Chaplain Zachary Moon has seen how war affects troops. But he says his peers and the public need to better understand post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries.
"If all of our knowledge is acquired from the media coverage and other sources that focus primarily on post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, instances of suicide and so on, we may come to see our service members as victims," writes Moon. Moon says with increasing numbers of troops who've seen combat, religious leaders have a role to play in helping congregations welcome veterans and active duty members to churches and other religious institutions.
Moon serves on the faculty for the Military Ministry Program at Iliff, which focuses on theology students interested in working with service members. He's also author of the book "Coming Home: Ministry That Matters with Veterans and Military Families."
