In August 2008, Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Mitchell was serving as a U.S. Army infantry senior sergeant in Afghanistan when his convoy was struck by two improvised explosive devices. The attack left him the only survivor from his vehicle and marked the beginning of a long recovery process.
Mitchell recalled the moment after regaining consciousness at a hospital in Germany: “Just a few moments ago, you weren’t with us,” he remembered a military chaplain telling him while handing over a care package labeled “Wounded Warrior Project.”
This introduction led Mitchell to years of support through organizations dedicated to helping wounded veterans. Among them is UCLA Health Operation Mend, which offers free specialized surgical and psychological treatment for post-9/11 veterans and their families. Operation Mend stands out as the only program in the country providing this level of comprehensive care at no cost.
In July 2025, Operation Mend marked ten years of partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project and the Warrior Care Network. This collaboration includes Massachusetts General Hospital, Emory Healthcare, and Rush University, aiming to improve access to both physical and mental health services for veterans across the United States.
“When the Wounded Warrior Project invited Operation Mend to have our first conversations about building a network, all four academic medical centers and the Wounded Warrior Project leadership came together, and we committed to a level of collaboration unlike anything we had seen before,” said Dr. Sornborger, executive director of UCLA Health Operation Mend. “This translated into us building a network, setting our egos aside, and creating the best practices that we could commit to our warriors — and that has grown substantially in breadth and depth over the past 10 years.”
The Warrior Care Network partnership has provided care to more than 6,000 veterans nationwide since its inception.
“One of the hallmarks of our program at Operation Mend is that we make sure that all warriors have access to care,” said Dr. Sornborger. “Many warriors have told our team that, for the very first time, we’ve offered them hope — something they haven’t experienced before. And so, the trust that we’ve developed is phenomenal.”
Before arriving at UCLA Health in January 2019 with his wife Jocelyn—his primary caregiver—Mitchell had undergone dozens of surgeries following his injuries: knee replacements (including amputation), spinal cord injury treatment, traumatic brain injury management, among others.
“I got to UCLA, and for the first time, I sat down with somebody who actually made sense of what was going on,” Mitchell said. “It just put me on my knees. It really humbled me that there are people out there who care because when you come here, the doctors engage you.”
Since joining Operation Mend’s programs—including intensive PTSD treatment—Mitchell has received eight additional surgeries addressing various injuries from his service.
“The pace has slowed down, but the progress has sped up since I’ve been here,” Mitchell explained. “Everything the doctors said they would do, they have done — and done it well. I have benefited from every surgery, whether it be incremental or not, and it’s helped me live a better life. I’m forever appreciative of that, and so is my family.”
Mitchell also noted improvements beyond physical healing: “I was never really good about speaking on my emotions… So after coming here… UCLA Health did more for me in three days than I had accomplished in the past 10 years… I had to adopt that same kindness…”
He described feeling included as part of an extended family through Operation Mend: “It wasn’t just me coming in for surgery and then going home,” he said. “I went as an individual and came back as a family member.”
As these partnerships continue expanding their reach among wounded veterans nationwide—including ongoing efforts by UCLA Health—Mitchell encourages others facing similar challenges to seek help.
“There is nothing to be embarrassed about. There is nothing to be afraid of… As much as this was a repair, it was also a tool — I didn’t feel like I was in the world by myself anymore.”
He emphasized involving families in recovery: “Your family will heal with you,” he said. “Operation Mend has tools for every issue… You just have to apply yourself…”
Dr. Sornborger added: “It is worth putting your trust into the Warrior Care Network… The gift that warriors give us is their trust… That takes tremendous courage…”
She highlighted her team’s dedication: “The amount of dedication and respect that our teams have for our warriors is so consistent and so deep — and that to me is extraordinary… We always say ‘Once a patient of Operation Mend, always a patient.’”
Mitchell expressed gratitude for those supporting him along his journey: “I can say with a smile on my face that this change of mindset has opened many doors… You’re not a lost cause — you just have to use the right tools… And I am so proud of team members who have made themselves available as true patriots…”
