CLAY COUNTY – As the turmoil continues in Afghanistan, veterans’ groups are banding together throughout Northeast Florida to work with soldiers who served in the Middle East.

With more than 1.5 million veterans living in Florida, including 28,000 in Clay County, there is a push to reach out to check on the welfare of the men and women who served in Afghanistan following the United States’ pullout that left thousands scrambling to escape the Taliban-controlled country.

Leading the way is Jacksonville-based Wounded Warrior Project. According to CEO retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Linnington, the organization’s call center will reach out to its 40,000 registered veterans to “provide comprehensive support though our many programs and services, including free services in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care for the post-9/11 generation.”

WWP serves veterans who’ve served since 9/11. That means the overwhelming majority of its members have spent time in the Middle East, and it makes the disjointed pullout difficult to understand – especially for those who suffered physical, emotional and mental injuries in the line of duty.

“The last week has really elicited a range of emotions among veterans that have served in Afghanistan,” Linnington said. “Top of the list is problem concern – concern for the brothers and sisters in arms who served with them; concern for the Afghan partners they served with that made life-long commitments to serve with, and really concerned for the future of Afghanistan. I think there’s also a sadness and disappointment in the different things that have occurred in the last week. The uncertainty of the future for the Afghan people is something that makes our veterans sad.

“I think the announced withdrawal and the activities we’ve seen on TV in the past week certainly have exasperated some of our nation’s veterans. We are concerned about their well-being. We’re actively reaching out to all of them, we’re connecting with them on social media posts for Resource Center or mental health programs to help meet their needs.”

Local veterans, many who asked not to be identified, said they were more upset with the manner in which armed forces retreated from the region. The soldiers left first, leaving behind more than $80 billion in equipment and weapons and thousands of Afghan citizens who worked with American forces to bring stability. Although President Joe Biden said U.S. residents were wary of war – and polls show they were – the pullout didn’t account for the fact there hasn’t been any fighting in the country for more than a year. In fact, no U.S soldier has been killed in Afghanistan in more than 18 months.

While WWP remains a non-political organization, it’s clear it won’t allow the sacrifices made by its members to be taken lightly – or forgotten.

He said it’s never been more important to connect with soldiers.

“People need to know they’re pretty incredible I mean this is an all-volunteer force his history in a major conflict that is providing all volunteers and these are young people with lots of options in life,” he said.

“Support veterans right now by connecting with them and just telling them how much their service mattered not just in Afghanistan but you know over the past 246 years of our nation’s history. We have a saying at Wounded Warrior Project: the greatest casualty is being forgotten. I think right now, our veterans need to know that the communities from which they came from, when they raised their hands and said ‘take me,’ are there for them when they return. Reach out, check in, make sure they’re doing.”

Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), who represents Clay County in the U.S. House of Representatives, wants every veteran to be embraced.

“We want to make sure we have battle buddies out there and available to anybody who is wanting to talk to somebody,” she said. “We want to make sure they know we’re there for them.”

Many of Clay County veterans served in Vietnam. Like Afghanistan, the withdraw was complicated and disorganized. The withdraw there was announced two years in advance, and yet soldiers, U.S. citizens and allies were forced to flee from the rooftop of the American Embassy as the Vietcong seized Saigon.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that it’s a complete disaster,” said Orange Park’s Steve Pilz, who retired from the Navy. “I can’t speak for what it’s like in Afghanistan, but I went through it in Vietnam. I know what it feels like.

“It’s time for us, as a VFW, to step up and take care of our veterans. We’re here for them. Anytime they have a problem, they’re more than welcomed to come here. In a lot of cases, just being there for them is important. You can’t measure that.”

Linnington said WWP won’t leave its veterans behind. They won’t be left to fend for themselves, to fight through terrorist roadblocks or worse yet, be forgotten.

“Our nation needed them then, as we need them today, and the service and sacrifice of the last 20 years on that member families is not forgotten,” he said. “It’s greatly appreciated. We have an all-volunteer force, one of the few countries in the world that has an all-volunteer force, and it continues to be the strength of our nation and represents all of the values we aspired to be an American.

“We have a saying at Wounded Warrior Project: ‘the greatest casualty is being forgotten.’”

WWP is increasing support available in its Resource Center and its mental health triage team. The Resource Center is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. To contact the organization, call (888) WWP-ALUM (888-997-2586).