Lexington VA Health Care System
Suddenly, his military career was over and he was now a civilian.
Jonathan Herst, VA Employee Featured in Local Play about Veterans
August 3, 2005, was a day that changed Jonathan Herst’s life forever. While serving in Mosul, Iraq on his second deployment, he sustained injuries in an IED attack that severed the femoral vein in his right leg, and perforated his colon and bladder. He was subsequently flown to Landstuhl, Germany, where he was stabilized for the long flight to Walter Reed Hospital stateside. Following 17 surgeries and the amputation of his left leg, he faced a very long and difficult recovery. Suddenly, his military career was over and he was now a civilian.
One of the more difficult tasks for returning combat veterans is transition from active participation in armed conflict back to civilian life. Like many veterans returning from the battlefield, Jonathan struggled with his combat experiences and personal demons that now haunted him.
From 2006 to 2007, Jonathan worked with the “Always a Soldier” program. He joined the team at Lexington VA Medical Center in August 2007. In 2008, he returned to the classroom, attending the University of Kentucky where he became involved in the docudrama "Civilian" - a theatrical production based on the verbatim oral history interviews of Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This production carefully examines the transition from soldiers on the battlefield to college life at the University of Kentucky. Jonathan is one of the Veterans featured in “Civilian.”
When asked why he became involved in the project Jonathan said, “I felt there was a large disconnect between the civilian and military population on campus. When I came back [from the military], I felt I was looked upon differently. I could sense that some of my actions were misunderstood because people didn’t have an understanding of what I had gone through. I was hoping that by sharing my experiences and stories I could help break down the barriers and bridge the gap that seemed to exist between us.”
Jonathan had enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2001 as an Airborne Infantryman and served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vicenza, Italy. He deployed to Kosovo in 2002 and to Iraq in 2003 (Kirkuk, Mosul, Tikrit). In October 2004, he was redeployed to Fallujah and Mosul, Iraq with the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Stryker Brigade.
“When I sat down to watch “Civilian” for the first time, I was apprehensive, but pleasantly relieved. I felt proud of the way the actors portrayed us. I think ‘Civilian’ will be a benchmark for universities nationwide for increasing awareness of our struggles, triumphs, and experiences as Veterans. “Civilian” accurately presents the training, environment, and life changing events we endured in the military and on the battlefield. I think everyone who sees this production will come away with a renewed sense of pride and patriotism – and have a better understanding of both the visible and invisible wounds of war. That’s so important if we are to successfully transition back to civilian life. I am deeply honored to be one of the Veteran’s represented in this play.
“Civilian” competed with 2,000 entries and was selected to perform in the prestigious Fringe Festival held in New York City. The troupe will present five performances at the famous Bleecker Theatre scheduled between Aug. 14 and 28. Jonathan will accompany the troupe to New York City during the festival.
