The promise of having medical school paid for in return for seven years service in the Navy was an easy choice for Donnelly Wilkes when he started medical school in 1998. That all changed on September 11th, 2001. After just one year of residency in Family Medicine at Camp Pendleton, Dr. Wilkes was called to active duty in the Iraq War. Choosing to be stationed with the Marines, he knew he'd be close to the front lines, but not as close as 200 yards away.

In his memoir, Code Red Fallujah: A Doctor's Memoir at War, Dr. Wilkes gives his first-hand account of one of the bloodiest battles in the Iraq War. His unique perspective gives us a window into the mental and physical toll it took on the men around him, including himself. "Sharing the harrowing entries from his field diary, Lieutenant Commander Donnelly Wilkes becomes the first-ever U.S. military physician to recount the sights and sounds of one of the most violent events of the entire Iraq War." (www.coderedfallujah.com)

This Memorial Day, join Kevin and Niseema for this poignant discussion about combat stress and mental health with Dr. Donnelly Wilkes MD, who is passionate about sharing his story and letting other servicemen, women, and veterans know that there are resources and help available for anyone who needs and wants it.