Fort Wayne Veteran's recognized during road to health recovery

Nine veterans were honored at the University of Saint Francis Thursday for completing a substance abuse and mental health rehabilitation program.

Nine veterans are being honored in fort wayne for completing a substance abuse and mental health rehabilitation program.

Fox 55's nico pennisi shares one veteran's story of resilience.

?nat?navy veteran hal murphy served his country from 1979-1983.

When he returned home, he says he lost his purpose in life.

Hal murphy "i was homeless, no job, no car, no future."so, he turned to alcohol.

He'd been drinking since he was 13 and says it wasn't until a near- death experience that he knew he needed to change.

Hal murphy "at that point i had hit rock bottom.

I didn't have anywhere to go."nico stand up: "that's where the allen county joint veterans court team comes in.

The courts combine rigorous treatment and accountability for veterans facing jail time.

Many of whom struggle with substance abuse or mental health issues."

Hal murphy "it's tough, it's like boot camp for my brain because i really had to grow a lot because i have a future i didn't have before."today, murphy and 8 other veterans are being honored at the university of saint francis for completing their rehabilitation.

?nat?the program began in 2013 when courts noticed that so many were coming home from war and struggling.

Fran gull "we realized that we've had veterans coming back from wars since you know world war i that were suffering from these addictions and problems and those problems were intersecting with the criminal justice system."

Superior court judge fran gull says it's their responsibility to take care of veterans and provide them the services in the system they weren't getting.

Fran gull "so many of them were not aware that they had healthcare benefits, that they had substance abuse health benefits."

Because of the program, veterans like murphy have the tools to move forward in life.

Hal murphy ''now i have a job, i have a life - something to look forward to."in fort wayne, i'm nico pennisi, fox 55 news.

Gull says that all soldiers take a pledge to support and defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, but sometimes they forget one of their biggest enemies