SALISBURY -- Decades later, a number of Vietnam veterans across the country are seeking treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
For some, a misdiagnosis or lack of treatment options offered in the ‘70s is to blame.
A six-week program at the Salisbury VA Medical Center is drawing veterans from across the country.
Decades after the Vietnam War, veteran Mike Stracuzzi is proud of his service. But, Stracuzzi did not receive a warm welcome home.
Stracuzzi remembers not being able to share his experiences with family and friends. He was also refused service at a bar.
"They told me we don't serve veterans. I told them I was 21 years old. They said, 'We don't care if you're 120 years old, get out,'” said Stracuzzi.
He was diagnosed with PTSD and now sees a psychologist at the VA Medical Center. He’s one of a number of Vietnam era veterans seeking treatment later.
"Our Vietnam veterans would outnumber our younger, returning veterans coming back home,” said Kristin Humphrey, the coordinator for the Specialist Inpatient PTSD Unit.
Ten years ago, they saw a sharp increase in Vietnam veterans enrolling.
"When 9/11 happened, all of their thoughts and memories of their own combat and their own deployment started coming up for them,” said Humphrey.
For many, retirement age also meant time to remember.
"Symptoms become entrenched. Most people will medicate with other things like drugs or alcohol,” said Humphrey.
Medical advances after the ‘70s also meant a lapse in treatment for some veterans.
"They may have had support groups but it was, 'We're gonna treat with medication,' and first off, they didn't even use the word PTSD,” said Humphrey.
Stracuzzi, who worked at VA facilities, still remembers when he tried to get treated for a common cold.
"Not about to go to a place to seek treatment where they don't even want to acknowledge that I was in a real war. It was a tough decision to go,” said Stracuzzi.
Now the walls in the treatment area are filled with plaques and pictures of veterans who learned to cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Every six weeks, up to 23 combat veterans go through specialized treatment. Soon, about eight veterans will be accepted every two weeks. The change in admission will help with wait times, according to organizers.
"It's not necessarily a cure. We don't like to use that up here. But we're going to get you back to a level of functioning that's healthy for you and your family,” said Humphrey.
The goal is to use writing and group treatment to heal. Members of the program also go to malls and busy areas to help them become more comfortable in large crowds.
"No shame in going now, no embarrassment, no stigma,” said Sarcuzzi.