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Sonia is a US Army veteran who worked in the Telecommunications while he was in the Army starting at Ft Jackson which ultimately lead him towards the gulf war. Another veteran who lives on the streets of Detroit! In his spare time, he regularly hangs out at the local VA hospital where he is a social butterfly hanging with a few guys who served in his time period and uses the time together to be able to talk through their experiences. Sonia shared with me that he is part Cherokee Indian and how he is proud of his heritage and how they played a pivotal role in the early wars as “Code Talkers”. He told me that one of the things that he struggles with is PTSD and mental health and how he copes with war and seeing combat. He said for many years he thought it was a not cool to share but he said he realized that talking through it with others helps him. Sonia said that when you are homeless and suffer with mental issues you find perspective in what’s important. He said for the longest time he would find himself drenched in sweat and standing outside in a deep gaze with sweaty hands originally not knowing what it was ashamed to talk about it because you are trained not to show weakness. He said he dreaded going to sleep because he realized that’s when it got worse. He said that he realizes he will never get rid of it but he’s learning to deal with it. Sonia said in the past the drinking is what he first used to deal with it but now that he’s around others they use each other to help each other out but each day brings its challenges.