Featured Veteran Artist : P.W. Covington
I would like to take the opportunity to highlight veteran artist, P.W. Covington. He is the author of Like the Prayers of an Infidel…: One American Airman’s Experience Service, War, and Return and Vet to Vet: An Examination of PTSD Through Writing . P.W. uses his own story to advocate for others and continue the dialogue on PTSD.
It is my pleasure to feature his bio on my page. As well as tell you both books can be purchased on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/P.-W.-Covington/e/B004BNSOLY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1322759186&sr=8-1 I believe P.W. Covington is a fine example of a leader. His work and voice are impacting change. Thank you, P.W. for your service to our country and your dedicated service to our veterans.
BIO:
P.W. Covington attended High School in the rural, South Texas community of Cuero. After four semesters of Junior College, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where less that 6 months after finishing his initial training, he was deployed to the African nation of Somalia, with a joint-service rapid deployment force as one of the first handful US military troops on the ground in Mogadishu for OPERATION RESTORE HOPE. His military decorations include multiple awards of the SouthWest Asia Service Medal, the Liberation of Kuwait Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Somalia), National Defence Service Medal, and two awards of the US Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, among others.
Covington’s experience throughout East Africa and the Persian Gulf region of SouthWest Asia feature prominently in his writing, as do the daily issues encountered as a Service-Connected Disbled Veteran in American Society.
After leaving the USAF, Covington lived a homeless lifestyle punctuated with periods of incarceration, willful isolation from society, and ex-patriate living in Mexico and Central America. He has driven trucks, worked the ramp for Continental Airlines, served with the US National Parks Service, worked as a zookeeper, and sailed as a Merchant Mariner on Tug boats and Oilfield re-supply vessels. He credits the VA’s excellent treatment resources for those affected with PTSD/TBI issues with helping him to “restore his life”.
He currently resides in rural Lavaca County, Texas where he works as a Peer Facilitor, aiding Veterans, Active Duty personnell, and their families with issues stemming from Traumatic life experiences. Covington also travels often, speaking, reading, and hosting writing workshops for Combat Veterans.
P.W. Covington maintains avid interests in Military and Civil Aviation, the outdoors, Veterans’ and Disability Advocacy, and Progressive Politics.
Thank you! It is projects like Veterans PTSD and others that allow stigma to be battled, and healing to begin. We all stand on the shoulders of giants…the men and women that served and sacrificed in distant lands and in the home, in previous wars and post-war periods. The ability to express oneself is vitally important. I am proud to have the chance to bring one method of doing that to those that I work with and that read my books. We each do everything that we can do, and in this race, it is more about the journey than the destination. Thanks again, and thanks for the excellent work that Veterans PTSD Project does.
Thank you for this inspiring comment. I hope to see your story in the Veterans PTSD Project, soon!! Thanks for all you do for veterans and your tireless advocating. Your work matters and you are an inspiration for so many of us. Thank you.