In this special two-part episode of The Lasting Mission podcast, Mission Roll Call CEO Jim Whaley sits down with longtime friend and fellow veteran Walt Piatt, retired Lieutenant General and the new CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project. 

Their conversation covers a lot of ground—from their early days in Panama to leading two major veteran organizations—but the message is clear: we need to do more to support the men and women who served. 

Part One: Finding Purpose After Service 

In Part One, Walt shares his journey from enlisted infantryman to Army general, and now to CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project. He talks about the challenges many veterans face after leaving the military—losing their sense of identity, struggling to reconnect, and carrying the invisible wounds of war. 

Wounded Warrior Project helps veterans find their way back through mental health support, programs like Project Odyssey, and simply reminding them they’re not alone. 

“Healing begins with movement,” Walt says. “And we walk with veterans every step of the way.”

Watch Part One:

Part Two: Advocacy, Transition & Family Support 

Part Two focuses on what’s next for the Wounded Warrior Project and for the veterans and families they serve. 

Walt explains how WWP is working to improve access to care, support veteran families, and make sure lawmakers hear directly from warriors themselves. He also opens up about how writing poetry helped him process his experiences, and how important it is for all veterans to find their outlet for healing. 

“You can’t just leave the military and expect everything to fall into place,” Walt says. “We have to meet veterans where they are—and keep showing up.” 

Watch Part Two:

Why This Matters 

• 1 in 3 post-9/11 veterans face challenges with PTS, brain injury, or trauma.

• More than 50% of veterans aren’t connected to the VA or a support organization.

• Connection saves lives—and that starts with all of us. 

If you’re a veteran, a caregiver, or someone who wants to help, visit woundedwarriorproject.org to get involved, or check out missionrollcall.org to see how we’re working together to make sure no one is left behind.