Veterans’ Mental Health

I interviewed Mr. Kenneth Morgan, a retiree from the Department of Defense. I started by asking him about his time in service. He volunteered to join the army back in 1976, fighting in the Korean War. Afterward, Mr. Morgan went to school to become an officer, achieving the rank of captain.

He also mentioned how he has worked in the private sector, and civil service, and then spent seven years working in an air force and space center before retiring as a fire technician. Throughout his journey, Mr. Morgan carried the mantra of always having to act as a “tough guy” and convince himself that he does not care about the little things. Though, during his many years in service, it was a moderately effective coping mechanism to get him through the stressors and pressures that often arise, Mr. Morgan explains that constantly abiding by this mantra and neglecting many of his true feelings is a significant reason why he spends so much time at the Veterans Affairs Hospital now that he’s older: after so many years, it has taken wear on him. This mantra proved to be useful in some ways as Mr. Morgan learned to face rigor and tough times with a “level head on his shoulders,” taking a step back and trying to view challenges with an objective mindset and not letting his emotions get the better of him. Some of the hardships, he mentioned, were fleeting friendships—with a new assignment nearly every day and out on the battlefield, friends were hard to constantly keep in touch with. Yet, while on duty and in housing, he explains that everyone is united by common passions and connected through their profuse similarities; though friends may be slightly more difficult to keep, they certainly weren’t hard for many to make. He still holds many fond memories with him, no matter how short or seemingly trivial. All in all, reflecting back on his time in service, no matter the difficulties or setbacks Mr. Morgan may have faced, he would wholeheartedly relive this exceptional experience again and again. 

We then shifted over to discussing his present adversity: cancer. Mr. Morgan has multiple myeloma, a blood disease characterized by lesions that weakens the bone.  He has been admitted multiple times as his cancer has relapsed and mentioned the various tests he goes through at the hospital. During his visits, he brought up the waves of sadness that often undertake him as he sees all the other cancer patients. Mr. Morgan often wonders what kind of cancer they have. What is their condition like? How bad is their cancer compared to his own? These are the kinds of questions that they generally do not discuss; nevertheless, Mr. Morgan still deeply empathizes with the other patients. As for Mr. Morgan’s treatment regimen, he is currently going through a high dose of chemotherapy due to the severity of his cancer, yet he still maintains a positive outlook, enthusiastically proclaiming that his current doctors and staff at the VA are fantastic! I was curious to find out how Mr. Morgan was able to stay so optimistic and build such great resilience. He discussed on how he tried not to dwell on his cancer diagnosis too much, taking each day one at a time and going with the flow. Some things, he explained, someone doesn’t have much control over, like cancer, so the best thing he can do is head the advice and trust of those with more knowledge. Finally, we concluded our discussion by asking for any advice Mr. Morgan would give to individuals facing adversity from his experience in the military and with cancer. He recommended two major things: 1) If someone believes in God(s), Mr. Morgan believed that staying prayerful allowed him to stay afloat during difficult times 2) He urged people to stay in touch with friends, family, and any other close relationship. These individuals were Mr. Morgan’s greatest support system, always ready to lift him up. 

Mr. Morgan was an honor to speak with, and I cannot thank him enough! From fondly reflecting on his time in service to his experience battling cancer, Mr, Morgans has offered incredibly valuable insight, teaching me the importance of facing the world with a smile painted on my face and overcoming obstacles through resilience.