Many will remember, with probably some surprise, that former President George W. Bush decided to take up painting in his retirement. It started off with some paintings of small animals that most people thought were "cute", likely thinking that he wouldn't progress far beyond that, but with his wife Laura's encouragement and the training provided by some fine teachers, he's gone far beyond that, and not simply as an improved painter. He set out a mission for himself and by my observation, he has done a lot of good in accomplishing it.
In my previous posts and articles, I've offered thoughts about the importance of self-management and organizational management and suggestions for how to become better in both. But few managers of themselves, or others, will ever face the self-management post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, physical disabilities, depression, addiction challenges, social withdrawal, surgeries in the dozens (one soldier had one hundred), and long term hospitalizations that these disabled men and women, ninety eight of them, faced - everyone of them being honored by their being painted by former President Bush for this volume. Most of them lost one or more limbs. And these are vets who are still living. To these we also remember all those who gave their lives for us through their military service.
As I read through the book, I could only think about how any problems I have had in my life have paled by comparison to those faced by these veterans who have risked life and limb for us in serving the nation, with added appreciation in my case since I did not serve in the military.
You may be facing, or perhaps may face, serious challenges in your own life. I hope you will read all the individual stories that President Bush has chronicled and painted with such great heart. And I hope they will inspire you as they have me. Whether someone's politics are Republican, Democratic or Independent, most will be able to appreciate the feeling President Bush has for these warriors, all of whom he spoke with personally and has interacted with during the Bush Center's golf tournaments, mountain bike races, dinners and other activities. With these projects, and the other initiatives that he has established for wounded veterans, President Bush joins President Carter in having one of our most admirable ex-presidencies.
Proceeds from the sale of the book are all donated to benefit veteran's causes. It would be an excellent gift, and perhaps a great help, to give this book as a gift to anyone, particularly to any veterans who are facing, or who have faced serious challenges in life as a result of their military service. As I read the book myself, I thought often of someone who served in Vietnam, and problems he has dealt with silently and courageously, who I am going to give my copy to. I hope to buy more to do the same thing. I hope others will too.
You probably know that our veterans who have been in combat in the Middle East and in Vietnam and in other conflicts have little desire to recount what happened to them. It’s best not to ask, a mistake I made once with a very good friend. For most of us, it would be like their trying to explain what the color "green" is to someone who’s been blind from birth. The only ones who can truly understand, and the only ones that combat vets care to speak with about such things, are others who have been in the same situation or those who have long experience in helping disabled veterans. That's also why veterans groups are so important for our vets. The book is also an excellent primer on how we, as members of the general public, can be more helpful to our vets by doing more to interact with them in ways that they find more helpful to them and by making productive employment opportunities available to them.
I would also encourage anyone who reads the book to not blow past the two "Forwards" written by Laura Bush and General Peter Pace, the former Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the "Introduction" written by President Bush. They are excellent and revealing.
For anyone, including veterans, to learn about all the assistance that is available for our disabled veterans, further information is available at: www.BushCenter.org. Bring it to the attention of someone you care about.
I'd be very remiss, after this extended preamble, not to share some of the words of our disabled veterans. There is no way that these few words, and all the others the book contains, can convey the impact that these stories had on me, and would likely have on you:
Melissa Stockwell (1st Lieutenant, USA)
"I joined because I loved our country, short and simple". On April 13, 2004, three weeks into her deployment in Iraq, her vehicle hit an IED. She lost her left leg and was the first female to lose a limb in the war on terror. She went back to college and studied prosthetics so she could learn to fit other amputees with artificial limbs. She became a great runner, swimmer and cyclist. President Bush painted them dancing together, the only painted portrayal of himself in the book.
Jeremy James Valdez (Chief Warrant Officer, USA)
"In 2009, his helicopter went down and burst into flames. Even though he was hurt, he pulled five of his team members from the helicopter and saved their lives. He recovered from his injuries, but had headaches, losses of memory and cognitive function and the haunting images of the ten soldiers he couldn't rescue from the flames." In his final deployment in Afghanistan, he met an Army Airborne trauma nurse, Erica, and they were married on June 15, 2015. Bush said he couldn't attend the wedding, but was with them in spirit - in a way you could probably never image. I'll let you investigate that on your own in the book store or when you buy the book. If I told you, I’d have to give you a “spoiler alert first.
David A. Wright (Sergeant, USMC)
President Bush said, "Combat took a toll on David's body. He left the Marines after a triple deployment in Iraq at the very front lines going on patrols, kicking doors in, and going house to house. On Christmas Day, he ate dinner by himself in the basement while his family was upstairs. He didn't know why and neither did they. A few days later, he had a massive panic attack." Sergeant Wright said, “That was the kickoff to what PTSD did to me for the next ten years.” He started drinking , the only way he knew how to deal with the symptoms. (This was a frequently mentioned way that many disabled vets in the book said they had tried to deal with these problems.) "You're never really taught to ask for help as a Marine. You don't want to show those signs of weakness." Thankfully, his family intervened in time to save his life. He gave up drinking and now is in the process of fulfilling his lifelong dream of opening his own business. "I'm excited for the future, he says, "Now I'm in control of my own destiny". All of us should be. Most of us can be to a decent degree if we get help when we need it, as Sergeant Wright did.
Matthew Zbiec (Sergeant, USMC)
On October 10, 2005, Matt was leading an infantry squad into Fallujah, Iraq when an IED detonated just eight feet away. "It was a significantly large blast and it really changed my life." He lost some of his fingers and was diagnosed with hearing loss and traumatic brain injury. Matt's recovery continues.
He has learned to cope with the anxiety, anger and depression - what he calls the "demons" of PTS. Much of the credit he gives to his wife, Emilia. "My loving, supportive and beautiful wife has played a huge role in my recovery,” Matt says. “Her unwavering faith in God, and in me, gave her the strength and courage to pull us both through the hardest times." A good reminder for all of us that we may have times when we need help. We should never be ashamed to ask for it. (The book contains dozens of stories about how the wives of disabled veterans played a major role in the recovery of their husbands, truly the unsung heroes, joining the legion of other caregivers in civilian and military life.)
The book contains many more tragic stories of injury and remarkable, motivating recoveries. If they could do this, so can we in our own lives.
Adam Jahnke (Lance Corporal, USMC)
Corporal Jahnke's story, a victim of TBI, is the final large portrait in the book. His remarks provide a fitting conclusion: "I was proud that President Bush was at the top echelon in charge of me when I was fighting, and that he cared about me". President Bush said, "Adam's words stayed with me as I painted him. I hope he and his brothers and sisters in arms know that I care about them still, and that I will until the day I die."
I have been often mistaken as a disabled veteran or a "victim" of polio. I was paralyzed by loss of blood pressure during surgery on my spine to correct a minor problem. I have never had any trouble talking to disabled veterans. In fact, recently, some who have no visible disability have come to me about why they have PTSD.
That war was unnecessary and spawned an upsurge in Al Qaeda, weakening Iraq so that it greatly helped growing ISIS. Similar intervention in Afghanistan has prolonged war there and emboldened the Taliban.
Education and negotiation are the only right thing to do. Carter negotiated the release of hostages from Iran rather than go in fighting. Reagan took credit. No lives were lost. No one was injured. Future presidents should take a lesson from what these commanders in chief did.
Communication (an open Internet), education and nonviolence (demonstrations) can change whole regimes overnight. It can be a slow and painful process, but in no way compares to what has happened these young people that George Bush has singled out for stardom.
An immense number of veterans going back to World War II who need help are not getting it or getting it too late. Meanwhile, the defense budget is projected to increase 10%.
Ron