Instead of Sheep with Mathius Carter

05/19/24 • 125 min

My name is Mathius Carter. I am an Outreach Coordinator at the Road Home Program and I recently authored a children’s book called “Instead of Sheep: A Soldier’s Way of Explaining PTSD to his Son”.

I am an Army veteran with a family history of military service. One month before 911, I found myself in boot camp at Fort Knox in Kentucky. Two years later, I was in Iraq deployed as part of the 32nd Signal Battalion, attached to 3rd ID. I was injured in a mortar attack on my truck. Miraculously I survived. Not everyone did. After service and college, I joined a non-profit called Veterans Path to Hope as a Case Manager. It was there that I began to realize the long-term cost of war. When three veterans in my caseload and a good friend and brother from Iraq all committed suicide, I realized that I, too, was not OK mentally.

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Conversations with a Vet host Carolee

"Step into the World of Veterans: Join Conversations with a Vet! Here, we shine a spotlight on those who've given everything for our country—our veterans, young and old. They've sacrificed more than any other group, and it's time we give them the recognition they deserve. In this space, veterans can connect with peers facing similar challenges, finding solace and friendship in shared experiences. Let's build a supportive network where no veteran feels alone in navigating life after service. Through this channel, I aim to uncover resources veterans may not know about, offering firsthand accounts to inspire and empower them to seek help when needed. Veterans are all around us, yet too often, their sacrifices go unnoticed. It's time to change that. Join me in honoring their service and saying 'thank you.'

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Over the years, I have met so many of this country’s greatest war heroes, that I couldn’t let these stories go untold. In 2015, I started “Operation Fishing Freedom Foundation” (NOW –Operation Healing Heroes Foundation) to preserve the stories of our US Military Veterans. In just 5 years, We’ve filmed and documented over 50+ Veterans stories. We are not only “preserving” a small piece of history, we are providing families with a “memory book” that can be handed down to future generations. Through 5 seasons on Discovery Channel, we’ve touched MILLIONS of viewers lives with these HEROIC stories. In addition, the show has become a RESOURCE for veterans to learn about alternative PTS treatments that the VA does not offer. To date, we’ve treated (and paid for) over 100+ Veterans to get relief from their PTS symptoms.