SOLON — It’s a sobering number.

In 2012 The Veterans Administration (VA) stated an average of 22 veterans commit suicide every day, which equals one every 65 minutes. Since then, some have questioned or even challenged the VA’s 2012 Suicide Data Report noting while veterans have a 50% higher suicide rate, during the period between 2001 and 2009, the average was less than one veteran suicide per day. The VA’s 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report notes 17.5 per day in 2021

Regardless, one veteran suicide is one too many, and since the 2012 report, much effort has gone into raising awareness of veteran suicide and pushing for improvements in mental healthcare for veterans particularly in the realm of treating Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS).

Solon veteran Doug “Doc” Thompson knows all too well the effects of PTS and the impacts it has on the veteran community. As a Navy corpsman (medic) he was assigned to the Fleet Marine Force and served as a combat medic during the Vietnam War. A member of the Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460, Thompson serves as the Post’s Chaplain and is one of the volunteers comprising the Iowa Veterans Outdoor Experiences (IVOE) organization, which provides opportunities for veterans to come together and heal the wounds they have hidden away for years if not decades.

“For a lot of them, I think it’s the camaraderie,” Thompson said, “And they’re not all from Iraq or Afghanistan, we’ve got Vietnam veterans as well.”

The all-volunteer staff of IVOE have all received some degree of training to recognize the signs and symptoms of PTS.

Thompson said when veterans return from a war, they have changed. “When they come home, they’ll have seen things that you don’t bring up in polite society. A lot of these guys and gals, things that have happened to them, things that they’ve seen, things they had to do, they don’t talk about, which is fine, but those things were out of their control.”

Thompson said they need to realize they did what they had to do in that particular circumstance. “You give 100% to your efforts.”

Ruck 22 – hiking for veterans

Last September Thompson organized the first Ruck 22 walk to raise awareness of veteran suicide and to raise funds for IVOE. 35 people participated with some donning backpacks weighing 22 pounds. Thompson wore a special 22-pound vest. The event generated $3,000, which IVOE used to fully-fund a veterans’ fishing trip in April.

Originally Thompson was planning to walk 22 miles nonstop and to solicit sponsors at $22 (or more) apiece. But his daughter had a better idea; get others to walk along with him.

“Well then I thought how about 2.2 miles. The 22 would be symbolic, but then I’d have to make it at least a little challenging, so I said I’d get some sand and fill an old backpack with 22 pounds
of sand,” he said. “For my birthday, she got me a 22-pound weighted vest. And when I pitched it to the (IVOE) guys, they thought it was a great idea.”

IVOE is going into their sixth year of serving veterans, and Thompson said they know they’ve had a positive impact.

“There’s been 19 veterans that told us they had been contemplating suicide until they went on
a fishing trip or a bow hunting trip (IVOE sponsored events). For us, that’s our whole goal: to save the lives of our brother and sister veterans.”

There is a lot of symbolism behind the Ruck 22 event. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and Thompson’s goal is to have the ruck on or as close as possible to the 22nd. The entry fee is $22 as are T-shirts printed by Juan Santiago (SYNCERE Printing, LLC, in Tiffin), and the 2.2-mile distance represents the 22 suicide per day statistic. And although not required partici-
pants are encouraged to carry 22 pounds on their back (backpack full of sand or other weights, a weighted vest like Thompson wears, etc.).

“It’s to recognize that I’m carrying the spiritual souls of some of these veterans, letting them know hey, I’m carrying you. I’m carrying 22 of you on my back. I like the symbolism that we’re using.” It can also represent the burdens weighing down veterans and leading them to contemplate suicide. “You are carrying that weight for them.”

The ruck is also for the spouses and families.

“Those wives and husbands and children, they are amazing people. This Ruck 22 is also for them because we want to bring Dad back as close to how they were, as close to what ‘normalcy’ was for them.”

Raising funds for IVOE

Proceeds from the ruck go entirely to financing IVOE’s fishing and hunting trips for veterans, which have been shown to be beneficial, to the puzzlement of the psychological and psychiatric communities.

“They don’t understand what it is about hunting and fishing, those two specific activities, why they have such a positive impact on the psyche of people with PTS. They’re focused on a specific activity and they’ve got that camaraderie there.”

Studies have shown, he said, that talking a walk outside listening to the birds and other sounds of nature has a calming effect.

“But the activity itself helps veterans.”

For more information on IVOE and how they help and support veterans call 319-631-0334 or go to www.iowaveteransoutdoorexperience.com. IVOE is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IowaVeteransOutdoor-Experience, which includes a link to make a donation.

Veterans Crisis Line

If you are a veteran having a mental health crisis, or know a veteran in crisis, help is available 24/7 with confidential crisis support through the Veterans Crisis Line. Dial 988 then press 1 or text 838255 or chat online at www.veteranscrisisline.net.

This year’s event is set for Saturday, Sept. 21 at 9:30 a.m. and starts at the Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 (222 East Main St.).

“We want to save lives,” Thompson said.