President Abraham Lincoln, 1863
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been a troubling condition that American combat service members have dealt with since the creation of this nation. Years ago, there was virtually no treatment for veterans, as it is believed that 7 out of 100 veterans deal with PTSD related situations. This medical and military situation was labeled as “shell shock” towards the challenging mental and physical conditions that hurt American service members. Veterans were instructed not to speak about these situations and to simply “forget” about their war time encounters.
Frank Asselta was a combat medic who served at the height of the Vietnam War. A young man from Rocky Point, he graduated from Port Jefferson in 1963. After attending Suffolk Community College, in 1965 he was drafted into the United States Army and deployed to South Vietnam. Asselta represents the largest and oldest class of veterans in America that fought in this war from 1963-1973.
In South Vietnam, he fought alongside the infantry and cared for his fellow soldiers, once they became casualties during the fighting. Stationed northwest of Saigon at Tayninh, there were constant enemy movements near the Cambodian border. Serving in Reconnaissance, Asselta’s unit was ambushed every time in the field, and they prevented 4,000 Vietnamese enemy soldiers from taking over several American base camps. Asselta was wounded in combat, and he received the Bronze Star for his dual capacities of fighting the enemy and treating his own men under the duress of warfare.
Out of the 2.7 million American citizens that fought in South Vietnam, there are many veterans who battle trauma as they get older. Asselta fought two battles, the first against the communists in Vietnam and secondly his internal war against PTSD. This past Sunday, May 26th, Asselta was the driving force behind the VFW Post 6249 PTSD Joseph Dwyer 5K Race at Rocky Point High School at 11 AM. Asselta believes “all members of the Armed Forces who have been in combat need to be properly supported by our citizens. This run is a reminder to take care of all veterans who battle the difficulties of PTSD, and I am proud of this mission to never forget about those veterans who are forced to deal with this condition.” VFW Post 6249 Commander Joseph A. Cognitore marvels at the “immense energy” that Asselta regularly displays to ensure the success of this race to help our local veterans.
Organized on Sunday, May 26th, VFW Post 6249 had a successful run with one hundred runners and twenty walkers who hit the roads, trails, hills, and fields of Rocky Point High School and Conservation Area. For the third year, there has been tremendous participation from the athletic and veterans’ community to aid the goal of providing comfort for our veterans and families that deal with the concerns of PTSD. Armed with a big smile, Asselta is already looking forward to next year’s VFW PTSD run. Suffolk County Legislature Chad Lennon, a Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserves participated in this strenuous race. Lennon believed, “The Dwyer Run is an opportunity for our community to come together and honor the legacy of our community hero. It is an honor to run in this event every year and let those who are struggling with PTSD know they are not alone.” Wading River resident, runner, and Commack educator Tom Stevens said it best, “So happy and proud to be part of this event again this year. Love supporting our veterans and remembering those who are lost.”