Wrong Side of Heaven, Righteous Side of Hell

This month sees Veterans Day (November 11) in the United States. It celebrates, honors, and thanks those who served in the United States Armed Forces. November 11 is also Remembrance Day. It honours the end of World War I and remembers all service members who died in conflict.

I came across a song a few months ago that has haunted me ever since. It is a song by Five Finger Death Punch: “Wrong Side of Heaven, Righteous Side of Hell,” the title I stole for this story.

The video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_l4Ab5FRwM) is unsettling yet fittingly graphic. I challenge you to watch it without getting a lump in your throat. The chorus of the song is as follows:

“Arms wide open

I stand alone

I'm no hero

And I'm not made of stone

Right or wrong

I can hardly tell

I'm on the wrong side of Heaven

And the righteous side of Hell.”

We often overlook the sacrifices of our military personnel. We also struggle to help them reintegrate into society.

I cannot imagine the toll it must take to go out and shoot someone or drop a bomb on a village. These people give up everything and go out to defend their country and the people who live in their country. They find it hard to understand why, after service, they feel discarded. They also wonder why they are often ignored.

The video reveals tough facts. It covers the number of homeless veterans. It also discusses how many face divorce or lose their families. Many veterans struggle emotionally due to their experiences.

Released in 2013, the numbers are outdated. New figures on these factors show little improvement. Risk factors for veterans include:

• Unemployment

• Financial strain

• Physical or mental health issues

• Isolation

As of January 2024, there were 32,882 homeless veterans in the U.S., with 19,029 being sheltered and 13,851 unsheltered. This represents a 7% increase in veteran homelessness between 2022 and 2023.

In Australia, about 5,800 veterans, or 5.3% of former personnel, face homelessness each year. This rate is almost three times higher than that of the general population.

In the UK, there were 2,110 homeless families with a veteran in England during 2022-23. This represented a 14% increase from the previous year.

More than 67% of homeless veterans served their country for at least three years.

Divorce rates among military couples have increased by over 40%. In the US, the divorce rate among military couples is 4.8% compared to approximately 2.5% of the general public.

The divorce rate can be significantly higher in specialized fields. One source says that some Special Operations Forces (SOF) units have a rate of about 40%. Meanwhile, estimates for groups like the Navy SEALs exceed 90%.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 13% to 20% of the more than 2.6 million troops sent to Iraq and Afghanistan have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Rates can be as high as 17% among those who have transitioned from full-time service. Female veterans are more likely to suffer from PTSD (17%) compared to males (7%).

It has been estimated that somewhere in the world, a veteran attempts to take his or her life every two hours.

I’m not sure there is a quick fix. Wars continue as leaders determine the fates of their troops and the lives at stake. It is hard to see changes soon. Especially with the increase in general living conditions in many societies.

Last month, I wrote a story about appreciating the little things.

This has relevance here. As Veterans Day and Remembrance Day approach, you may be able to reach out to a veteran when you see one. They don't always need money. Sometimes they just want to be heard, as in the case of Rowl, which I found on the Internet.

"Every day, I walked to work in a suit and tie. I often thought about how much my job sucked and how I wished for a better life. Then one day, I sat next to a homeless man who wasn’t asking for anything. I felt so absurd sitting there in a suit. Then, I listened to his story. For two years, I sat down beside my homeless friend, Rowl, every day. Rowl would not let me give him money. He wanted me to just listen. So I did. One day my friend wasn't there. I haven't seen him since. I miss my friend, and, more importantly, I really appreciate his sacrifice for us. Thank you, Rowl. I miss you brother... You have tough me that a simple act of kindness is the least we can do and often what we owe the people we ignore... We can do be better....”

Submitted to Mikeydred's Unofficial November challenge:

Till next time,

Regards

Calvin