Page 6 - Dave Sutherland News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

500 communities across the country organizing local help on their journey born of grief and hope. dixon center is named after sutherland's friend, staff sergeant donnie dixon, killed before his eyes on an iraq patrol. more than 40 years ago, a south vietnamese soldier had orders to blow up a bridge. >> there is one last survivor stumbling across the bridge carrying a bundle, a hat with a baby wrapped up in a towel. he found me alongside of the road clinging to the body of a dead woman. >> reporter: kim was adopted by an american service member, last year after reading an article about her, tha...

Home today, stationed overseas. they're waking up in a military base away from their families. all they want to do is come home. one army veteran is trying to fulfill that dream. barbara starr records. >> i'm colonel dave sutherland. i'm a veteran with great pride. i'm a family, i'm a husband, i'm an uncle, i'm a son, i'm an american soldier. i served for you, i fought with you, and i would die for you. >> david sutherland led 5,000 troops in iraq. we met him first on patrol in 2007. >> they were sick and tired of al qaeda. >> reporter: now retired his journey to serve continues, with one pass...

I'm a veteran with great pride. i'm a father. i'm a husband. i'm an uncle. i'm a son. i'm an american soldier. i serve for you. i fought with you. and i would die for you. >> reporter: dave sutherland led 5,000 troops in iraq, we first met him on patrol in 2007. >> they were sick and tired of al qaeda. >> reporter: now retired, his journey to serve continues. with one passion, helping veterans coming home. >> we believe in everything we do that our veterans, our military families with be families of the fallen can thrive where they live. >> reporter: a journey of absolute commitment he's made ...

Sutherland and kim mitchell believe strongly that america's veterans can do more than just survive. they can actually thrive in the communities where they live with a little bit of help from towns and neighbors across the country. their message, if you see a veteran, ask them how they're doing. kate, chris? >> no kidding. barbara, what an amazing story to be able to connect those two after so long. thank you so much. that is amazing. it really is. the message, especially on this day but every day, to find ways to help veterans adjust and show them how much we do support the troops. >> absolu...

Veterans. >> reporter: they left military service in 2012 and opened up the dixon center, working with communities across the country. organize, locally based help with jobs, education and housing. >> everyone is looking towards more local community based services to help veterans. >> reporter: he knows how bad the post traumatic stress can get. >> pretty much destroying my life. but it was the common issues of ptsd, the anger, the sleepless nights, the substance abuse. >> reporter: army veteran david barr now a social worker. he and sutherland hope to work together. barr says veterans like hi...