WINCHESTER, Calif., June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The wife of U.S. Army veteran James Louk, who was riddled with physical and emotional problems after returning from Vietnam, has a message she would like to send out to military and war veterans. "My husband, James, suffered from PTSD. His stress level was high and his nerves were frayed, but working on therapeutic arts & crafts kits from Help Hospitalized Veterans helped him so much," said Charlene Louk.
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James Louk served in the late 1960's; his 13-month deployment in Vietnam was spent as a battery commander's driver and aide for the artillery unit. But while Louk may have survived the enemy in Vietnam, coming home he had to face down two more enemies - PTSD and cancer.
While her husband was hospitalized at the Clarksburg, West Virginia VA Medical Center he was given a craft kit, provided to the VA by national nonprofit Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV). "Over the years, James probably finished about 40 of those HHV craft kits," she said. "Working on the kits gave my husband a place to channel his stress. When he finished a kit, he always felt better about himself."
Charlene also spoke about how much James "gravitated towards the woodworking kits" as well as ceramic kits he could paint. "My husband was so appreciative of the kits and the people who make them possible," she said. "He received outstanding care at the Clarksburg VA, and I just hope that the Help Hospitalized Veterans donors know how much working on these kits helps veterans," added Charlene.
Since 1971, Help Hospitalized Veterans has provided over 28 million therapeutic arts & crafts kits to VA and military hospitals worldwide. For more information about its free products and services for veteran and military patients, including the new Patient Home Rehabilitation program which provides craft kits directly, visit HHV.org or call (888) 567-VETS.
Contact:
Frank Cimorelli
928-848-7803
v4vconcerts@cableone.net
SOURCE Help Hospitalized Veterans
