Bonded by battle: lifelong friendships formed through service | va washington dc health care | veterans affairs

Founded December 13, 1636, the National Guard was established to protect families and towns from hostile attacks. After 387 years, one could only imagine the number of bonds that have been

formed by National Guard comrades both men and women. Then and now, National Guard Soldiers from various units train and remain ready to join forces, to serve, and to defend the freedom

recognized as the American way of life.  In our local Washington, DC area, three young Guardsmen, John Seymore, Sr., Jay Johnson, and Eric Hinson were pulled from different Maryland National

Guard units to serve in Iraq as part of the 243rd Engineer Company in 2005. They served together, during a critical time, as part of the transportation company, delivering supplies in Iraq.

Each of them individually were tasked with being Guard transport experts, but collectively they were the muscle behind the operations. “We didn’t know each other at all,” said John Seymore,

Sr., who deployed as a sergeant and retired in 2014 after 22 years and four deployments. But being sent to a war-torn country, far from family and friends for 14 months, created a lifelong

friendship between John Seymore and fellow Army Veterans Jay Johnson and Eric Hinson. “We are closer than brothers,” Seymore shares. Speaking about the theater of combat with family and

civilians is usually a difficult task for Veterans and those serving.  Johnson, who served 16 years, says, “there is no way anyone could completely understand what we went through or what we

witnessed as combat Soldiers.” Hinson adds, “We have a duty to our country and our family, so, we protect them by withholding details that make them worry.”   To check-in on one another,

the trio plans and takes a trip each year in October. They do not invite anyone else, not even their spouses. This time is reserved for them to support one another. At some point during the

trips, they reflect on their service, honor those who were lost, eat great food, and make fun memories.  The DC VA Medical Center offers individual and group support to Veterans through a

variety of programs. Speak with your VA Primary Care Team via My HealtheVet secure messaging.  Also, VA Vet Centers, which are community-based counseling centers, provides eligible Veterans

(including National Guard and Reserve) and their family members with a range of services including professional counseling and readjustment services in a safe environment.