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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a clinical term debated by medical professionals as a disorder, or a state of mind upon experiencing a severe, traumatic even that involves the threat of injury and/or death to oneself or others. Such events may include an assault, robbery, kidnapping, automobile or plane crash or acts and threats of violence.
For our purposes and as an increasing concern, PTSD occurs as a result of military combat and war-related issues. It is common; it is real, and it is our responsibility to provide our military with the support and resources necessary for our veterans to heal, feel comfortable in their own skin and in doing so, without judgment or stigma; often times associated with the diagnosis.
Recently, I met a gentleman who does just that. He has at a table in the back of the room, his back to the wall so he could face the door, his demeanor warm and friendly, as his eyes perused the perimeter of the surrounding area. His name is Reverend Nigel Mumford, a corporal and drill instructor in the Royal Marines Commandos (England), and he served for eight years, including three separate combat tours during the period of 1971 to1978—a time when war was opposed by many and veterans were not well received.
When you sit and talk with Father Nigel Mumford, he is engaging, warm and compassionate; the intimating, drill sergeant persona is removed, yet the military pride and discipline are still very present.
Currently a priest who has dedicated most of his adult life to Christian healing ministry and a former Royal Marine, an interesting combination of two very different viewpoints of his life leading to his journey connecting with veterans.
“Yes, I used to make grown men cry as a drill instructor and I still do now as a priest,” he chuckles and shows his sense of humor one of many times during our meeting.
I was surprised to hear the Royal Marines conduct basic training for seven months.
He continues, “It is both mentally and physically challenging. The failure rate is about 50 percent and the slogan for the Royal Marines was ‘99.9 percent need not apply.’”
What draws this British military mate to helping our veterans is his military background and his own personal experience with PTSD. During his last combat tour, Father Nigel was exposed to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Four of his recruits were killed; he was hospitalized and couldn’t speak for a week; and once he was able to talk, he stuttered for several months.
“I was a completely broken man,” he said. His military career ended shortly thereafter, but his desire to help and heal veterans was just beginning.
Father Nigel’s life has seen its share of adversity—from several years ago contracting the swine flu while abroad; from witnessing his sister’s, Julie, debilitating muscle disease, dystopia, and as he mentioned—the life-altering experience which led him to ministry—her complete recovery after a visit from an Australian, Jim Glenn, who prayed over her; to dealing with his own wounds left from years in combat.
With his adversity and subsequent desire to help veterans, Reverend Mumford, had developed the Welcome Home Initiative program designed for an intense two to three day event for military veterans, and their spouses, who served in combat and suffer from the effects, in varying degrees, from PTSD.
He is also the author of “After the Trauma the Battle Begins: Post Trauma Healing.” In his words, he explains, “PTSD isn’t about what’s wrong with you; it’s about what’s happened to you,” which seems an accurate description of what many service members experience upon returning from deployment to war. He continues on to say that PTSD can be described this way: (which is also an excerpt from his book)
The mind is witness to a catastrophic event.
The intellect cannot cope with that it has seen.
The body reacts physically under duress.
The heart receives emotional scar tissue.
The soul weeps.
This mental trauma is a total body reaction to horror.
Father Nigel understands “Fight or Flight”, a common military term relating to mindset specifically to combative-related experiences. He has brought the Welcome Home Initiative program before the U.S. Pentagon, 2-star generals and 22 colonels who listened to his passion for helping veterans and healing their hidden wounds of war.
During the Welcome Home Initiative (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), which is no cost to combat veterans, there is a series of discussions designed to give an overview of healing, resources for recovery, coping mechanisms, the impact on spouses, significant others and families and an opportunity to tell their story.
“To be understood and to be heard, is a key point for veterans,” Father Nigel explains. “There are many connections and friendships formed during these retreats.”
The next Welcome Home Initiative takes place at Longfellow’s Inn, 500 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs on Monday through Wednesday, November 18—20.
There are pre-arranged reservations for 10 people for a residential stay. It is open to veterans and their families.
For more information and to make reservations, as spaces are filling rapidly visit the website www.byhiswoundsministry.org; snail mail P.O. Box 55, Greenwich, NY 12834; or by telephone at (757) 716-7812. There is a closing ceremony open to the general public on November 19 at 6:30 p.m. to honor and thank our veterans.
PTSD is very real and not shameful; it’s worth researching further to understand what veterans experience when off the battlefield and to help them and successfully communicate with this “unspoken body language”.
As Father Nigel said to me, “They gave me a cup of tea for debriefing after combat.”
We can do better for our veterans—they sacrificed for all of us.
A NOTEABLE MENTION: Operation Adopt-a-Soldier is having its annual Halloween Haunted Hayride and Haunted House on October 18 and19, and October 25 and 26th at Gavin Park, Wilton. For more information www.operationadoptasoldier.org or call (518) 306-7507 or (518) 729-9417.
As always, thank you to all of our veterans and families for all that you do.
See you next month here at Saratoga TODAY.
