I am Douglas Peltier, a Vietnam Veteran, I was born and raised in Minnesota, and enlisted in the US Army in 1968. Also, in late 1968 I married my wife and we had nearly 53 years together before she was called home 3 years ago. I came to Colorado in 1970 when I returned from Vietnam. I completed my term of service at Fort Carson. In 1987, I came to Salida and bought my home here; for many years it was a place to escape the stress and pressure of working in the Denver area. Most of my life's successes were accomplished while I was broken inside.

 

Over-achieving is one way those who suffer the ongoing effects of trauma mask over the root problem. My trauma experienced in childhood made me an alcoholic at age 14, which I battled for 20 years before I was delivered from that demon in 1982. Before that happened my wife said that she wanted a divorce several times. I just did not realize how much I had changed. Alter Vietnam I hardly talked and shared with her anymore and she became an outlet for my anger. I did not admit to having PTSD until 2022 and through the ministry of Operation Restored Warrior I was healed, and completely set free from all the effects of the trauma from my childhood and combat, 1 year ago. I have changed so much in past year that I really feel 5 years younger, and the change is still continuing today.

 

As a Vietnam Veteran, I have a special concern for my fellow comrades who have lived tormented most of their lives feeling that they were rejected and that nobody understood or even cared, feeling that there was no real help available to them. But even late in life healing can happen. And that healing brings forgiveness that can erase the pain and suffering from a past that cannot be changed, only forgiven. I believe my own healing qualifies me to be a facilitator to help others be set free also. There is something about a shared experience that has much greater effect in bringing hope to a life that seems hopeless. To be able to go that step further than what mental health providers and medication can.

 

I believe that being trained to recognize a person who is in trouble is necessary to be able to draw out those who need help. Being connected to fraternal organizations and going to places where those in trouble are important because many of them are not seeking help or have long since given up hope. I know in my heart that God has called me to help all those that I can relate to, and that He will bring in all the other team members also because He finishes everything He ordains. Things keep happening and evidence of this keeps popping up that this is His plan for my life and Salida is the place where it is supposed to happen.

 

I agree wholeheartedly with the Vision and Mission statements of RWF and am so excited to be considered for the Board of Directors of an organization with the same desires and goals that I have, and the same commitment. Having my own story to share with other sufferers is of vital importance to the healing process. In fact, I can now understand that God has a purpose for all the personal suffering I experienced to bring healing to others. The fact that there is hope makes it all worth while. I feel that being able to partner with a local organization with the same goals is an answer to many, many prayers. I feel that I can dedicate up to 16 hours a week to this mission and am eager to get all the training I can to be better equipped to help others. I also bring the desire to help children and women who can experience a very wide variety of trauma find healing. I desire to see "High Country Hope" as a ministry of The Roy Williams Foundation.

 

Sincerely,

Douglas Peltier