084: A Veteran Speaks

by | Nov 10, 2019 | Podcast | 0 comments

Change It Up Radio - Episode 084: A Veteran Speaks with Jack Gutman

 

Today we’re talking about honoring our veterans and healing the painful wounds of war and post-traumatic stress.

 

We have freedom today because brave individuals have been willing to go to scary, dangerous places and put their lives on the line to fight for our country. Those are the veterans that we honor today and every day.

There are other holidays, like Memorial Day, that honor fallen veterans who fought for their country. But I love the fact that on Veteran’s Day, we honor and thank every man and woman – particularly living veterans – who have served the United States in all wars.

My father Jack Gutman, one of the last surviving veterans of the Invasion of Normandy, joins us today to share his painful recollection of the Invasion of Normandy along with his journey of healing the wounds of war after a 66 year-long struggle with PTSD.

He also shares the beautiful healing experience he got to have this past June when he and a group of other veterans made an emotional and life-changing return to Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

 

We Discuss:

  • The epidemic of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicide in veterans
  • The events of D-Day and the Battle of Okinawa that changed Jack Gutman’s life forever
  • Why more veterans are not seeking help or are resistant to mental health support
  • Reducing the stigma of mental health care in veterans and others experiencing PTSD
  • How PTSD can affect anyone who’s experienced a significant traumatic event
  • Helping a veteran to seek counseling and other beneficial mental health treatment
  • An emotional and life-changing return to Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D-Day

 

“There is light at the end of the tunnel, and you can get help. I didn’t believe it – as a matter of fact, I resisted in the beginning. But boy, it sure changes you. Please get help.”  –  Jack Gutman

 

About Jack:
Jack Gutman Image

Born in San Francisco in 1925, Jack Gutman grew up in a tough neighborhood of New York City where survival meant belonging to a gang. His gang was the Panthers.

At 17 ½ years old, wanting so desperately to serve his country, Jack convinced his father to sign for him and he enlisted in the Navy.

After training for months as a Medical Corpsman, his first active-duty took him to England to prepare a hospital for the aftermath of the invasion of Europe.

On D Day he landed between Utah and Omaha Beaches in the invasion of Normandy, having the difficult task of caring for those killed and wounded during the attack.

After dealing with undiagnosed PTSD for 66 years, he finally got counseling from the VA and today leads a happy, healthy life.

Today he is a one of the last living World War ll Veterans who are healthy, lucid, and able to share with us the realities of D Day,

He is also an active comedian, public speaker, and author who loves speaking to students and touching lives with his story.

Recently he was video interviewed by the Smithsonian World War ll Museum in New Orleans and this interview is now part of the museum’s archives. He has appeared on Martha MacCallum’s Fox News show, The Story, on Ben Shapiro, in countless video interviews, and of course, on his daughter, Paula’s, radio show and Podcast, Change It Up Radio.

 

“I will pray for those guys that I had taken care of that are probably lying in the graves, and I will salute them and make sure that they never, ever be forgotten.”  –  Jack Gutman

 

Resources Mentioned:

 

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Check out the video below to watch our live interview:

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