?
Speaker 3 (09:33):
CURVE i, could BUT i could never hit a home.
RUN i could run the bases, fast so ALL i
needed to do was put the pall in action AND
i get to that.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Base all.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Right, yeah but we. Did uh we did win state
my baseball my my sophomore.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
Year.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Uh and then we got to win uh state my
football and football my senior. Year so, uh it was pretty.
COOL i mean it was TWO, a but it was
still it was still, awesome still. Awesome LIKE i, SAID
i stayed. Busy h had, had you, know a lot to,
do SO i really didn't get into much. Trouble but
ONCE i did, GRADUATE i moved, out immediately got on my,
(10:08):
own you, know started started, drinking started just getting into
the wrong, crowds, wrong wrong wrong people, places. Things but my,
grandfather who was a Retired Air force he was like
my best. FRIEND i always could go to him on
(10:29):
IF i had any, problems any. Issues and at one
POINT i was getting a lot of tickets BECAUSE i
had a nice, cars SO i would never pay my,
tickets SO i would end up going to. Jail i've
probably been in jail like twenty six times over just tickets.
Alone ONCE i realized you could set out two grand
and one DAY i just stopped paying. Them SO i
was going to jail a. Lot SO i went to
(10:52):
talk to my grandfather and my uncle who actually lives
In shreport is also Retired Air. Force maybe over. There
they KNEW i was having have some troubles and they
were talking to me about. Joining SO i actually at
the time had a lot of warrants still for tickets and,
this that and the. OTHER i went and talk to the,
recruiter and the recruiter made a bunch of promises to
me that he could get me in and clear my,
(11:13):
record get all these things taken care. Of SO i
decided to. Join and that was two thousand and seven
WHEN i went to basic AND i was actually in basic.
TRAINING i was. In it was my. BIRTHDAY i turned
twenty two in basic. Training talk about the worst birthday
in the. World but you, know it was still a great.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Idea oh, goodness, yeah, yeah great. Planning sounds Like i'll
just go to.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Jail, WELL i think everybody thought it was going to
be another crazy, BIRTHDAY i, Guess so today's getting get
in BEFORE i, can you, know it's. Crazy my recruiter
pulled out my record from all my arrest and it
like hit the, floor rolled out and he, says you
have to call Me houdini IF i can still get
you in with, this and just. Laughed but, yeah if
we are able to do. It and one of the
(11:58):
greatest Decisions i've ever.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Made are you? Based uh?
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Liver SO i was basic training Obviously San Antonio lachlan,
Uh and THEN i went TO i was stationed in
a Little Rock Air Force, base home of The. Hirks
he won thirty squadron and, uh my mos uh was it's,
armed it's aviation resource management. SYSTEMS i know that's a,
lot but really what we were doing is just keeping
(12:22):
track of the the flight, crew the stuff that was in,
there their. Flights really just data. Entry that's WHAT i.
Did and it WAS i. Angleized it was very. Boring
so sound, boring, yes it. Was so when OPPORTUNITY i
didn't want to get carbon. Tunnel SO i decided to
(12:43):
volunteer because when they would come by and ask if
anybody when to volunteer to help security forces and go
overseas deploy and you, KNOW i couldn't wait to just
do something. ELSE i wanted to do, more you. Know
ever since nine to eleven that was like a big.
THING i JUST i wanted to be able to go
over there and do, something do something. More SO i
volunteered great thankfully The Air. Force we only deployed for six.
(13:06):
Months you, KNOW i felt. Bad everybody else deployed for
like thirteen to fourteen, months but we only had to
deploy for. Six but THEN i end up getting deployed To,
Ballot iraq and eight six months of security. Forces what
were you? Doing so at the, beginning we were just
guarding gates and escorting locals in and off the flight.
(13:28):
LINE i guess they were like. Trustees they would help
poor concrete on the flight, lines or they would be
doing other. Stuff so really it was just you, know
guarding entry. POINTS i never got to really like get
into any action like firefights the first, time because it
was just you, know it wasn't it wasn't as boring
(13:49):
because you knew you were getting mortar rounds coming. In
you were having to worry, about you, know checking everybody,
out making sure nobody was carrying any contraband or. Anything
and sometimes you had to get physical and and, uh you,
know detailing, people BUT i witnessed a lot of. THINGS
i witnessed a mortar attack that was right next to.
Me actually one, time the alarm started going off and
(14:11):
we were running AND i go to get in the
shelter and there's people that it's already full this, bunker
and it was full so THAT i couldn't go. IN
i had to run about fifty yards to another. One,
WELL i don't know what it, was but as soon
AS i got to the other, bunker the ONE i
had passed up got. Hit so we had to run
and you, know help get those people to, safety carry
offs people and nobody. Died a lot of, Injured but
(14:34):
that that deployment wasn't you, know too. Wild it was
the second DEPLOYMENT i went ON uh in two thousand
and nine THAT i had to witness BECAUSE i end
up volunteering for the same. Thing ONCE i got. BACK
i don't know what it. WAS i just wanted to
go back. Out ORIGINALLY i thought it was just BECAUSE
i had a lot of money from going overseas and
(14:55):
hazardous duty pay was good and you don't spend any
money while you're over. There you can put your bills on.
Hold so as soon AS i got, back there was
another opportunity to, go like four months, later SO i
ended up deploying. Immediately but this TIME i went To, Bargeram,
afghanistan and uh that that was really.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
BAD i.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
WITNESSED i witnessed a lot of firefights at the entry
points because like once again we're we're transporting locals in
and out the base and on a, bus and there
would be times where firefights would happen or as we're
pulling people in and and, uh thank god for The
marines At, army you, know they were they were the
(15:35):
ones that pretty much protected us coming in and. Out but,
uh you KNOW i got TO i got to see
some pretty bad. Things you. Know we were we were
at this Old russian base and it was like a.
Funnel we were surrounded by, mountains so we were getting
mortared multiple times a. Day and it's just just some
(15:58):
sad things that were going on over.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
There, yeah as a, reminder we understand as we go
through the course of a show like, this there can
be some things that might be triggering to some who
are listening to this. Show so won't you take this
number down eight seven seven seven one seven seventy eight seventy.
(16:19):
Three IT'S ptsd eight seven seven seven one seven seventy
eight seventy. THREE a combat veteran will answer the. Phone
it won't be someone who's just reading something off a
script on a computer. Screen this will be someone who's
been there and done, that come, home made the trend,
(16:42):
decision and is now much Like tyrone is sharing with
those who are in the, program those who are needing the,
program sharing that which was shared with. Him so that's
the beauty of the. Program again eight seven seven seven
ones seventy eight seventy, three a combat veteran will answer the.
(17:04):
Phone and if you will go to our website again
ptsdusa dot, org you will find all the information out
About Camp, hope which is our interim housing project and,
program but also information about our support groups which we
run for our first, responders law, enforcement combat. Veterans also
(17:24):
our support groups for family members friends help them understand
what happened to their loved, one WHAT ptsd was, doing
WHY i was doing it the way it, was and
how they could support and help their loved. Ones so
ptsdusa dot org here's the one thing that might help
you check it. Out everything we do at zero cost
(17:46):
to the veteran or their, family zero cost eight seven
seven seven one seven seventy eight seventy THREE PTSD usa dot.
Org we write back with more than just a, moment.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Food drums the crab in, place.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
And welcome.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Back all.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Right so you're talking a little bit about your time
both In, iracked your second deployment To, afghanistan and nine
when did you exit The Air?
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Force it was definitely immediately after that second, deployment you,
know just thinking about it now while we were on.
Break just it was a lot to take. In uh and,
UH i JUST i, ISOLATED i, isolated immediately started you,
(18:54):
know smoking, weed. Drinking within three four, MONTHS i get
popped for. Marijuana so it was literally twenty Ten march
WHEN i got Out general and honorable, discharge and that
(19:14):
was that was when the spiral starts spiraling. Down was
in a lot of pain just thinking about things THAT i,
witnessed THINGS i, saw and, uh you, KNOW i just
didn't know how to reintegrate it back into. Society AND
i know a lot of guys feel the same. Way
you come at your first year the hero and then
(19:36):
you come back and then it starts everybody starts feeling
sorry for, you and then they become scared of you
because you, know they you got triggers or you start having.
Episodes so, like LIKE i, SAID I i accidented In
march of twenty.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Ten did they do anything other than discharge. You did
they any kind of diagnosis?
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Anything, no, sir they it Was it wasn't even a
reintegration program or what you gonna call. It it was just,
bye give me A u, haul get my, stuff and
we'll follow you out to go back To. Dallas, yes, sir,
immediately four hour. Drive, really the last three, MONTHS i
was driving every weekend back To dallas four hours every,
weekend AND i would literally be partying and doing stuff
(20:20):
so crazy THAT i would literally wake up at three
Am monday morning drive straight into work From. Dallas.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Again more really good planning, There, yeah, no.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Definitely you would think an air force or an airman
would have better planning than, that but uh, no, NO i,
was uh, yeah all.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Right so even, THEN i, mean that's you're. Out. No nine,
Ten you're in pretty bad. Shape sounds like the, isolating
which is all the studies tell us that when someone
is doing the self medicating thing once they get to. Isolation,
uh it's. Critical you got to you got to be
(21:03):
very concerned about suicide at that. Point, yes, Sir so twenty,
ten you're in a dark, Spot you're you're struggling back In.
Dallas uh did you seek? Help did you talk to?
Speaker 3 (21:18):
ANYBODY i didn't end up going not at. All the
one good Thing i've always or the one Thing i've
always been good at is making. Money AND i say
by getting a, job you, know no. Matter even in twenty,
TEN i was immediately going to this old dealership ice
(21:39):
to sell cars for WHEN i was, young AND i
was selling cars in the summer and then and at
this Time i'm using And i'm using hard you, know
and LITERALLY.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
I was your drug.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Choice oh it was the at the, beginning it was
opiates of Hydro codon twenty, TEN i went from to
making one to ten to twenty a, day also doing
meth at the same, time kind of like a roller.
Coaster AND i was literally doing that at, work walking
out with a suit and tie and selling cars and
(22:16):
really good at, it so making a lot of. Money
and THEN i ended up going to my uncle at
the time was a, big big TIME ceo for a
body shop and he wanted me to come and work
for Their so that's What i've done for the last fourteen.
Years BUT i have self medicated since, then like every,
(22:38):
day all day, long fourteen. Years at first was hydro,
cotones then it went to, heroin then it went to,
fittanhl WHATEVER i could find that was stronger and, cheaper
AND i would literally be in the bathroom doing it
and coming out, working AND i figured IF i was
making money and paying, bills AND i was, okay still
isolating for about four to five, years THOUGH i would
(23:00):
SAY i had a girlfriend at the time from like
twenty eleven twenty. Fourteen she didn't know anything about. It
she was actually going to school to be a, psychiatrist,
so but you, KNOW i was working all the, time
and then WHEN i was, HOME i really still kind of,
isolated and she kind of, noticed and she thought she
(23:24):
didn't know what to think BECAUSE i was hiding it from.
Her well end up leaving her getting we've split, up
and THEN i met the mother of my children and
once again still. Using and at this Time i'm on
heroin and math just killing all the. Pain something bad
happens us memory pops up used flashback us definitely not
(23:50):
even thinking about THE, va still not thinking about THE,
va not thinking about, help thinking as long AS i
pay my, BILLS i can do this.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Myself for, you you mentioned some of the flashbacks and
memories and all the. Triggers how much of what you
were trying trying to deaden was pushed by that versus
whatever trouble you were having back at.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Home so you're telling me say it, Again you're asking
about the actual TRIGGERS i would.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Have.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
So, Yeah so when you were using to cover the
pain you talked about the flashbacks. Struggles how much of
it was that that you were trying to cover versus
just stuff that was going on in day to day life, today.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
It was mostly the, flashbacks THE, ptsd the military because
at the, time you, KNOW i was causing pain to,
people BUT i wasn't realizing WHAT i was doing, right
BECAUSE i definitely wasn't going and seeing my family LIKE
i used. TO i wasn't seeing my grandfather LIKE i
used to Every. Sunday BUT i was still taking care
(24:57):
of business and doing my. Things oh where were?
Speaker 2 (25:01):
They?
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Mesquite which is it's, yeah mesquite So and at that
TIME i was living In North dallas And, addison so
it was already like a twenty five thirty minute. DRIVE i,
worked you, Know monday Through saturday or Half, saturday SO
i was always. BUSY i loved working the. MORE i just, work, work,
work WHATEVER i could to take my mind off of anything. Else. Yes,
(25:23):
well THEN i in two thousand and, FOURTEEN i meet
my the mother and my, children and within three or
four months of knowing, her get her. PREGNANT i was
about thirty at the. Time uh and at the, time at,
thirty you, KNOW i really wanted, kids might have a big.
Family you, know there's a lot of, siblings a lot
(25:46):
Of BUT i ended up getting pregnant within three. Months
and then you, know we have our first. Child and
at this, point even when she's having the child and,
Pregnant i'm still USING i, Mean i'm talking about from
twenty ten to a year and two months.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Ago every, day, okay and for time s we're gonna
move a little. Bit but that started in, Ten so
you got here in fifteen twenty. Five i'm, Sorry so
fifteen years, Later i'm presuming something must have happened that Drove,
Okay so, YEAH i figure this. Out so.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Had my end up having a child and end up
having another. Daughter uh literally a month after she's given that.
One then So i'm using all this, time start feeling
guilty for Everything i'm, doing BUT i just self medicate more.
So then she ends up finding, out leaving, me and
(26:49):
at this POINT i am. Down if SHE i come,
back they're all. Gone and of course now it's on.
Boom i'm going all the. Way so this Point i'm
using more Than i'm, working lose my. Job THEN i
ended up getting Uh, so THEN i started going to THE.
Va it was like eleven years later AFTER i get,
out started going through their, programs couldn't get any, help
(27:11):
end up catching a, charge feeling each.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Charge they'd give you some sort of sort of.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Diagnosis at the time it WAS ptsd depression, anxiety you,
know AND i hadn't later on BEFORE i go to.
Prison Uh so at the time it was JUST ptsd
anxiety and. Depression This, yeah The DALLAS, va they do
a thirty day rehab and then they send you To,
bonham which is like an extended rehab In. Texas uh but,
(27:39):
Man i'm using While i'm At, bonham While i'm going
through the, program cheating the system Because i'm not getting
their help the HELP i. Need these the counselors were
facing their computers more than, me and it just didn't
just seemed LIKE i was just a. Number and Uh
so THEN i ended up staying In bonham because it's
Just i'm running away from. Everything and that's WHERE i
(28:00):
ended up catching my, charge my possession, charge felony, charge
and that was, well that was see twenty twenty. Two twenty,
yeah twenty twenty. Two tried to go to veterans, court
end up doing veterans court for about six. MONTHS i
went to the valor program At Collin. County end. Up
(28:26):
it's a funny, story BUT i ended up using and
trying to rig the drug test with a you'urinator or A.
Wizonator got. Popped So Judge roach at the time kicked
me out Of Veterans. Court SO i had to go
serve my.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Time, okay we're gonna take a final, break and when
we get, back we'll talk about how you Found Camp
hope and what's what's happening while you've been. There all,
right SO ptsdusa dot org for all things About Camp.
Hope we'll be right back with more of Road Hope
radio in just a, moment and we welcome you. Back
(29:19):
Got Jonathan abraham in the studio with this inn Ed
States Air force veteran two, tours fifteen years of struggle
before you Found Camp. Hope so you spent some time
after picking up the charge there in bottom getting kicked
out of The Veterans. Court what happened after? That how
(29:42):
did you Find Camp?
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Hope, well right BEFORE i went to, PRISON i ended
up two. TIMES i did On. Fittannah the first time
WAS i can't really say accident Because i'm using, It
but the first TIME i wasn't trying to AND i
did a buddy of, mine you, know save me. Narcatible
the second TIME i actually did try to od and
take my, life and my mom found me and called
(30:07):
the you, know, paramedics and AND i ended up getting
narkin and. Saved, well at that TIME i had warrants
for my, felony violation of probation And Veterans court and all.
That SO i ended up going to prison right after.
That AND i gotta, say IF i hadn't forgien for
my mom or, THAT i probably wouldn't be here right. Now,
Uh but you, KNOW i love you. Mom. Uh but
(30:30):
WHEN i got WHEN i was in, prison my mom
was telling me about this place Called Camp. Hope And
i'm just, Like, mom it's probably just ANOTHER va Program i've,
Done i've done that, before just not but she kept.
Talking every time we talked on the, phone she would
tell me something new about. It SO i did a
year in. PRISON i get out AND i immediately started
looking this place. Up what is it really?
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Like what?
Speaker 3 (30:51):
It started listening to or watching YouTube videos of people
in their interviews and and, uh and just looked at
the website and then started. CALL i called the number
that you gave and and, UH i think it Was.
Kenny kenny answered the, phone AND i think it was
like The dallas. Representative, man great, guy he, walked he
(31:14):
talked me through, everything you, know made me it was
just great listening to another veteran for like the first
time a combat or even just somebody that could relate
and and just talking to him was just you could
already tell something was different about this. Program AND i
MEAN i told, him, Yeah i'm, interested let's. Go let's
(31:35):
go ahead and get this. Going well at that, POINT
i was, like well maybe about a week or, two well,
Know kenny was calling me every day just to check on,
me see HOW i was, doing and, uh so we
finally get the ball. Rolling took me a while to
find MY dd two, fourteen which was all it was all,
like you, know wadded up with. Water BUT i found
it and had to get some other identification to TO
(31:57):
i like to talk to him on my, hands but
SO i ended up finding, it sending it to, him
and then sending my you, know idea to prove it was,
me and and uh and it took about two weeks
for me to go BECAUSE i was. Delaying i'd been
out of, prison like LIKE i, said two weeks and
he's calling me every day to check on, me not
really just, hey come, in just seeing How i'm, doing
(32:19):
and just really, great just talking to him for thirty
forty five minutes and just let me know if.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
You're ready to go.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Tomorrow how'd you get? Here, well they they set up a.
Thing WELL i finally said let's, go CAUSE i was
getting the itch to go use again And i'd only
been out two. WEEKS i thought prison was gonna save
me maybe not want to come. BACK i was getting the,
itch AND i knew that prison would have wasn't. ENOUGH
i needed the icing on the. Cake this play sounds,
great let's go and he, goes all, right, Well i'm
going to send people your way at seven thirty in the. Morning, okay, Okay,
(32:46):
well what like a bus or AM i gonna have to?
Take you? Know, well first he asked me IF i
wanted to fly, out and at the, TIME i didn't
have my. License IF i had my, license they would
have flown me out the next, day which it sounded,
cool BUT i didn't have my license at the. Time
Uh so they send these other two veterans to come
get me that, morning seven point, thirty and these veterans
drive me. HALFWAY i can't remember what city it. Was
(33:09):
but what was cool is one of the guys that
picked me. UP i think his name Is. John he
was actually one of the VIDEOS i had. Watched oh,
okay and so it was. Cool him And ritchie were
the ones that picked me up halfway. Through so it's
really cool to be able to talk with them and
kind of get ready for. It but you don't know
what You're you're, scared you're, nervous you're having second. Thoughts
But i'm talking about the DAY i showed up. There
(33:31):
it was, immediate just just. Powerful it was like the
JUST i can't even it's hard to. Explain john.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Great. People he's now the ops manager on, campus so
he's the one is always who's going where to get
what or move somebody from one place to. Another richie's
in our outreach team saw Him wednesday. Afternoon well what
a story he has money my.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
Good, yeah he Did Warrior warriors group last. Night.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Yeah just. Wow. Uh, anyway, okay so you, uh you've
been here three, months, days ninety days. Exactly you mentioned
your mom was down. Again i'm do that off, air
but was that her first visit? Down? Yes, okay so
how did that? Go it was?
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Amazing, uh you, know the LIKE i, SAID i don't
like to talk in front of a lot of, people
BUT i was able to get up and show my
mom some appreciation right before the, service which made us,
both you, know cheer. Up and because my mom has
been through a lot And god, lover she is my,
rock her, faith her, strength her forgiveness is a lot
(34:44):
of the Reason i'm still.
Speaker 4 (34:45):
Here when she, left what did she have to? Say
oh she, was she was she was like tears of.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
Joy.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Uh she could. SEE i, mean we must have laughed all.
Day that's. Awesome she met probably thirty different veterans and
it was just it was. Great she but at the very,
end she after all this fun we had and all these,
laughs she, said wasn't it great to be able to
have all this fun today and not, use not, drink
(35:20):
and to be honest with you to the. Campus you,
know it's five, acres but really we almost have to
make up our own games and stuff sometimes just because
there's Not but That sunday there just happened to be
so much to. Do but even then we're able to
just sit around the fire and laugh and tell stories and,
jokes and being around other combat, veterans it just feels so.
(35:41):
Different i've done THE va programs with no offense but
just all, Veterans but it just you don't have that
feeling you do when you walk into Camp. HOPE i,
mean from literally day, one my days have gotten better
and better and better and better and. Better and there's
things that will pop up that'll try to bring you back.
Down pop won't let you. Fall it just won't appeared
(36:03):
to peer. Program tyrone and his long classes are. GREAT
i mean he i.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Love which one's more long, Winded tyrone Or.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
Anthony, oh oh that's, okay that's they're different long they're. Different,
win okay the different win To, No, TYRONE i can.
Listen i'll be in the front row like like just arms,
forward staring at just listening to his stories and his
and his and relating to his stuff and his. Stories.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Wow super happy For you're really happy you and your
mom had that opportunity this Past. Sunday, oh he had
a family make gumbo for. Everybody so there was a
lot of good things going.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
On it was.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Great it was to keep keep doing, it keep Keep.
Tyrone you've been really quiet. Song now let you close
out the show. Here you got about a, minute SO
i just want you to talk to the guy who's
out there. Struggling and it may be maybe a family,
member uh that's, Watching but just speak to that person
that doesn't want to get. Help.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
MAN i want to let you know that everything you're
thinking in your head is not what it. Is we
think that people don't care about us. Anymore we think
that we're the worst of the, worst but we're. Not
you do not have to do this. Alone it's one
of the most valuable lessons THAT i learned Since i've
been Through Camp. Hope i'm not alone. Anymore so come, home,
(37:27):
Brother come.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Home.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
YEAH i. Again one of the speaking engagements THAT i
had this, week there were a couple Of vietnam vets
there and When richie was standing up sharing a little
bit of his, story which is obviously you, know decades After,
vietnam see it in their eyes and fours all over
(37:54):
here's we're starting to well up in the eye's eyes
were getting red and. Swollen and some of the, guys
have you talked about more than fifteen years of a
lot of drug? Stuff? Yeah, Yeah well think about these
guys doing it for five decades and just the heartache
that comes with all. That So i'm grateful that you've
taken the advantage Of camp Hop. Tyrone thank you for
(38:18):
what you, do h and every, day truly grateful for.
You appreciate it. AGAIN ptsdusa dot org is the website
for The FOUNDATION ptsdusa dot. Org also on social, MEDIA
PTSD Usa, facebook x and, YouTube Ptsd foundation Of america
on The. Instagram please follow, Along please download h and
(38:43):
every week Of road To Hope radio wherever you listen to.
Podcasts just look For road To Hope. Radio thanks for
being with, Us we look forward to being with you
again next. Week for More road To Hope RADIO pas
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