The military has been instrumental in protecting and advancing U.S. interests throughout the world. From the Revolutionary War, which established the United States as a nation, through the World Wars, which made the United States one of the world's superpowers, to the current War on Terror, the Army has aided and protected United States interests in the whole world. . Throughout these wars, American soldiers proudly served their country. Because of these wars America is world famous for its military might and protection of freedom around the world. Today the United States is an international symbol of wealth and power; it has the largest gross domestic product in the world and has the strongest military. Yet America is also prey to a social evil that afflicts every society, that of the homelessness of its citizens. Shamefully, among the homeless, 23% are said to be veterans, although the actual numbers may be much larger (Coalition for the Homeless). These soldiers committed themselves to their country and now each year more than 500,000 of them find themselves homeless (National Coalition for the Homeless). It is a shameful fact that in the greatest country in the world, the men and women who once represented America in her many wars for freedom and built America's international might, now sadly sleep under bridges and seek a place where to sleep. Night. Just visit a homeless shelter in any “big” American city and you can find veterans of almost every major American conflict. This is not a new problem in America. Homelessness among American veterans has existed since colonial times. The ravages of war, combined with military life, result in the creation of key factors, the...... middle of paper......"Soldiers Fail to Seek Treatment for Post Stress Disorder -traumatic or leave therapy early, search Find." Stripes. Stars and Stripes, May 15, 2012. Web. January 17, 2014. Saxon, Andrew J., MD. “Returning Veterans with Addictions.” Psychiatric times. UBM Medica, July 14, 2011. Web. January 18, 2014. Tull, Matthew, PhD. “Coming home from the war in Iraq.” About.com Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD). About.com, July 17, 2009. Web. January 18, 2014. Vlahos, Kelley Beaucar. “Veterans with traumatic brain injuries are overlooked.” Veterans. Ed. Margherita Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Opposing Views. Rpt. from "The Hidden Wounds". American Conservative (June 2, 2007). Opposing points of view in context. Network. January 7, 2014. Wolfe, Matteo. “From PTSD to Prison: Why Veterans Become Criminals.” The daily beast. The Newsweek Daily Beast Company, July 28, 2013. Web. January 11. 2014.