A Guide for Families of Wounded Soldiers
FORWARD
We serve in the US military that serves a nation at war.
Our Hero Handbook is an excellent resource designed to help the family members of our wounded Soldiers. That very special population includes many family members who have little or no prior experience with the US military, and who need support and guidance as they directly help our wounded Soldiers. This handbook evolved from the experiences of 1LT D.J. Skelton, a wounded Soldier who expressed the need for a comprehensive guide to assist families in understanding and navigating the military medical system. Aided by spouses of soldiers from 1LT Skelton’s unit still serving in Iraq, the initial handbook was produced. This year, spouses of the U.S. Army War College Class of 2006, continued the work by updating and enhancing the contents of this handbook. Those dedicated spouses spent the academic year collecting and editing information from the field, from Walter Reed, and from agencies responsible for family health and well-being. In doing so, they have demonstrated their capacity for self reliance and the Army’s tradition of supporting and helping one another. The U.S. Army War College extends to them its sincere appreciation and gratitude for a job well done.This handbook offers many ways to deal with the often long road to recovery of our Soldiers - from all services - who will need the loving and informed support of their families. We are confident that you will find it useful in your own units as you do the fundamental work of taking care of our Soldiers and their families.
DAVID H. HUNTOON, JR
Major General, U.S. Army