'Invisible wounds'

'Invisible wounds' take toll on veterans, loved ones

Rena Curtiss, left, holds a photo of her brother, the late Sgt. Anthony Burch, as Burch's mother, Linda Evans, stands beside her in their Howell home. Burch, a Purple Heart recipient, committed suicide in January after almost losing his life in Iraq, becoming addicted to prescription pain medications and conducting a nine-hour-plus armed standoff with police last year. Evans' brother, a Vietnam War veteran, also committed suicide after returning home from service. She believes his suicide, like her son's, also was spurred by war-related trauma. (Photo by ALAN WARD/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS)

December 6, 2010 - Linda Evans looks at a photo of her son in Iraq, then another photo of him from last year and swears it's not the same person.

U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Burch, 34, ultimately committed suicide after almost losing his life in Iraq, becoming addicted to prescription pain medications and conducting a nine-hour-plus armed standoff with police.

"They're not the same people to me. They don't even look the same," Evans said, comparing photos.

Burch suffered from what have become known as "invisible wounds," or combat-related traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress.

By nature, "invisible wounds" aren't seen, and going back decades have rarely been recognized or treated, said Rick Briggs, a retired U.S. Air Force major and head of the Veteran's Program at the Brighton-based Brain Injury Association of Michigan.

Burch — a Purple Heart recipient — was deployed to Iraq with the Michigan Army National Guard starting in 2004 during the early stages of the conflict. During his tour, a vehicle he was in was struck by a roadside bomb, throwing him from the vehicle.

His gun struck him in the face on impact, causing severe facial injuries. His right hand was also severely injured, and his right pinky finger later had to be removed.

Upon returning home, Burch became addicted to OxyContin and Vicodin to treat his pain.

In July 2009, he had an armed, nine-hour-plus standoff with police that led to the evacuation of about 20 homes in the Hometown Estates mobile home park in Howell. {read rest}