What happens when the system fails those who've sacrificed everything to protect it? Frank Larkin, former Navy SEAL and CEO of Troops First Foundation, takes us on a heart-wrenching journey through military service, devastating loss, and his mission to transform veteran care.

After serving eight years in the Navy SEALs and decades in law enforcement, Frank watched his son Ryan follow a similar path of service. After 9/11, Ryan became a highly decorated SEAL medic who deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan. But something changed. Despite his outward strength, Ryan began struggling with sleep disturbances, anxiety, memory issues, and pain—symptoms attributed solely to PTSD and substance abuse. When he sought help, the system that promised to support him ultimately pushed him out.

The devastating truth emerged only after Ryan's suicide, when brain examination revealed severe microscopic damage uniquely related to blast exposure—damage that went completely undiagnosed despite extensive testing at premier military facilities. This revelation shattered the narrative around Ryan's struggles and exposed a critical gap in how we understand combat-related injuries. Contrary to common belief, research now shows that military personnel in training environments—particularly instructors repeatedly exposed to smaller blasts—may sustain more cumulative brain damage than those experiencing fewer large explosions in combat.

Through Troops First Foundation and the Warrior Call initiative, Frank now fights to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies. Their approach is elegantly simple yet profoundly effective: defeat isolation by encouraging veterans to connect with their "tribe." That single phone call or visit can pull someone back from the edge, reminding them they aren't alone and reconnecting them to community and hope.

Frank's advocacy extends beyond individual connections to systemic change, pushing for improved information sharing between military and VA healthcare systems, increased research funding, and a fundamental shift in how we view these invisible wounds—not as signs of being "broken," but as legitimate combat injuries deserving proper diagnosis and treatment.

Take action today. Visit warriorcall.org to learn how you can help defeat veteran isolation through the simple act of connection. As Frank reminds us, these veterans aren't damaged goods—they're hurt, and they deserve our help to heal.

Frank tells his story in this short video. Share it with a Veteran you know.