Veterans Issues

Nov. 10 is the 248th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. It's a day that's special to a lot of Arizona veterans, including one of the most successful businessmen in the history of our state. Billionaire GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons says he owes everything to the Marines, but his service in Vietnam also left him with severe PTSD that he endured for decades -- that's until he underwent a radical and illegal treatment that he says saved him. FOX 10's Troy Hayden reports.

Billionaire Bob Parsons, who founded GoDaddy and PXG Golf used a controversial and illegal drug and counseling therapy to cure the PTSD he suffered with since the Vietnam War. Parsons thinks the therapy should be studied and used more widely. FOX 10's Troy Hayden sat down with Parsons to hear his story. This is an unedited portion of that interview.

In the 2000s, Jay Cook was deployed to Iraq, and when he returned from overseas, things changed for the soldier, who was later diagnosed with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. Thanks to a group called K9s for Warriors, Cook found a new best friend that he now calls 'his help.' FOX 10's Christina Carilla reports.

In this week's Newsmaker Saturday, Christina Carilla fills in for John Hook and chats first with Maggie O'Haire, with K9s for Warriors and the impact our furry friends can have on our vets. We then talk with Jason Nelson who is a burn survivor and the challenges he's faced and overcome.

After FOX 10's Christina Carilla and Photojournalist Jon Noetzel made a trip to our nation's capitol for an Honor Flight with dozens of veterans, we're hearing some of the important stories that were told. Among the veterans, were those who served this country in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Here are the touching stories from veterans' first-hand accounts.

In this episode of John Hook's Newsmaker Saturday, we begin with the story of a Phoenix man who checked out of his life and decided to live on the streets of America, traveling town-to-town and documenting others who are struggling along the way. This is Jason Smith's story. In the second segment, we're talking with our own Christina Carilla as she embarks on a trip of a lifetime with American veterans from various hard-fought battles. They're visiting our nation's capitol while on an Honor Flight trip to see how they're honored, as well as those who've passed on are being remembered.

A Glendale couple spends the day bending over backward for Memorial Day as they and a few friends planted hundreds of American flags to honor Valley veterans during the holiday weekend. FOX 10's Irene Snyder has the story.

A Valley man is set to turn 102 years old, but if that wasn't enough to celebrate, the veteran is now also becoming an author. FOX 10's Steve Nielsen has the story.

Many veterans are being forced to give up their pets, unable to afford them anymore, but keeping them together is now a project, literally, for the Arizona Pet Project. FOX 10's Anita Roman.