When Pasha Palanker was 15, he and his family immigrated to the U.S. from Moldova. Although his family lived in a rough neighborhood on a very low income, Pasha was happy and proud to be living in America, whose opportunities far outnumbered those of his birthplace. In an effort to repay the U.S. government for the assistance provided to him and his family after they arrived from Moldova, Pasha enlisted in the Army, shortly after the war in Iraq kicked off in 2003. Following multiple deployments to Iraq, Pasha had been blown up more than once, and suffered multiple Traumatic Brain Injuries. His experiences left him with the lasting effects of PTSD. In this episode he talks about his journey – how he survived multiple blasts and came face-to-face with a suicide bomber, and how he is now working through the issues caused by his injuries. This is an open and insightful conversation about the indelible wounds of war we can’t see that are still plaguing servicemembers long after they come home.

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