Iraq War veteran seeks members for support group

Around three years removed from his year-long stint in Iraq, Fort Scott resident and former U.S. Army soldier Daniel Rowe still has trouble talking about some of the things he experienced during his time in the war. He knows he's not alone.

So, to help people like himself, who have served in Iraq, Rowe is trying to start a Veterans of the Iraq War support group. Rowe said the purpose of the group will be to let veterans of the war talk about their experiences with people who know exactly what they're talking about.

"If someone needs to come out and up front with something, they can," Rowe said. "There are a lot of things that I would like to talk about with people, but I just don't feel comfortable talking about them. So to be able to talk with someone who has been there is one advantage of this group."

Rowe said the idea to start the group came about because he was appalled that Kansas had no such support group in place for veterans of the Iraq War.

"So, I wanted to start a support group for our generation," he said, "for the people who have been to Iraq."

Rowe said the first meeting is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m., Friday, June 8, at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1165, 1745 S. National Ave. He added that the meetings are open to anyone who has served in Iraq or to anyone who simply has questions about the war, including those thinking about joining the military.

Rowe said it's important for veterans to be able to talk about their experiences, instead of keeping them bottled up inside.

"When you've been through something like that, if you are able to talk to someone about it, it relieves some of the pressure, it relieves some of the pain you have to live with each and every day," Rowe said.

Rowe said he understands, first hand, the kind of pain, both emotional and physical, that veterans go through on a daily basis. As part of the original force of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Rowe said he saw things that he'll never forget. A forward observer for field artillery, Rowe said his duty was to look out for the enemy and then call on the artillery to fire upon them.

And while he would like the chance to talk to people about his experiences, he's not quite sure what he'll say.

"There are no words for death," he said. "There is nothing you can say that can explain the sight."

Still, he said, he encourages any veterans who would like to discuss their experiences to attend the meeting.

"It takes a lot to talk about some of the things that we've been through," he said, "but you try not to bottle it up, because it will tear you up in the long run."

Originally from Santa Cruz, Calif., Rowe met and married Fort Scott resident Michelle Baxley in 2004. The couple resides in Fort Scott.

For more information about the support group, call Rowe at (620) 215-1853.