New Guy

Hello everyone, I am the new guy, my name is Harry Franco, I am in Bakersfield, CA. I am currently working on a project called Hidden Wounds XJ. I am a Army Veteran with 4 deployments, 1 for Operation Desert Storm, 1 for Operation Desert Falcon and 2 for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Let me explain the Hidden Wounds part, I am currently 70% service connected disabled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  PTSD is something our Veterans have been coming home with after deployments for many wars, it was also called Shell Shock or Battle Fatigue.  Another Hidden Wound our Veterans are returning with is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), especially during the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the IED/roadside bombs our Veterans might be escaping the physical wounds, but the brain takes a toll.

Now let me tell you what my plans are for the XJ, since I am getting the help I need, I am going to build this XJ up to be a rock crawler/jeepspeed type vehicle, take it to car shows, off road events & Military/Veterans events and raise awareness about PTSD & TBI, educate the public of the signs and symptoms of these and help find the resources our Veterans need to get the help they deserve.  When I returned in 2003 from Iraq, my mom told me I was different and I should get checked out for PTSD, I told her no, I am not that kind of person, I am good, I should have listened to her, I deployed again, and on Aug 1, 2006 on my last deployment a IED blew up in front of my truck, I was not hurt physically and we were able to complete the mission. 

About 4 months after my return home, I knew something was different, I left my family, eventually filing for divorce, but I feel it was best for my daughters, I was a very angry person with a short fuse.  I still denied I had PTSD until the end of 2010, I knew I needed help.  Jan 2011 I was diagnosed with PTSD and I am getting help, I feel every person that has been deployed has some degree of PTSD, some are able to manage it, some don't know what they can do, some feel there is no help and that the VA is failing in helping with PTSD, but there are other resources for help, and that why I want to do this build.

I picked up an engine from Fred this past Saturday, we are going to put it in the XJ and get it going, I have some great sponsors on board: JCROffroad, ARTEC Indusries, RADesigns Products, 4WheelParts (Bakersfield), Jaz Products (fuel cell), Farmer Johnson Off Road, Velocity Clip, Pick Up Salvage, Pick your Part (Bakersfield).

We have a 1996 XJ, 2WD (soon to 4WD) pretty clean.