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Andrew John Hack Age 38

I had a happy childhood, growing up as a soldiers son, i travel to many oversea army bases by the time i turned 13, (in the picture i have an 7.62mm SLR) i learnt from my dad and his army mates (uncles) how to strip, clean and use the gun, when my family lived in northern ireland.

I now have a partner and four wonderful children who live with me. In a town called Swindon, For those who don't know Swindon is on the edge of everywhere, including the cotswolds, which is a holiday destination.

Being a Ex - Gulf war veteran (of 1991), who served on a front line helicopter sqn as a ground defense gunner as my main war role, I carried out POW handling, nighttime ground defense operations, RAF officer escort, vehicle convoy escort, helicopter flying escort.

Whilst in the gulf I learnt battlefield first aid, grenades, mines, knife to knife combat and unarmed combat, and during my service career, i was engaged in Judo and target rifle shooting.

But now since returning from the Gulf i have and am suffering from PTSD, stress, anxiety, skin disorder, depression, panic attacks plus many other condition some of which could be referred to as Gulf War Syndrome.

The first time it was diagnosed was in 1998 and I know what it is like to suffer these terrible mind problems, it is confusing and totally takes control on your life. Every day is a battle for me to live a normal life, i have been an alcoholic, i have been divorced it must of been a terrible ordeal for my wife to deal with, and I have suffered many family upsets including my mother dying and all of my grandparent dying (three just in one year).

On my return from war, no-one offered me any help to come to terms with normal life, i had to re-mortgage my house to pay for my own treatment, i did not receive a post war debrief, no-one in government and the military wanted to listen to me, so i locked up, place a big barrier around me and pulled on a happy face, i failed to show any emotion, normal life did not have any of the excitement of war, nor the horrors.

My childhood ambition was to serve my country, put my life on the line so that other may be free to live a life of freedom of speech and freedom of movement.

I did not expect to be exposed to toxic chemicals, biological weapons, burning oil wells, numerous untested injections, DU ammunition dust, desert infections and POW's who were suffering from malnutrition and illnesses etc....

The government failed to take care of my welfare and provide me with a safe environment to work and fight, even though war is a dangerous place, the MOD have now apologized for the lack of respect, understanding and lack of recognition of the gulf war veterans conditions.

Instead their bungling added to the problems of the 1991 gulf war. Now i must start my own battle, and win my own war against a government who fails to recognize the problems that were suffered by the gulf war veterans, so for the sake of future generation who will follow in my footsteps. I must win this fight and protect the lives of the innocent soldier, sailor and airman, who serve our country night and day in the name of peace.

This website is my mission to put something back into a NHS service that assisted me in my welfare and to undo the horrors that wars create, lets try to make a world of peace not war. As mental illness is on the increase, staff levels are on the decrease, so volunteers are needed to help, assist and support the NHS service were you can, lets make it for something England can be proud of.

So i am calling for the building of a centre of excellence for mental illness to be based in the cotswold's as a place of beauty, it will not be solely for the use of military personnel but for use by the general public. I foresee a futuristic building, of glass and steel, a place of beauty with larger than life bronze statues of British heroes"fireman, policeman, nurses, and service personnel".

.A think tank for britain with the latest in technology and the best minds in the profession, working together towards a common goal of eradicating mental illness as the number one cause of work related problems and to save british industry million of pounds in lost revenue.

Last updated 16/11/2007