author of The Bravest Guy

Published: June 26, 2017, 8 a.m.

General William Sherman once said, â??War is hell.â?? But for soldiers, the real hell may be the aftermath of war. Roughly 18.8 million veterans are living in the US, and up to 20 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD. According to retired Navy Commander Harry Wedewer, these veterans need to know that hope is alive. â??War is a deadly business that continues to plague every generation,â?? says Wedewer, author of The Bravest Guy. â??My father lost his sight and both of his legs during World War II, but the thing about his wounds was not what they did to him. Rather, it was what he wouldnâ??t allow them to do.â?? In an engaging and timely interview, Wedewer can discuss: The striking parallels between World War II and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan The power of optimism and hope: How Harryâ??s fatherâ??s admirable unflappability helped him endure the war and the challenges that followed Have faith in our institutions and public service: While it can be messy and frustrating, through grit and determination you can make a lasting difference Visibleâ??and invisibleâ??wounds of war, from a loss of arms, legs, and faces to PTSD Stark differences between the post-World War II society and todayâ??s society for solders returning home