My name is Lawrence John Sheehan, and I’m a Vietnam War Veteran.

I chose the Marines because I felt they were the best. My specialized training was in M-60s. I found that I liked the structure of boot camp and became part of it – or rather it became part of me.

I engaged in countless patrols, firefights, and many small battles. On second thought, they were not small battles since out of 800 in my unit only 47 of us returned to the U.S. I really learned to hate. I learned how to survive and endure. But the worst part was the friends that I lost and not being able to prevent any of it. After Nam, there were no friends. I left a part of myself there, and brought a huge part of Vietnam with me. I was diagnosed with 100% PTSD in 2001.

The American Dream is all but gone, as is the so-called nuclear family. Isn’t this what the enemies of this nation have always wanted?
Always walking on a thin line, straight off the front line,
~ John Lawrence Sheehan, USMC
excerpt from the book, VIETNAM & BEYOND

Lawrence’s sister, Susan Isabella Sheehan has organized the non-profit organization, A Circle Of Warriors to assist veterans today. She recently obtained permission in November 2014 to have a satellite unit of her weekly meetings at the Montana State Prison where Lawrence is currently incarcerated and can contribute in a positive manner regarding CPTSD, combat post traumatic stress disorder. Her website is http://acircleofwarriors.org/

We have personally donated a dozen copies of our book, VIETNAM & Beyond to the Montana State Prison for the group’s reading and discussions. We applaud Lawrence Sheehan for his service and for his beautiful contribution by sharing his story. Following is another excerpt from his story:

“I never got beyond the rejections of my country. I became broken inside. I had failed and as such, I became a failure, a reject of life. I found ways to throw myself away by breaking the laws of the land and being incarcerated. I proved to society that they were right, and for me being punished was okay. I had become embarrassed of all that I ever thought I was. But I have awoken to the truth of me, and that I am more than all the wrongs I have done.”

May God Bless our veterans, each and every one.
Jenny La Sala
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