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So far this season, we've touched on some heavy stigmas, secrets of the past, dealing with shame, and searching for forgiveness.

In this episode, we're going to talk about the challenge of losing your identity as a soldier.

Society tells us all the time what normal should look like, and if you're in the military, those expectations can be even more intense,

because soldiers are supposed to be tough and show no weakness.

Sergeant Matthew Perry grew up with his own image of what it meant to serve, and he always dreamed of being a soldier.

From what I heard from my family, I wanted to be a Marine since I was six years old. I loved being a Marine.

The thing that I admired about you the most when I first met you was that you were so dedicated to the Marine Corps.

Everybody jokes and says you ate the apple, loved the core.

But what happens when that identity is lost?

They said, what do you remember? And you kind of thought for a minute and you said, I'm a Marine, right? I'm a Marine.

And we were like, yep, you're a Marine.

This week, for Veterans Day, we're going to hear the story of a Marine fighting to stay who he was,

and the woman who helped him find a new purpose.

It's a story core podcast from NPR. I'm Camila Cassani.

In 2008, Matthew Perry was hit by three IEDs in one day.

And IED is an improvised explosive device. They left him with multiple traumatic brain injuries.

But that didn't stop him. He continued to serve.

And then, a few years later, while I'm leaving the Marines, he met a college student named Helen.

...