CNN
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Kyle Prelberg has served on two combat trips as a U.S. Army sniper in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2012, he returned to the United States after being injured by shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade that hit his car.
“It’s been a real relief to be on the other side alive and playing all my roles,” Prelberg said. “I survived the worst of it, wounded and alive, and came back on the other side.”
But when he returned home, a whole new war began for veterans. Mr. Prelberg lived on a partial diagnosis and the kindness of his friends and family, but it wasn’t enough. He said he was stuck in a vicious cycle for eight years without proper resources while battling his PTSD diagnosis.
Prelberg separated from his wife and was laid off from his job. By 2019, he found himself on the verge of homelessness. Hear more about his struggles in the video at the top of this page.
Prelberg was introduced to Veterans Community Project provided him with housing, education, and legal instruction in Kansas City, Missouri. Prelberg credits the organization with getting him back on his feet.
“We’re finally starting to see an uptrend, and it’s a great feeling,” Prelberg said.
In February 2020, US Congressman Sharice David invited Prelberg to his State of the Union address in Kansas. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his work, but after returning from Afghanistan, the award was “forgotten,” he says. Recipients of this award are eligible to receive extended benefits for veterans.
