Hershel "Woody" Williams said he first heard of a drug treatment court designed specifically for veterans about five years ago while he was in New York City.
"It was a separate section all together from the rest of the court and ... rather than finding some way to punish that individual, they were looking for some way to treat and serve that individual because of the experiences that he had had in the war," said Williams, a World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient.
Hearing about the program, he recalled, made him think of his brother, who could have benefited from something like it.
But about 70 years ago, when his brother would have needed it, there was nothing like it, Williams told those gathered Thursday to announce the opening of Kanawha County's drug court for veterans.
Kanawha's program marks just the third of its kind in the state. It's designed to help veterans who are charged with non-violent felony offenses avoid going to prison.
The special track for veterans will exist within the county's adult drug court program and, therefore, doesn't require any additional funding, said Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey, who runs the drug court program.
Assistant Kanawha Prosecutor Reagan Whitmyer determines who gets to participate in drug court. She said Thursday there has been a clear need to address veterans separately.
"In the past, even within the last year, we've definitely had situations where we weren't ready to work with a particular veteran and that person wasn't able to transfer to one of our other veterans courts in the state," she said.
Kanawha's court will pair participants with a mentor who is also a veteran, Whitmyer said.
"They can really provide a good support system because they can relate to their issues," she said. "The mentorship program will provide support that's been lacking and help them navigate the VA system and help them along the way with emotional support."
West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin said Thursday it's his hope that, as with adult drug courts, every county in West Virginia will someday have a special court for veterans.
"Too many [veterans] leave part of themselves on the battlefield," Benjamin said.
The circuit that covers Ohio, Hancock and Brooke counties has a veterans court, as does Putnam County.
Billy Wayne Bailey, deputy secretary of the state Department of Veterans Assistance, said veterans courts show those who have served in the military that they are important.
"So many come back home facing many challenges that we don't understand," he said. "To all the veterans that are here today, this is a good sign, because this means that you matter."
Reach Kate White at kate.white@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1723 or follow @KateLWhite on Twitter.