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Army veteran helps peers beat addiction
Army veteran Robert Mitchell turned 68 on Veterans Day, sharing how recovery and support from U.S. Vets helped him achieve 33 years of sobriety after years of addiction and homelessness.
HOUSTON - Robert Mitchell was born on Veterans Day and turned 68 on Wednesday.
What they're saying:
Mitchell says he enlisted in the Army shortly after turning 17.
"I was living in South Central Los Angeles, and I saw the direction my life was heading," he said.
Mitchell says he spent six years in the Army and was a Corporal at 19.
"The Army promoted drinking, the military does that," he said.
Mitchell says he was drank heavily before enlisting and when he got out, he had addiction issues, spending seven to eight years homeless, in downtown Los Angeles.
Michell attributes his 33 years of sobriety to the recovery process.
"And the part U.S. Vets played in that, when I was engaged in the recovery process, I was in a safe place," he said. "I want everyone to know, Vets and non-Vets, they can actually get the help they need. They have to ask for it."
What you can do:
To find out more, go to USVets.org.
The Source: Information from this story comes from Robert Mitchell.