March 20, 2023, marks the 20-year anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
After five surgeries, Iraq Army Veteran Seyward McKinney hoped she was out of the woods. Then she had a stroke. Horses helped her recover.
A caregiver for an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran shares her journey in the Campaign for Inclusive Care and VA’s Caregiver Support Program.
Iraq Army Veteran Seth Cole would prefer to be in Aspen for the Winter Clinic but plans to make the most of the virtual version this year from home. Sports are part of his rehabilitation goals.
Benita Swinners suffers from PTSD and is a survivor of military sexual trauma. Today, she has come to point in her life, thanks to VA, where she can talk about it. Here is her brave, candid story.
Navy Veteran Tyler Welch used to patrol the streets of Iraq as a corpsman. Now, he’s fighting a new battle against fires. Welch is part of the Veterans Fire Corps crewmember program, run through the Southeast Conversation Corps. SECC is an AmeriCorps-affiliated non profit that engages recent-era Veterans, partnering with the U.S. Forest Service Southeast Region. SECC started the Veterans Fire Corps program in 2018. The 10-month intensive training program engages recent-era military veterans in fuels reduction, fuels management, and wildland firefighting. For Veterans like Welch, the program is a perfect fit for his transition.
Russell Fields patrolled the gritty, dangerous streets of Al-Fallujah, Iraq.
An Eagle Scout, college graduate, and airborne-qualified Soldier, Fields led soldiers as a noncommissioned officer in the 10th Mountain Division. His unit fought street-to-street, door-to-door, in urban conflict. He lost Soldiers, placing them in body bags. Reality changed for Fields when he left the battlefield and the military to return home to Texas and start a new life. Fields faced a new form of combat. Flashbacks, images of combat, and the faces of those killed came rushing back. Everyday events like shopping, loud noises and crowds of people left him unprepared.
On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, President Donald J. Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to David G. Bellavia for conspicuous gallantry while serving in Iraq.
In honor of Operation Iraqi Freedom’s anniversary, we would like to recognize and honor everyone who served during this international conflict.
National Memorial Day concert highlights women Veterans representing all five branches of the military and service since WWII
Events like this are vital because they allow Veterans to expand their network and knowledge before they are in crisis.
VA Health Care Use among Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans About [...]












