Ben Kroll joined the Army on his 17th birthday and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2006, serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon returning home at age 21, he faced a new battle: PTSD.
“It was the 22nd of January when he came back. He was out of the military. It was immediate. We knew there were issues,” said his mother, Suzy Kroll.
Suzy believes the military should better prepare soldiers for the transition from combat to civilian life, emphasizing the urgent need to address PTSD among veterans.
Each day, 22 soldiers die by suicide in the United States. To raise awareness, Suzy Kroll walked 22 miles last Memorial Day with friends and family in honor of her son and to spotlight the issue of PTSD and suicide among combat veterans. Ben Kroll joined this walk in May 2023, expressing his intent to heal and raise awareness.
“He told me he was going to walk it in April. He said, ‘Mom, I’m going to walk it to try to heal myself, but I want people to know this is real,'” said Suzy.
Tragically, Ben Kroll took his own life in September. His commitment to helping others inspired the creation of Ben’s Heart Ministry, a faith-based support group for soldiers and their families.
“We just let them talk and share stories with each other. Just give them a place to come and cry and give them the medicine they need to get to the next week,” Suzy Kroll explained.
Veteran Greg Sutton, who knew Ben Kroll, highlighted the isolation many soldiers feel upon returning home. He recalled Ben’s struggles with paranoia and trust issues.
“If anything destroys a soldier going through this, it’s isolation,” Sutton said, emphasizing the importance of sharing experiences and seeking help for recovery.
Tracey Barakat, involved with Ben’s Heart Ministry, noted that many of their clients are children from military families. The ministry provides a safe space for open conversation and emotional support, emphasizing the love of Jesus.
“We give them a safe space to just talk freely and openly and feel loved,” said Barakat.
Suzy Kroll believes her son would be proud of the efforts to help other veterans and their families.
“He would be proud that something is being done to help his boys and his brothers and me and his dad,” she said.
The Veterans PTSD group meets at 10 a.m. on the first and third Saturday of the month at the Life House Church in Texarkana, Arkansas. For more information, visit Ben’s Heart Ministry Facebook page.
