Akron-Canton News Anchor Eric Mansfield kicks off his week long series, "The Long Road Home" on Monday, May 12th. The series will air every night at 11pm thru May 16th.
Eric's hope is to see how local veterans back from combat are coping and transitioning back into daily living. He'd like to hear from those who have served and from their families on their experiences, what programs or techniques may have helped ease them back into everyday living, and also share their current hurdles or challenges. We'd love to hear from our viewers, veterans, their families, and anyone really who has a story to tell on the adjustment back to civilian life.
Eric knows first hand how tough the adjustment can be after returning from war. He battled and risked his life to protect our freedoms back here in the United States. However, while he was fighting for us, the world around him moved forward. Sometimes the adjustment to a sense of 'normality' is quite challenging.
We were quite lucky and blessed to be able to keep in touch with Eric while he was away. He or his wife, Lisa, would periodically send an email and even pictures to give us a taste of how combat and just plain daily living was in his neck of the world. While we were discussing this upcoming series, he said I could relay some of his thoughts and photos which he began sharing with me back in April and May of 2003. Be sure to check out Eric's Blog as well!
I must admit, I refrained from showing you the graphic picture of the little varmints who shared a bunk with Eric. Eric said, "the mice are driving me crazy..eating all my food..had 'em up on my bunk with me twice while trying to sleep yesterday in the heat..one time, a sergeant hit my back trying to knock a mouse to the ground and woke me up.." Eric resorted to making homemade mouse traps out of the duct tape they had on hand. Eric said he was able to get a few of them within the first few minutes of his surveillance!
Getting Eric back to the states was a tug-of-war. There were a few false alarms as to when he may be coming home and his tour of duty would end. He was able to come home and see his family around the holidays but had to deploy again January 2004. Eric's one year anniversary came and went BUT on a brighter note, at the time, he had been told he may be home within a few months. We were all keeping our fingers crossed and praying. Even when he was told, 'you are coming home,' he knew he would not be home immediately. He had to make a few stops: Indiana, Dayton for the official 'welcome home' and then ease back into family life. Toward the end of his tour, communication shut down. His tent had to be torn down and the 'internet cafe' was not the greatest...so there was a halt to communication for just a little while. Finally, Eric sent word that his release date was moved up...he could be airborne sooner than later. He was confident he would be airborne around the first round of the 2004 NCAA Playoffs and home for Easter celebrations. And he was!
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