Moral Injury All Over Again: How the Afghanistan Crisis Affects our Veterans,  

by Judy Isaacson Elias 

Sandy is distraught. As she watches the situation in Afghanistan unfold, all she can think of is her translator, Gul. “I’ve known Gul since he was a single guy. Now he has a family. Gul gave us intel that saved our lives. In return, I promised him, on behalf of my government, that, if this situation occurred, he and his family would have safe haven in the United States. I have let him down. We are in touch, but I cannot get him out. He and his family will most likely be murdered by the Taliban.” 

This is one of many stories I have heard in the past week. Integrity to a soldier is everything. In frustration and fear over the lives of Gul and his family, we looked at private rescues. The costs are great, and the risks are greater. We are a small nonprofit, doing everything we can to save lives. Our debt is to our veterans. Where does that debt begin and end?

I am the Founder of Heroes to Heroes, an organization that has saved the lives of hundreds of veterans of all faiths through spiritual healing journeys to Israel, the Holy Land. When we meet our veterans, they are in a bad state. Many have had multiple suicide attempts and a majority live with suicidal ideation. All live with intense moral injury, the guilt felt due to actions taken or not taken that are against our moral code.

For example, Simon, while  in Afghanistan, had less than a moment to make the decision to eliminate an insurgent who was about to kill one of his men. He rightly took the shot and eliminated the threat. The insurgent was a ten-year-old boy whose father put a weapon in his hand and told him to 'kill the infidel'. Due to this incident, Simon had not slept in years. They young boy visited him in his sleep each night. He could not live with this moral injury. He had already attempted suicide four times. During a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Simon had his epiphany. He understood that he is a soldier, not a murderer. After a baptism in the River Jordan and planting a tree in memory of the young boy, Simon was able to pray and is able to sleep. He now has a full-time job in the health industry.

How do we deal with moral injury? How can we take people from a desire to die to a desire to live? 

Presently, dealing with moral injury is assigned to military and VA (Veterans Affairs) Chaplains. This is a huge issue, affecting so many of our soldiers and veterans, yet few people and organizations are assigned to or have accepted this challenging role.  

Healing moral injury is healing the soul. In twenty-first century America, faith is looked upon with scorn. Suicide rates among our veterans have been at a steady twenty per day for years. With the VA’s focus on mental health and thousands of veteran’s organizations doing the same, it is shameful that we are unable to move the needle. The truth is, healing the soul and faith do not attract funds, especially government grants or corporate interest. 

“God wishes I were dead.” is a common answer we receive from veterans on program applications. All have been in traditional therapy for years. Most have taken part in various veterans’ programs both in the VA and outside. Faith is a sidebar. Forgiveness is a discussion point. 

Moral injury can manifest itself in such a way that the veteran destroys all that is in his or her path. How do you deserve children when your battle-buddy did not live to see his or her children? Why should you live happily when so many were affected by what you did or did not do? Most importantly, how do you live when you believe God wishes you were dead?   

 

Healing the soul requires reconnection to our Creator to find forgiveness. Imagine waking up in the morning with no purpose and with the belief that God, your Creator, does not want you alive due to actions taken during war, where your goal was to have you and your unit survive the day. Forgiveness cannot come in the form of acceptance from family members, fellow veterans, or the government. It must come from the understanding that God is a forgiving God and does not put us in a situation that is unforgivable. 

Soldiers are sent to war prepared technologically, mentally, and physically. They are not prepared spiritually. The average American has an elementary education about their personal faith, understanding the ‘good and bad’ that they must do to be good people. War tests that understanding and our soldiers and veterans are failing the test. Those tasked with suicide-prevention are failing the test. Ten plus years of 20 suicides per day is a failure. As human beings, created by God, it is our job to stay alive to acknowledge His presence. When our veterans learn this, life changes. Choices change. Life becomes livable. Memories exist but stay as memories. Difficulties still occur but are dealt with through strength, not shame. 

The Afghanistan crisis is spiraling many of our veterans back to the state of where their moral injury is front and center. For some veterans who have gone through our program, moral injury is returning. With over 600 veterans on our waiting list and a flurry of new applications in our inbox, how will we keep them alive? 

Judy Elias is the Founder of Heroes to Heroes Foundation,  a 501c3 organization that provides spiritual healing and peer support to veterans who suffer from moral injury. The foundation’s journeys to Israel have saved the lives of over 300 veterans.  To reach the foundation, go to Heroes to Heroes