Moral Injury with Major General James H. Mukoyama, Fr. Matt Foley, Dr. John Bair and Joseph Palmer, Executive Director of Military Outreach USA.

Join us for a panel discussion on the invisible wound, Moral Injury—a major factor contributing to the current epidemic rate of suicide among our military veterans. Sponsored by Military Outreach USA.

Moral Injury stems from the participation in acts of combat that conflict with a soldier's deeply held principles. This unseen impairment leads to a sense of guilt, shame, and grief which can manifest itself as self-harm or suicide if not addressed. The discussion will center around identifying Moral Injury, methods for recovery and resources for those seeking help. The discussion is led by Major General James H. Mukoyama Jr. 

Military Outreach USA is a not for profit faith-based organization with a mission of empowering a Military Caring Network dedicated to serving those who have served in our nation's military. 

MAJOR GENERAL JAMES H. MUKOYAMA JR retired from the Army in May 1995, after more than thirty years of total active and reserve component service, including two combat tours. During his five years on active duty, General Mukoyama served as a platoon leader in the demilitarized zone in the Republic of Korea and as an infantry company commander in the 9th Division in Vietnam. He was the youngest General Officer in the entire United States Army in 1987, and subsequently the youngest Major General three years later. In 1989, he became the first Asian-American in the history of the United States to command an Army division. Among General Mukoyama’s decorations and badges are the Distinguished Service Medal,  3 Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart. Since his retirement from active federal service in 1995, General Mukoyama has volunteered and participated in numerous organizations, both governmental and non-profit charitable, benefiting our military, veterans, and the community.

FR. MATT FOLEY is the pastor of St. James Parish in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He has previously served as associate pastor of St. Agatha in Chicago's North Lawndale Community and as pastor of Santiago Apostol Mission in Quechultenango, Guerrero Mexico and St. Agnes of Bohemia in Chicago's Little Village Community. He was commissioned as a Captain in the U.S. Army in June 2008, serving as a Chaplain with the 82nd Airborne. In 2009, Foley was deployed for 14 months to Afghanistan for short deployments with USOSOC and JSOC to support Operation Enduring Freedom. His final deployment was in 2012-13 with the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division. 

DR. JOHN BAIR is a Clinical Psychologist with the James A. Lovell Federal health care Center. He is also Associate Professor at Rosalind Franklin University, and Primary Investigator with a number of research studies addressing PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Bair's research interests include empirical measurement of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury with eye tracking technology; anxiety disorders, PTSD and addictions.

JOSEPH PALMER is the Executive Director for Military Outreach USA, a not for profit with the mission to build a national, community-based outreach programs that celebrates, supports and networks with the Military Community. He has developed national partnership programs with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers and other organizations to serve those in the Military Community. He graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 1974 with a degree in Political Science. He served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1972 as a Security Police K-9 handler with service in Okinawa, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Francis E. Warren Missile Base, Cheyenne, WY. He is active in developing programs for veterans and is an All-American VFW Post Commander as well as having attained the prestigious honor being an All-American VFW District Commander He is a member of the VA Voluntary Services Committee at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center as well as a member of the Illinois Treasurers’ Veterans Council. He has conducted numerous national webinars and presentations centering on issues affecting the veteran and military community. His papers include: Moral Injury: A Guide for Clergy and Lay Ministers as well as the working guide, Community Covenant with Veterans and Military Families and They Don’t Receive Purple Hearts: A Guide to an Understanding and Resolution of the Invisible Wound of War Known as Moral Injury.