Vets, Colorado College professor reflect on service, sacrifice, cost of war

Vietnam veteran Joe Barrera served in combat in 1970. When he came home a year later, he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“It’s an uphill battle all the way,” Barrera said. “When the war is over, that’s just half of the war. When we come home, we need acceptance. We need to be recognized for what we did, we need help in getting readjusted.”

Colorado College Anthropology Professor Sarah Hautzinger is part of the “Cost of War” project at Brown University.

“We have underestimated what it was going to take to respond to veterans’ needs, as well as the broader needs the multiple deployments asked of communities,” Hautzinger said.

Adrian Nunez deployed to Iraq three times and now adjusts to life away from the battlefield. Nunez, a Colorado Springs resident, believes too often civilians forget about the importance of Veterans Day.

“For me, it’s to remember all those who didn’t come home to see their families,” Nunez said. “It’s a very emotional day. I remember who I served with, I remember being in boots. I miss it every day.”

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day nearly a century ago. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the U.S., our allies and Germany agreed to temporarily stop fighting. The temporary ceasefire led to the beginning of the end World War I.