"Every soldier returning from war has a unique story to tell of battles fought, ordeals endured, friends lost, and the absurdities that are part and parcel of the mayhem that is warfare. Stories to tell—but who will listen?"

Welcome to our Community page. Here, we will listen. Our intention is to provide a safe place where you can discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly about your experiences as a soldier–or as the friends and family of a soldier–whether you were in Korea or Afghanistan, or any of the wars between. Many of us came back with a mixed bag of memories and emotions that are hard to describe, some good and heart warming, and others that, well, we would rather forget. We and our families are all affected in a multitude of ways, and sometimes writing about them helps us understand what we are feeling.

Our goal for the community of veterans and their families is to have a place where we will listen to each other in a way that is supportive and respectful, where we can reaffirm that we are not isolated (although it often feels that way), but are part of a large community of veterans, friends, and families with whom we share strong bonds. We might be strangers, but we are not strange to each other.

For many people, writing for others to read is not a pleasant experience. Perhaps they are not sure of their grammar, syntax, or spelling, or don't want to sound foolish. These concerns are why some people–people who have something important to say–don't contribute to on-line conversations. This will be a monitored site. So if necessary, your posting may be lightly edited. This won't make you appear to write like Shakespeare, but your ideas and viewpoints will be available to the community. So take a deep breath and jump in.