An injured veteran named Paul was interviewed on Good Morning America about his experiences serving in Iraq and returning home. He explained that war forever changes you and that returning home is difficult because nothing is the same as before deployment. Paul said seeing people who have everything still complain is challenging. While he does not regret any decisions made during war, Paul acknowledged that the healthcare system for veterans is inadequate and soldiers are sometimes forgotten. He hopes the system will improve to better care for veterans.

1. Interview of a veteran who served in Iraq and is now injured and currently at home in
America
Claire- Hi Paul and welcome to good morning America my name is Claire Post and I will be
your host this afternoon. It is a great honor to have you on the show today. The reason why
I have invited you today is to inform this wonderful audience along with the world of the
issues that the many honorable veterans who return home after a very difficult battle are
faced with. I along with everyone else I am sure are very intrigued not only to know what
the war is like but what the world is also like once you return home. So first off I would just
like to thank you for coming and if you don’t mind I would love to ask you a couple of
questions.
Paul- of course you can ask me a couple of questions I would be nothing other than
honored that you even are here willing to know what is really going on.
Claire- of course, it has been brought to my attention by previous veterans that we have
had on the show that once you return home from America the world is never the same as
the way it was before you once left. Were you faced with this same outlook on the
community you returned home to?
Paul- well as a matter of fact I was faced with the same issue. The best way to put it is that
when you go off to war whether you are serving in the hospital, caring for the wounded, or
fighting on the front lines you are in some way forever effected. In my opinion any war will
forever change you. I can understand how some people might think “How can the war
really forever change you?” “When you get home you return to the same life you had
before.” I have heard it many times when people ask me this question that is the normal
response, but really the truth is you don’t ever look at anything the same way. If you were
to experience some things that I have you would also come back and wonder how these
people go about their daily lives the way they do…. Sometimes I just stop and think how did
I live like this?
Claire- Wow Paul thank you so much for better explaining your personal outlook on that
question. I now understand how coming back from having barely what you need to survive
to seeing the people who have everything and still complaining can be very c challenging. I
completely understand your point of and I very much respect it.
Paul- Yes Claire that was the main thing really, seeing the people who have everything and
still feel that they need more just to impress the people around them is what really get me
the most.
Claire- Thank you Paul. Ok if you don’t mind I have a couple of other questions for you
Paul- Sure go right ahead
Claire- Ok this question was sent in by a member of the audience. “Paul when you look
back at the war do you think of what you wish you would not have done or regret any

2. decision that you might have made just in the spur of the moment that you might not have
now that you have time to look back on what you did?
Paul- That is a good question but I am going to have to say no I do not necessarily regret
anything that really comes to mind. When I look back on the war I just think of what I did
that was good rather than what I did that was harmful or not beneficial. If I were to
constantly stop and dread on the things of the past that I did while in a state of war I would
not be able to come on the show today. Every decision that I made I thought was the right
one at the time that I was faced with to make it, and I am not ashamed or nor do I wish to
take any of my actions back.
Claire- That is very interesting Paul. I truly admire you for being able to look at what you
did for your country rather than what you could not do.
Paul- thank you Claire
Claire- man o man the show has just really flown by. I have only a few more questions that
I am sure everyone is really wondering whether they are about to go serve in the war or
even just know someone who has. When you return home after the war and in the very
unfortunate event that you do get hurt in battle, are you provided with the proper medical
care that you need and deserve?
Paul- well it is very unfortunate; however, in the experiences of not me but my fellow
comrades the position of the health care system is not really where it should be. Personally
I think that it is not where it needs to be, just because of the simple matter that the soldiers
are almost in a way forgotten about. It almost seems as if we don’t really matter. Soldiers
that I have known have gone to court to fight for a better system. However, thus far nothing
has really changed in a very dramatic way. Oppositely, there is always hope for the future.
Claire- thanks Paul and I also agree. I very much hope that the system is changed so
everyone is taken care of or put in a place where they need to be.
Paul- I also agree
Claire- Paul I just want to thank you so much for coming on the show today. It was a great
honor to have you. I now know much more now that I have had you here to really explain
the areas that were a little bit cloudy to me along with everyone else I am sure. You along
with everyone else who has served in any way in way are a great hero to me and will never
be forgotten
Paul- Thank you for having me today Claire. I am grateful for the time that was provided to
explain and provide you some knowledge that you might not have known. Thanks for
everything it was a great honor.

3. Claire- you are so welcome Paul..... This has been Claire with good morning America. Good
bye for now America, and have a great day!