22 veterans a day commit suicide a day. Former Marine and current activist Raymond “Ray” Shinohara know this fact all too well. “I survived myself, killing myself.” Ray said. His story could have ended like so many other combat veterans but Ray returned to Guam at the behest of his father, after living homeless in the woods of Oregon. “I’ve literally recreated my life.” Ray says about his time back on Guam.

 

Since coming back to Guam Ray has since started Green Valor, a none profit organization that seeks to help veterans by utilizing other veterans. Unlike many organizations such as The Wounded Warrior Project or Veterans of Foreign Wars, Green Valor does not accept donations. They instead rely on volunteers who are willing to devote their time. “Sometimes its feeding the homeless or sometimes its finding homeless vets.” A current project that Green Valor is working on replacing needy veteran’s roof and floor most impressive considering that it is being done with only donated materials and time.

 

Ray’s dedication doesn’t just extend to honorably discharged vets, like most traditional veteran organizations. “I don’t care if you have a dishonorable discharge, I will find a way to help you.”

-More-

Green Valor originally started as a way to connect vets to agricultural related jobs.

“Green Valor originally started as a farming program.”  Says Ray. No stranger to farming Ray was asked to recruit twenty veterans for an agricultural program but exceeded expectations exceptionally. “When I took control of it, I got eighty-three people to sign up.”

 

through the use of garden therapy, he hopes to help people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder which is common among combat veterans and is also the leading cause of suicide in the veteran community. Ray himself suffers from PTSD and complications due to a traumatic brain injury, so he understands that sometimes you just need someone to talk to. When asked about what part the average person can do to help Ray says “That everyone has a job they can do” for more information contact Ray at Greenvalor22@gmail.com