• 19
  • February
    2012

Two combat tours in Iraq; two combat tours in Afghanistan; an injury to the head after an improvised explosive device blew up. And now 33-year-old Evan Williams has been arrested for his second DWI offense.

In Texas, multiple DWI offenses can lead to felony charges, but the problem is worse for Williams, who stands to lose the veteran benefits used to treat his post-traumatic stress disorder and be dishonorably discharged from military service.

As Sandra Reabuck reports for the Tribune-Democrat, PTSD seems to lead many combat veterans down the road of depression, alcoholism and drunk driving.

The judge in his case is himself a Vietnam vet.

"We owe him that much," the judge said, referring to a program that would place Williams on probation and allow the charges to be dismissed if he completes alcohol treatment.

"To do him out of the benefits is just crazy."

As the facts of this case suggest, to lose veteran benefits because of drunk driving would be an absurd result; if a combat veteran's mental health problems cannot be addressed, it's not likely to go very far in helping prevent problems with alcohol, like drunk driving.

Source: Vets and crime: Judges consider service to country during sentencing