2 Oklahoma veterans grateful for new call to action

According to Veterans for Life USA, an average of 17 veterans die by suicide a day in the United States, down from the previous figure of 22. This progress is attributed to growing support systems among those who have served.

Brian Paul and Brandon Wallace, veterans who faced life-changing trauma, turned their experiences into a mission to help others on a similar journey.

“It’s a bullet that misfired,” said Brandon Wallace, an Army veteran, as he held the bullet that nearly ended his life.

Wallace recalls the time he tried to commit suicide. “I put the AR in my mouth,” he said. “I pulled the trigger, but for some reason the bullet didn’t fire.” Now he keeps the ball with him as a constant reminder of how far he has come.

Wallace, who retired from the military in 2019, experienced significant trauma during his service, including a harrowing experience in Afghanistan when a bomb exploded 100 meters from his convoy. “It was Thanksgiving and we didn’t quite make it,” Wallace said. “There is a lot of war trauma that you can’t prepare for.”

Brian Paul, a veteran of the 45th Infantry Regiment, served as a machine gunner and rifle platoon leader. However, his most influential duties came stateside when he helped at the scene of the Oklahoma City bombing. “As a 20-year-old, it really made an impression on me that came to the fore later in my journey,” Paul said.

After his military service, Paul worked as a firefighter and paramedic for eight years, but unresolved trauma led to personal struggles, including a painful divorce, homelessness and two suicide attempts. With the support of his family and professional help, Paul founded Veterans for Life USA, an organization dedicated to helping veterans and first responders.

“It’s great to know you still have a purpose,” Paul said.

The group recently completed a 30-mile walk around Oklahoma City to raise awareness about veteran suicide and connect with veterans in need. Meanwhile, Wallace finds solace in working with Flagpoles Honoring Our Veterans, an organization that raises American flags to honor the memory of those who served.

“We created a brotherhood of friendship,” Wallace said. “It’s emotional.”

Paul remembers his journey with gratitude. “One of the things I’m very grateful for is challenges in life, because they make me so much more grateful,” he said.

Now both veterans are dedicated to answering a new call to service: helping others heal. “It’s never a burden; It’s always nice to be able to help,” Paul said.

Veterans for Life USA connects veterans and first responders with mental health and addiction treatment resources.

Click here for more information: https://www.veteransforlifeusa.org/

More information about flagpoles honoring our veterans can be found here: