Helping Veterans battling PTSD

I am strong. We are honoring all who serve our nation in uniform this Veterans Day. Good evening and welcome out here live on this special 6 p.m. edition of the Fox 13 6 o'clock news. We're live in Odessa at a brand new free treatment facility to help veterans who are suffering from PTSD. And we're going to be here when they cut the ribbon for the very first time tonight. And I'm Mark Wilson. Allie, we are looking forward to this, holding down the fort here at the Fox 13 studios. Tonight's going to be a little bit different. Allie, I know you're excited about this, to tell this story, as we are anxious to hear it. Tell us more about where you are right now. So, Mark, we are in rural Odessa. We're right off of Tarpon Springs Road. And you can see there's this beautiful red barn behind me that has been... Completely renovated and you're going to meet the Army Ranger who served in Vietnam, who knows very well what it is like to struggle with PTSD. He overcame it. It was a tough battle and he now feels that it is his duty to give back and to help other veterans who are struggling with PTSD. This place is called the Windmill 12 and it's all about Helping others in community, and veterans helping others. I think that's a really important point to mention here, is that not only is it free, but we're told combat veterans are already signed up to volunteer who have gone through the struggle of post-traumatic stress disorder, have gotten to the other side, and they are ready to meet with those who still need help here inside this renovated Red Barn, because we know, Mark, that the need is so great. And before I introduce you To that Army Ranger and his wife, who are the masterminds behind this passion project, let me just give you a picture of how dire the need is for veterans who are dealing with PTSD. About 7% of veterans will deal with PTSD at some point during their lifetime. What are those symptoms? We're talking intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, or distressing thoughts of the trauma. Avoidance, staying away from places, people, or objects that may trigger these memories of the event. Feeling on edge, an exaggerated startle response, irritability or sleep disturbances. The negative mood or cognition, that persistent negative emotion, detachment from others or the distorted guilt and blame. Some veterans who struggle with PTSD may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope. There's an increased risk for veterans with a history of PTSD, they're actually Twice as likely to develop an alcohol use problem, and three times as likely to develop a drug use problem compared to veterans without PTSD. Let's talk about the daily toll here for a moment, and this is staggering. Approximately 17.5 veterans die by suicide every day in the United States. The suicide rate among veterans is one and a half times higher than that of the US adult civilian population, with female veterans facing a rate roughly two and a half times higher than non-veteran women. And Mark, I know that you have very close ties to the veteran community here in the Tampa Bay area, and you know very well. How big of an issue this is in our community and how badly places like this are needed. Many of them have gone through trauma that the rest of us will never be able to understand. And often it takes somebody who's been through a trauma similar to really help them through that, which is why this program here behind you is going to be so impactful. And I know you're going to bring us the ribbon cutting live in just a few minutes, right? We are, but before we do that, I want to introduce you to Clark and share his story. We actually had the privilege of going on the honor flight with West Central Florida. It was Mission 58. That is where we met Sergeant Clark Rickey. Here's his story. Army Rangers of the 75th Regiment are an elite special operations force. We worked in six-man teams. The only thing we had was a topo map, a compass, and a crappy two-way radio. 78-year-old Clark Rickey was one of them. You get dumped in the jungle. 150-foot ropes, you're rappelled down to the canopy. The ink on his arm, a map of his military career. The Recondo tattoo, a badge of survival, having graduated what's known as the deadliest school on earth. We go out for five or six days, come back in for two. It's the only time I ever took a shower was the day I came back in. Were you looking for any names on that wall? I've looked for them before and I found them, and I didn't want to go back. I've already made my peace with that. The war left Clark with a lot of broken pieces. I've had 15 surgeries that were directly related to Vietnam service. But that pales in comparison to the brokenness he felt after coming home. When I came home from Vietnam, there was no debriefing, no nothing, I was in full combat gear on Thursday. Saturday night I was home in Pittsburgh and they say, stay out of trouble. Alcohol served a purpose for many years, until it didn't serve a purpose. It cost me a marriage that I'm very sad about. He hit rock bottom, and when he got up, he went to a 12-step program. And I learned how to deal with the way this brain clicks. So needless to say, I haven't had a drink in 41 years, and I'm a useful member of society. Dear veteran. Clark learned how to get his life back. The contributions to the country are so valuable and will never be forgotten. The Honor Flight experience, reigniting his purpose. I just now am at that point in my life where It re-emphasizes what I want to do. I have to give it back. As a disabled veteran with PTSD, he feels it's his duty to share what saved his life with other veterans. You married me. On this Veterans Day, Clark and his wife, Tricia, will cut the ribbon on Windmill 12, celebrating the grand opening of a free treatment facility for veterans battling PTSD. You know, the windmill is going to open, and who knows? What changes are going to happen in people's lives. This ranger proving a soldier never truly sheds their uniform. The setting of their service may change, but the oath remains the same. Welcome inside to the Windmill 12. There are so many amazing rooms in this renovated facility, but we wanted to bring you in this one because this one means a lot. to Sergeant Clark Rickey, and that's because this is the room for combat veterans. This is the room that is filled, as you can see, with military relics and things that will make these veterans feel at home and comfortable and ready to face the very real struggles that they are going through. And I had to pull these two away from the large crowd that's out there, over 100 people. Let me introduce to you, this is Sergeant Clark Rickey and his bride, Tricia Clark. Thank you, or Tricia Rickey. Yes. Thank you guys so much for having us here. How are you feeling right now with what's happening inside? I'm totally ecstatic with the turnout and the people that really care about what's going on here. And it just warms my heart that so many people really care to see it succeed. The two of you have been working on this for over three years. Tonight's the night. You're going to be cutting the ribbon in, you know, 20 minutes. How do you feel, Tricia? Oh, it's amazing to see that there is this much love coming our way and that it really gives me that energy to move forward through this process. I'm really excited about it. I'm also really pleased that there's not a single person here that doesn't want this to succeed. And that's what's really good to see is from the community that they're behind us. It's really awesome. We just heard your story and we know that you went through the 12-step process. You know it works. Thanks. Talk about what veterans can expect when they come here and why it's so important for you to have this place. Okay. If you're a veteran sitting at home and you've been struggling with self-medication, drinking, you can't have a good relationship, this is a place to just come in and just come in and sit and listen. You don't even have to say your name or you don't even have to talk. Just come in. And what we do is we have a bunch of veterans that have already been where you're at right now. And they know how to get out. They know the way out. And we share this freely to you. And there is a process. And you can be happily again. And it's been a long time probably since you really felt good inside without having to self-medicate or do whatever you have to do. So there's a chance here. And you're living proof of that. And this is free, completely free. Yes. Explain that for us. What we do, this is a non-profit. So what we do is everybody that comes in to help, they already have been through a 12-step process and combat experience. So they know the way out. You don't. They do. And they want to freely give to you what was freely given to them. I want to thank you both so much for your time and what you are doing for our community. It is truly remarkable, and I know it's going to make a difference. So thank you. Thank you for your service. Happy Veterans Day. We're going to let them get back to the more than 100 people who are out there. But, Mark, coming up, we will be officially cutting the ribbon here at Windmill 12 in Odessa. So make sure you stay tuned for that. Such a great program. So proud of what they've done and so thankful and grateful, as I know the community is too. Allie, thanks much. We'll see you in about 20 minutes.