CHICO, Calif. —Like soldiers throughout the history of combat, Chico resident Nick Wright talked with his Marine buddies in Iraq about dreams of a better life after the war. Those dreams were put on hold indefinitely when an explosion blew Wright and his driver out the doors of an armored vehicle. That touched off a two-hour firefight. Wright survived with a serious brain injury.
Wright began to gather emotional baggage while still overseas but didn’t realize the full extent of his wounds until 2007, when he brought his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder home to America.
Today, the combat veteran takes refuge and is finding some hope in a simple life that he and his wife, Stephanie, have forged in Chico for five young children, including three from Wright’s former marriage.
It has been been difficult for him to find work, and he has been frustrated by the treatment veterans receive.
Read more about Wright and other veterans who are rebuilding their lives after war — and share your own story — at
