Veterans of War

Back in 2003, Leshonda Gill was deployed to Iraq where she served as a Chemical Operations Specialist. Her mission was to find and decontaminate chemical weapons of mass destruction. One day, while on their way back from a mission, Gill's squad was ambushed. Gill sustained multiple injuries to her groin, abdomin, and legs and was sent home for recovery.

Gill was only home briefly before she decided to return to Iraq as a private contractor. By 2009, however, the Iraq War was beginning to wind down and Gill returned home permanently. Sadly, transitioning back into civilian life was no easy task and two years later, Gill found herself evicted from her apartment and standing on a window ledge preparing to jump.

Fortunately for Gill, an acquaintence talked her out of jumping and helped her move into a Los Angeles transitional sheter. Not all of course, are so fortunate. A National Coalition for Homeless Veterans report states that nearly 80% of homeless veterans suffer from mental health disorders, drug and/or abuse, or co-occurring disorders and an average of 22 veterans commit suicide each day. These statistics are alarming to say the least, and while the VA continues to slug through piles of applications and paperwork, time for many of these veterans is running out.

Today, Gill shares her story as a means of raising awareness about the plight that's facing thousands of other veterans like her. Help us raise the money we need to conduct and produce an interview with this inspiring woman and others like her. Donate to the Valuing our Veterans project today!