Dave Bona is still haunted by the horrors he witnessed as a soldier in Somalia more than two decades ago.
Kids being blown up and a fellow paratrooper being killed by an accidental discharge are among the images forever etched in the veteran’s memory.
He self-medicated with alcohol for years because getting “blind drunk” was the only way he could sleep. But the drinking led to “conduct issues,” which saw him stripped of his rank and honour, then ultimately booted from the military in 1999.
Later diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, Bona tried pharmaceuticals, counselling and even a service dog. But his anger, suicidal thoughts, seizures, vertigo and other symptoms persisted.