As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, you will care for veterans due to the invisible wounds of war. We have a special guest, Mr. Samuel Walley, an Army Veteran who shares his experiences during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Mr. Walley, an infantry soldier of the 82nd Airborne division who at the age of 19 years old was deployed in Zhari district near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.

He recounts numerous intimate stories of bravery, courage, valor and fear and what its like to be in combat. Being a foot soldier on patrol, he vividly remembers moments during firefights as they go “out the wire.” On 6 June 2012, his Platoon, headed north into the countryside. Speaking Poshtun, they were trying to communicate as they asked questions to the locals. He vividly recalls that he was running after the target and an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated.

He was lifted off the ground from the IED blast. After the dust settled, his colleagues dug him out of the ground and administered important life sustaining medical care by using tourniquets, as Sgt Williams called a “9-Line.” He sustained a TBI,

multiple injuries to his left upper extremity and right lower extremity.

He was transported to Kandahar Airfield Hospital and vividly remembers seeing the medical team as he laid on the surgical table. He was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He was flown Stateside to Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland where he received intensive physical, medical, mental health care for 3 years. He now has a right leg prosthesis, his left arm was amputated. His left lower extremity shows extensive surgical scars.

He was not open to the psychiatric plans from his health care teams until a therapeutic alliance from his therapist who showed empathy to Mr Walley.

He went through the different Stages of Grief from denial to anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. He also went through, Prochaska’s Stages of Change as he battled the demons in his mind and self medicated with alcohol. he battled, grief, anger, depression, anxiety, PTSD. He felt hopeless and helpless. He contemplated suicide.

He fondly speaks about his fellow soldiers and his military family. He shares his pain to those peers who have passed away due to illness. He talks about the pain he suffered from losing his battle buddies to suicide. He talks about the bond that is formed during battle.

He survived from all these tragedies. He graduated from the University of North Georgia. He collaborated with book author, Annie Jacobson, “First Platoon” that is published and available now online. He shows his resiliency and found his passion again and continues his service to the veteran community.