Veterans Mentor Lied About Military Record

Source: Military.com
Published: Thursday 09 February, 2012

HOUSTON -- The director of counseling at a nonprofit for veterans in Houston confessed Wednesday to lying about his military record and falsely claiming a Silver Star and other medals.

Paul Schroeder, 40, portrayed himself as a decorated Special Forces sergeant first class who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa and Central and South America.

In his job at the nonprofit PTSD Foundation of America, Schroeder mentored veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and led group therapy sessions at local churches and the Star of Hope Mission. He also lectured at least half a dozen times at the Houston Police Academy as part of a PTSD awareness program for officers and cadets.

"Veterans helping veterans is such a great tool because we have been there," he said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle last year. "We do understand. We can speak the same language, and if we've confronted those demons and come out the other side, it gives them hope that they can do the same. And that's really the key to defeating suicide and things of that nature is having hope that it will be better."

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