Fayetteville Today

North Carolina veterans are experiencing a strain based on what is happening in Ukraine because, not only do they know fellow soldiers in the now-dangerous country, but also they know firsthand what kind of experiences those soldiers are facing.

The U.S. continues to confirm that the troops already stationed in Europe will not engage in direct combat against Russian forces in Ukraine.

"When I hear NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), to me, NATO should be the front line of defense for all of Europe," veteran Michael Kacher told ABC 11 News on Feb. 25. "Any country that is free should be standing up to fight for freedom -- because what else is there?"

Kacher, who served three tours overseas, is concerned about friends he still has in the U.S. Armed Forces.

"I look at this, and if this turns into another full-blown war, how many of my friends who are still in the military are going to end up getting reactivated?" Kacher told ABC 11 News. "How many just got out who are going to get recalled?"

Kacher also discussed how sometimes soldiers who never see combat in a conflict still have mental health problems after they return home. Veterans also think of other ways that scenarios could have played out while overseas, which plagues them, even when they are on home soil. In addition to veterans, North Carolina residents with family members in the Armed Forces are also concerned about the situation in Ukraine.