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[People automatically think] he must have got shot in the streets...

Learn more about PTSD from David Kendrick and other Veterans who’ve been there: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/AboutFace

Transcript

The VA here in Atlanta,

we have a lot of interns from
Emory and things like that,

and I could just see the
look on people's faces

when I tell them that I got shot.

Or if I say that I got shot

to someone who doesn't
know I'm in the military,

their mind automatically goes to, oh,

he must have got shot
in the streets being,

the average stereotypical answer

until I tell them,

"Oh, I'm a Veteran as well.

"I'm a Purple Heart Veteran."

Then that's when people
wanna give me their respect.

Then that's when you hear the
tone in people's voices change

and the way that they treat you,

even respond to you via email or text,

things start to change once
they find out my story.

But if I meet somebody and
just tell them that I got shot,

they're gonna think, okay,

this kid is from
Rochester, inner city kid.

He got shot.

It must have been something,

over drugs or gangs or something like that

because it's easier to associate.

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