Hey there, listeners, it's the StoryCorps podcast from NPR. I'm Jasmine Morris. We'll be returning in full force soon. But until then, we've got another story from our military voices initiative, which records the stories of service members and their families.

Alex Ortiz volunteers helping veterans in Puerto Rico adjust back to civilian life.

He served in the army himself, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan,

before injuries forced him to retire in 2013.

His wife, Lixani, had never been close to a veteran before they met

and wasn't always prepared for what their life together would be like.

What do you remember most about when we met?

I think it would be your eyes because I remember staring at you and you wondering why I was

looking at you so much and I kept telling you that I needed to remember your face and you

not only wanted to get to know me, but my son, Brian.

So that's what set you apart and put you in the front of the line.

You know, when I left the military, I felt like I was lost.

And I needed to reset my life and figure out how can I feel useful again.

And when I first met you, it was almost like I could travel to the future and see that everything was going to be okay.

What do you want people to know about being a spouse of a veteran?

So our community has these really big mango trees.

And I remember you were driving the car and a mango fell on our car.

When that mango hit that glass, it was so loud.

You extended your right arm right into my chest. I know. I was trying

to keep you safe. You stopped the car, stopped it so fast. And I screamed that. You're like, what

are you doing? Go? You're like, I think a mango just fell on our car. But it took me back to when there was

bombs happening around us.

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