CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The events unfolding in Afghanistan are taking an emotional toll on local veterans and one group wants to remind them there’s help.
Retired Navy Lieutenant Commander Andrew Tangen served in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012.
He told WBBM Newsradio it’s been incredibly difficult to watch the Taliban take over the country he once fought to protect.
“To see it crumble as fast as it did, is heartbreaking,” said Tangen. “People are attempting to escape something that is absolutely evil. They are willing to hold onto an aircraft and fall to their deaths to get away from what’s coming.”
Tangen, who is also the superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission in Lake County, knew other veterans were likely struggling with the emotional weight of this past week’s events.
“It’s hard to talk to civilians about what this is and what we’re going through. We’re recognizing what we need, and realizing that our job is to be the chief veterans advocate for these people, so we know that they need it too.”
The VAC of Lake County offers free resources to veterans, their family members as well as Gold Star families.
“If they need to take a break and talk to people who were there, we’re here for you,” said Tangen. “We will sit down, and it doesn’t matter if you’re here for two minutes or two hours, we’ll talk with you, we will reminisce, we’ll do whatever it takes.”
The Lake County VAC team can be reached by phone at (847) 377-3344. The National Veterans Crisis Line is also available to all veterans 24/7 at (800) 273-8255.
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