A fundraiser in Missoula tomorrow will bring in one of America’s most famous soldiers as a featured speaker. United Way Director Susan Hay Patrick explains.

“United Way Missoula County, as part of our Project Tomorrow Montana Suicide Prevention Initiative, are very excited to be bringing Command Sergeant Tom Satterly to town on Saturday for a presentation,” Patrick said. “Tom and his comrades were the subject of the 2001 Oscar winning movie Black Hawk Down. He has fought in some of our nation’s most significant and horrific battles.”

Though famous for his actions on a battleground in Somolia, Satterly will be speaking directly about his ordeals on a very different battleground as well.

“He will be talking about his own struggles with post-traumatic stress, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and eventually coming out with a message of hope and help especially for veterans that struggle so much after they leave the service and come back to civilian life,” Patrick said. “His off the battle field struggle has been much more difficult for him than his service.”

The event is a fund raiser for Project Tomorrow Montana, a Suicide Prevention Initiative. Tickets are available at Missoulaunitedway.org. The issue is especially pertinent in Montana, which regularly has one of the highest suicide rates in the United States.

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