From Tragedy to Triumph: A Reminder This Veterans Day to Never Surrender

SSG Kevin Flike — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 12:43:34 -0500

I am just one of many veterans that raised their right hand and swore to defend our country. Each one of us has a story to tell and I would encourage you to listen, not just on Veterans Day, but every other day of the year.

To say my military service was life-changing is an understatement. Through basic-training, Green Beret training, deployments to the Philippines, Thailand and twice to Afghanistan, I was taught to think outside of the box, given the tools to lead and realized that nothing was impossible. I was pushed physically and mentally beyond anything I thought was humanly possible. My character, resolve and determination were challenged on a daily basis. However, the greatest test of my mettle came at 27 years old when a single bullet changed the course of my life and taught me the virtues of humility and empathy.

On September 25th, in the 10th hour of a firefight, I was shot in the lower abdomen. My injuries were severe, 20% of my colon had been removed, my hip was fractured and I sustained a damaged femoral nerve that paralyzed my left leg. To repair the damage, I underwent six surgeries, the last of which was an experimental surgery at the Mayo Clinic. These procedures have left my body with over 40 inches of scars. I had to perform 1000’s of hours of physical therapy to re-learn simple tasks like walking and navigating stairs. I went from being a former college football player who served in the Army’s most elite unit, to a man that needed help putting on his socks.

For months on end I was in constant pain and barely slept. I spent long sleepless nights on my couch with a drink in my hand and tears on my face, questioning why God let me survive my injuries only to suffer so much. Like so many others, I struggled to get off of my prescription narcotics. When I left the Mayo Clinic, I was prescribed 12 pills of extra-strength morphine, 12 Percocet and 2 Valium, a total of 26 pills per day. At the time I needed every pill, because the pain I felt when I woke up from my last surgery was worse than when I was shot. Several months after the surgery, I was able to work my way down to 1-3 pills a day; however, I could not kick those last few.

A once promising future began to seem like a dim reality until my wife finally intervened 11 months after my initial injuries and 6 months after my last surgery. She asked me, “Is this it? Is this what you are going to do with the rest of your life?” I played the wounded veteran card and told her it was only 1 or 2 pills a day but she was not having any of it. She said, “it is 1-2 today and next year it is 2-3 and then 3-4 and the next thing you know you are addicted.” This was the angriest I had ever been with my wife, but after thinking about what she said, I realized she was right. I drew a line in the sand and stopped taking painkillers and began studying for my graduate school exams the next day. Almost a year later, I was accepted into the MIT Sloan School of Management and that fall I was accepted into the Harvard Kennedy School of Government to pursue concurrent Masters Degrees. In the spring of 2016, I graduated from Harvard and MIT and began working for Goldman Sachs that summer. Our family has grown to include two little girls.

That single bullet derailed my life and forced me to pass through the valley of humility. I walked a mile in others' shoes and experienced depression, anger, addiction, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress. While this was one of the darkest periods of my life, it never broke me. These experiences and lessons learned have made me a better husband, father, man and citizen of this country.

I used to question why I endured such suffering, but six years later, with the support of so many, I know why. In addition to being the best person that I can be, the purpose of my life is to share the lessons I learned from the toughest period of my life so that others may turn a tragedy into a triumph. From a man who has been through hell and back, no matter how dark it may get, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it burns brighter than you can imagine. Happy Veterans Day.

Response by SP5 Richard J Jones made Nov 11 at 2017 4:46 PM

SP5 Richard J Jones — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 16:46:30 -0500

Thank you for your story, SSgt. I, too, have gone through a battle with substance abuse, not like you, from a combat injury, but, from a difficult, broken family. By the time I enlisted at 23, I thought I was past it. When I left in 1973, I started back where I left off, with alcohol and drugs. After 3 days cold turkey, I got dry. Been that way ever since. Went back to church, and try, every day, to be a better human than I was the day before by the grace of God. I thank him that your life is back on track, and, that you are alive and well able to celebrate this day. Thanks to yours and countless others' service to this great nation, and the ordeal you and they have gone through, we are all aware of the sacrifices many vets have made on those foreign fields to mostly, help their fellow brothers & sisters in arms get back home safely. Welcome back, SSgt!

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Nov 11 at 2017 6:34 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 18:34:41 -0500

Thank you for sharing your story. Its very important for veterans to share their stories. Many veterans feel they are alone in their struggles. However, we all have our own trials and tribulations. Many folks have fought the same battles both during and after their service. Its important to share our stories because many folks have had similar experiences.

Hopefully, your story can inspire others and help them overcome their own struggles as you have overcome yours. Thanks again, you are a true hero.

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Nov 11 at 2017 7:37 PM

SSG Michael Scott — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 19:37:57 -0500

Great story

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 12 at 2017 9:38 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 09:38:01 -0500

Thank you for the great share..

Response by Doris Collins made Nov 12 at 2017 9:43 AM

Doris Collins — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 09:43:27 -0500

I personally encourage you guys for your day-to-day selfless sacrifice. Keep it up. God will continue to bless you all and keep you strong for us and your family.

Response by SPC Todd Rhoades made Nov 14 at 2017 7:18 PM

SPC Todd Rhoades — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 19:18:50 -0500

Great story SSG Fike. Col Boroughs quote today made me think about the story my mother read about the little engine that could, you know, I think I can, I think I can, choo, choo. If the Army taught me anything, it is, the capability of overcoming obstacles is only as limited as you allow it to be.

Enjoy those kids, mine have grown up way to fast. I should've had one more, odd numbers create conflict, odd man out, so to speak.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2017 11:22 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 11:22:48 -0500

God bless and keep you and your family. Thank you for sharing your personal journey and triumph.

Response by SGT Sammy Barnett made Nov 15 at 2017 11:47 PM

SGT Sammy Barnett — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 23:47:18 -0500

Well written Soldier, Hooah on your victory.

Response by SP5 Jerry Mucha made Nov 16 at 2017 11:19 AM

SP5 Jerry Mucha — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 11:19:35 -0500

Thank you for sharing and congratulations for succeeding after your injuries

Response by SFC William Farrell made Nov 19 at 2017 12:15 AM

SFC William Farrell — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 00:15:27 -0500

Congrats on a successful recovery and on your degrees SSG Kevin Flike and thank you for your heroic service. I too was on too much pain meds from an old military injury that got worse after a particular spine surgery that was done poorly. After my fourth spine surgry I am off the meds as of a year now and while I was not addicted I was living on them. It would have been a real problem if i was still drinking but I gave that up 11 years ago. We are so much better Kevin. I am glad you are here to share such a successful story.

Response by PFC Sandra Wade made Nov 20 at 2017 12:13 PM

PFC Sandra Wade — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 12:13:22 -0500

What an amazing story of strength. And the abrupt corner you turned to follow another path. That I am impressed with. Not giving up has a very deep meaning. Yes, your military career was remarkable, but you are more than that put the pills aside set out on a path of excellence. That makes you one of my heroes

Response by SSG John Eroh made Nov 21 at 2017 12:02 AM

SSG John Eroh — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 00:02:44 -0500

I had severe back pain from a deteriorating spine and arthritis filling the nerve spaces (I'm 70). The VA here sent me thru Chronic Pain Self Management, where we learned all about pain and the treatments for it. We are encouraged to use other treatments than drugs as much as possible. Using PT, diet (some foods reduce pain), acupuncture and non-drug treatment from a Pain Management doctor, I only needed a low dose of opiates until I broke down and had back surgery. Within about 2 weeks after the surgery I was off the opiates when I figured out the only time I was using them was at night and the bed was causing the pain. I found a spot that my hips & back were ok with and didn't need any more.

I would love to see more VA's and military medical facilities use more alternative treatments for pain and in cases like yours, earlier. I was surprised the relief I got from my first acupuncture treatment. There are several e-newsletters on pain.

Response by SPC Robert Klitsch made Nov 21 at 2017 11:40 AM

SPC Robert Klitsch — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:40:04 -0500

ABSOLUTELY GREAT story of perseverance and NEVER give up attitude! Adapt, overcome, and drive on! Congratulations!

Response by SSG Mike Childers made Nov 25 at 2017 11:04 AM

SSG Mike Childers — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 11:04:29 -0500

Thank you for your service and for your story. I once felt as you did....." why did God let me live? "..... and like you I was shown why. I am supposed to share my experience and help our brothers and sisters in arms find a way through their dark times.

Response by SSG Shawn Ireland made Nov 27 at 2017 5:30 AM

SSG Shawn Ireland — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 05:30:57 -0500

I have a similar experience but haven’t come out completely yet. I joined the Army on the Delayed Entry Program right out of High School. I was seventeen when I went Active. I came from a divorced family since I was three. I was the youngest of three in that marriage. I lived most my life with my mother and stepfather and for many years things were fine. My mother was one who always looked for me easy way in life. As I became a teenager my older brother had been in trouble with the law almost constantly. So as I got older and was not one to get in trouble but was quiet. My mother decided that she wanted to take in foster kids and I had no issues with it for a long time until it got to where the foster kids were getting what I saw to be better attention and at holidays and birthdays presents. Now I have always been short and I never in my life even to this day ever cared about it. But it came to one Christmas and I was directed to the garage and there was a ten speed bike, as my older brother had just took mine and bought some pot from trade. Anyways I walked out to my new bike and as I got closer I realized that it was a miniature bike! Well I knew better then to say anything then other than thank you. Later that week my mother wanted to know why I wasn’t riding the bike, so I told her in a manner not to make her made but to explain that if I was to take it out and ride it I would forever be ridiculed by everyone as it was so small. Well even though I was as diplomatic about it she got very irate with me and went off with her normal way of yelling and cussing at me. So in time my other stepbrothers an stepsisters used it and it was a no issue anymore. Well during my growing years I watched the news and everything that was happening in Vietnam and I told her that I was going to join the Army when I was 17, and needed her signature. Now by this time I was an honor roll student even though she had me held back in first grade. I couldn’t understand why as I had passing grades but I was the child and she was in charge. Well my older brother continued to get in trouble with the law and was finally given a choice by a judge either the Army or jail! Of course he went into the Army and got lucky as he did his Basic Training at Ft. Ord and we lived in San Jose, which meant every time he got the weekends off he came home and would bring about five guys with him. Of course they took over my room and I slept on the couch. Long story short, he had to recycle Basic as he got Sick and was hospitalized for a couple weeks. As he was no longer at homeI became the one that was going to be just like him and would never amount to anything. Well he got through Basic and AIT and went to Germany. So I continued to be the one to rag on . During this time he ended getting thrown out of the Army and soon started robbing banks. Yet I was the bad one . They had the ASVAB Test at High School so I took it and went and talked with the Army Recruiter who was more than glad to get me to sign up. Well I did and because of having been kept back, I did High School in three years. Things got worse at home and halfway through school I moved in with my father. Well that was no better as my stepmother picked up where my mother left off. I graduated with honors and even had three job offers and had a offer to attend UCSB. Well that was what my father wanted for me, but I was already signed to leave so soon as I graduated. I did Basic at Ft. Leonard Wood, and was the Acting Platoon Sergeant for the entire cycle. I got the job on day one as the DI, asked who knew how to make a rack. Well I knew you were never to volunteer but I had been making my bed that way since I was five as my stepfather was in the Army in Korea. So the DI, was surprised and made me in charge. I was given the keys to their office and made the duty rosters and all that went with the job. Well one morning at breakfast my DI came in the chow hall with the platoon and asked what I was doing on KP. I told him that if I was to get any respect from the guys that I had to do what I had to make them do. He was shocked needless to say. Anyways I graduated Basic told of my cycle and was given a framed certificate from AUSA in reconciliation of my work. I then went to Ft. Benning for AIT. My MOS was 11B. Once again I was given a leadership position that I held for the entire cycle. I again graduated top of my cycle and was given one moth home on Hometown Recruiter. It was okay but I didn’t like working a desk. Finally I went overseas to Bamberg Germany. Was put into a Platoon and made an APC Driver. We had a change of command about four months later and my Squad Leader and I were chosen to go to HQ Platoon and I became the new CO’s APC Driver and my Squad Leader became the TC. I went a private and left a SP/4 promotable and got my PCS Orders for Ft. Lewis. I had a couple buddies that were with me in Germany and were at Battalion when I checked in with the CSM. Well they talked him into getting me into the same company which just happened to be an TOW Company. So I became a Squad Leader as my Orders got there as soon as I did. My time was getting short and the four years I signed up for was coming to an end so I decided to re-enlist. I stayed at Ft. Lewis for about four more months then got orders to PCS back to Germany , this time to Schweinfurt. This was only 40kl from where I was stationed my first overseas tour. I was there fore about a year and a half and that’s when my life changed! The Army had just put out the MILES Gear, and my Squad was picked to run the course against another squad and my Squad was doing the best as we had won to battles which we were demonstrating for the CORP CSM. The third time down I reached the center of the course and had to jump over and roll behind cover so I wouldn’t get killed and landed on my LBE and my canteen cup broke my hip. Well I didn’t know that it was broke as I just thought I was sore from doing the course three times. Two weeks later I was in terrible pain for near the whole two weeks but the Medics just kept calling it muscle strain. On the end of the second week I could hardly walk and tried to run PT, but was in tears. They finally sent me for X-rays and to our surprise I had a break and a bone fragment in my hip socket about the size of a dime. They sent me to the main hospital where my Orthopedic Surgeon put me in the hospital as he was going to give me a hip replacement. Well later that week he came into our ward and decided he wasn’t going to operate but release me in two days with crutches that I was only to use for a week and then a Cain. I had a permanent profile that prevented me from doing anything and was just given pain pills and my CO sent me home as I had a place off post as I was a Staff Sergeant by this time. Well I was home for a month as instructed and when I reported back he saw that I was in no better shape and sent me back home for another month and told me it was covered and if I needed anything to call or come in. Well another month and no better as I had a bone fragment in my hip that was casing my pain, not to mention wrecking my hip socket. I was finally moved to Headquarters Company and asigned a job in the Battalion PAC. I worked in the PAC as I went through medical boards to separate me from service. It took two years to get through the medical boards and I was sent back to the states to Ft. Lewis where after about a year I was finally separated from service with a Medical Honorable Discharge. During my year at Ft. Lewis I worked as the SDNCO for the Brigade Commander who was Gen. Mc Caffrey. Now they never did anything but give me pain pills and even though I went round and round with the Army they weren’t going to do anything for me. They gave me a severance check as they said they couldn’t rate pain in 85. So when I was out I went to the VA Hospital and they also wouldn’t do anything for me. I fought for 30 years to get my hip fixed and finally got fed up and talked with my private medical doctor and asked for a consultation and two months later had a new hip! Of course there was still pain but different and then I ended up with constant migraine headaches of which I still suffer from. I was turned down for my VADisability but the second time was given 100% up until I had my own personal medical insurance gave me my hip replacement. Theythen cut me down to 50%. And to add insult to injury, I had to pay back the severance pay they paid me at separation. So my world is like yours was and am on pain medication now for over 15 years for both the migraines and my hip. They put me on Fentanyl parches, 16mg a day of Dilaudid and 10 mg of Valium, along with about five other Meds as well. On the good news we are coming down from 100mcg/ hour Fentanyl patches to 25mcg/ hour. As for the others those are still being taken for the migraines. I try to go with as little as possible as I would love not to have to be on anything. The DEA this year has started cracking down on Doctors and patience that are on high doses of opiates as it has gotten to epidemic proportions. So I understand what you want through and am striving to get free of the pain Meds myself. Sorry this was so long but it is the only way to tell my story. By the way, I was in for eight years longer than any of my family, got out and worked even with the pain for eighteen years as a Carpenter. I even graduated the top Carpenter Apprentice of Santa Clara County for my graduation year as it was a four year apprenticeship that you did while you worked. Thanks for your story! It helps to have brothers out there that can show that there is light at the end of this.

Response by SrA Alan Dirk Scott made Nov 27 at 2017 8:32 PM

SrA Alan Dirk Scott — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 20:32:48 -0500

Thank you for your sacrifice and an incredible inspirational story of courage thank you

Response by SPC Mike Lake made Feb 8 at 2018 11:05 AM

SPC Mike Lake — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 11:05:03 -0500

Wow thank you for your service and thanks for sharing your story SSG