From the time of the Revolutionary War,where the administration of care for our Nation’s disabled soldiers and sailors was largely left to the individual states, we have progressed to the establishment of the Veterans Administration on 21 July 1930. The care of our disabled Wounded Warriors moved from the battlefield to our Military Hospitals, transiting, as their health care stabilized to (1) return to limited military duty, (2) medically discharged and pensioned under the Veterans Administration system, or (3) moved to patient care of a Veterans Administration Hospital – always as individuals.
Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Maxwell , United States Marine Corps in October 2004 was severely wounded in a mortar attack while serving in Iraq. His experience of sharing time with wounded Marines at the Bethesda Naval Hospital, movement to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Richmond, VA and finally home to his family in Jacksonville, NCwhile under therapy at Coastal Rehab in Wilmington, NC gave him the realization thatthe disabled/wounded Marines and sailors, living togetherprovided the camaraderie and support needed for the healing and recovery process. From boot camp through battle they lived and fought as a team – each in support of the other.
On limited duty, Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell worked with the II Marine Expeditionary Force’s Injured Support Unit at Camp Lejeune, NC to try and improve services for injured Marines and sailors. He convinced Lieutenant General Amos, then Commanding General II Marine Expeditionary Force, there was a need for a barracks that would just house wounded Marines for camaraderie and the shared experience of being injured in combat, resulting in the “Wounded Warrior Barracks” – officially known as Maxwell Hall – being christened on 8 August 2005 at Camp Lejeune with Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell as Officer in Charge.It has grown exponentially from there becoming a magnet for resources, public, private and governmental. Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell worked tirelessly for the benefit of not only the wounded warriors in the barracks, but all over the nation. He visited military, Veterans Administration and civilian hospitals identifying issues to commands as they were uncovered.
It was about Marines being a member of a team, not being alone,and it would evolve into a dedicated regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell was instrumental in starting the idea of a Wounded Warrior Regiment within the Marine Corps generating the interest that brought it to the office of General James Conway who was well aware of the positive impact that the small Wounded Warrior Barracks at Camp Lejeune was having on the Marines residing there, their families and the American public. Just days after he became Commandant of the Marine Corps he announced the creation of the Wounded Warrior Regiment.
On 23 March 2007 the United States Marine Corps created a new regiment focused on tracking and assisting wounded Marines and sailors across the nation. The mission of the Wounded Warrior Regiment is to provide and facilitate assistance to wounded, ill and injured Marines, sailors and their families throughout the phases of their recovery.
The Wounded Warrior Regiment is to support troops as they navigate through medical evaluation boards and assist in the processing of traumatic life insurance claims, provide information on charitable organizations to family members and will ensure accountability in the management of non-medical phases of transition, ensure the continuation of care without discrimination to the type of illness, whether it is physical or behavioral as they go from Defense Department care to that of the Veterans Administration.
With the Wounded Warrior Regiment located atQuantico, Va, Wounded Warrior Battalion East at Camp Lejeune, NC and Wounded Warrior Battalion West at Camp Pendleton, CA each battalion will have a barracks facility to house outpatient Marines who are recovering before returning to their units or who are transitioning out of the military to civilian life. The facilities are well organized and being staffed by Headquarters Marine Corps and growing to include same resources for non-combat wounded going back to 2001 with a data base to contact and to track them to ensure they are doing well.
The Wounded Warrior Program has spread to the Army and contact has been established with the Veterans Administration and the Military Medicalfacilities concerning the availability of the Wounded Warrior Program. Inspired by Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell another chapter has been added to the care and treatment of our Nations Warrior sons and daughters now and into the future.