Veterans Find Support Through A Private Facebook Group

Frank Grun quit his Air Force job five years before he qualified for a full pension because of the toll the job was taking on him. He witnessed his colleagues drinking, getting divorced, and feeling depressed, and he didn’t want the same fate. After 15 years serving as a combat rescue crewmember, Grun and his wife moved to Portland, Oregon.But he began to miss the men who served alongside him.

He heard from several military friends that they also were having a hard time adjusting to civilian life. In 2016,one member of their friend group died by suicide. To makesense of the loss, Grun started an invitation-only Facebook group for people who served in combat.

“I had only one rule,” Grun told Oregon Live. “Say whatever you want, but it has to be helpful."

The group grew, but tragically some of the members were dying by suicide. It took a toll. So when Grun would see a troubling post, he would call upon other group members to check on the member. They would reach out or even show up at their home to check in. Now the group has meetings in-person, called Vets Speak, where veterans can talk about their military experiences.

Plans are underway to make more events happen locally.The effort is a way to honor group members who had nowhere to turn when it was most bleak.

“This feels like a mission,” Grun said. “It's never about me. It's about them.”