President Bush rides with Wounded Warriors

This transcript is automatically generated

-- you really had a meaningful adventure.

And -- this week and did -- Unbelievable I was in Palo -- canyon state park with the veterans wounded warriors that we're going on a bicycle right.

Mountain biking with President Bush who is literally standing up on the hill looking over them encouraging them on and he was down with them helping amputees up the hill.

And he was clearly part of them is a deeply stirring experience Eric.

About mind over matter about veterans who have been wounded trying to get back to society the regain the new normal.

Overcoming posttraumatic stress amputation.

Traumatic brain injury to be part of that was so moving to me and and -- it's clearly an inspiration and it's helping the veterans to recover as the main thing.

United shows such a caring and dedication by the former president that is out there on his bike we don't know how he loves -- -- and and being involved in this issue.

And it is an issue that that really should be near and you're not just of the president's heart.

But all of us in this country honoring US military veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Let's take a look as doctor Siegel goes along for the ride.

Heroes in the wars severely wounded in heroes again as they courageously returned to civilian life.

Invited by president George W.

Bush.

Deeply touched by his friendship and he feels the burden.

Of the soldiers that have been wounded in this war President Bush is attempting to help the veterans to heal.

It's an opportunity for.

For me it is safe to our -- for the -- for you and I can't.

-- -- you it's a way to herald the groups of sports events.

-- -- -- Severely wounded or the twenty vets have faced severe challenges among the toughest and most common are traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The lowest point for me was definitely -- and I don't -- But there's -- there's a lot -- survivor's guilt and I haven't event like this to help with the recovering and you know whether it be the beginning and the end of it it's kind of this is -- you were before.

Major Daniel Gade lost his leg in Iraq.

And since that fateful day he has gained a Ph.D.

and now teaches at West Point gave his living proof of mind -- Matter but I don't feel the -- because I had my brain works fine hands work fine.

You know my wife still loves me so I don't estimates of disabled -- just consider myself like.

It's just inconvenienced.

A few months away from his 66 birthday the amazingly fit former President Clinton leads by example on a quest to get Americans.

Fitter so way to kind of encourage people to exercise -- now on Medicare.

-- Medicare eligible for the gracious enough to get fit pretty fit and in the fight mistakes of others states.

Is that odds are eligible for Medicare is out there on the bike at a doctor what an amazing experience what a great cause.

The -- to the very important topic that should be meaningful to all of us that is helping.

Wounded veterans right.

Absolutely Erica you know that the -- there's two main issues here which is the veterans are actually helping each other they're working together.

Eyewitness that how they were literally helping each other team Elisa teamed and you saw you saw -- there on the on the buildup.

I mean they're helping each other up the hill back to society helping them get jobs but let's face it some of these things can't be overcome.

Like traumatic brain injury over 200000.

People have that.

Over a 100000 posttraumatic stress disorder it's very very hard.

You know -- major dad is working as a professor at West Point and still on active duty but a lot of people are not an active duty.

So there's a lot of problems and we need to -- more of a spotlight on this because it's a very difficult problem these are heroes they come back there even more heroic if they get back into society.

The second issue here is the issue of fitness and President Bush and I were talking about this you know if the elderly would actually exercise like this not necessarily go on mountain bike rides like this.

But as he says to me even thirty minutes a day of regular exercise we could cut down on the obesity epidemic may -- we -- less.

We use Medicare last stop over using Medicare.

I mean we are such a sedentary society and I believe he's a role model for getting back on your feet doing that exercise and really having a positive outcomes of those two issues one is veteran's health.

Which is deeply important and the other is all of our help here in America and how -- not paying enough attention to it.

Value mainly as a role -- that he no doubt about that it I would pick up now doctors money about the veterans' issue.

One of those we saw that heroic as that is so impressive when that -- the veteran who's who lost this Leahy just called it an inconvenience but.

Also doctor Segal played out -- -- back PT SD is something that's not as easy to kind of make that transition back into the new normal.

And I think we we -- Chad about it earlier in it's it is that transition that's so important.

Of course you have the families waiting at the -- at the airport just so happy to have.

And your -- went home but you can't just go from the the work field to you know sitting in the family den watching the.

Yes absolutely and that's a really good point -- just say first that this is really truly.

And inspirational story and shows how committed we are as a country.

Behind all of these events these are the ones that have risked their lives to make us all you know safe and sound.

And these are true champion is there are heroes and we salute them and for them to see to have this kind of collaboration as a team war starting from the President Bush to the rest of the country.

We're all behind you America say from the spirit is young and healthy.

And and this is really -- great awareness so I congratulate and also doctor -- for bringing this to the attention of the rest of the country.

Now went what happens is when they come back if they really -- family are waiting for them at the airport today go from that the war zone straight to.

They're living room and that's a big problem because she kissed the back to the exist in about 30% of our -- men and women out there.

And it's a true psychological issues is depression involved -- nightmares and flashbacks of the war zone.

This has resulted to even suicidal like nations that we need to do with this.

Most of the time very.

Where it's giving that these anti depressant your anti psychotic who are masking the symptoms but we're not dealing with the actual problem and I think as we discuss apparently -- -- We need to have a transition so almost like -- therapy between.

Before really delivering them to defend the and I think as a result of Iran and respect us hopefully there would be enough attention and findings to really take -- -- people.

Who put in their lives at risk.

The other issue that you see over here is 62 models -- hundred K I'll buy quite with some of the people that have lost their or his arms legs.

And this is another credit to the technology as you know I deal -- robotic surgery for prostate cancer I don't fascinated by these won't by the -- -- out there.

Look at what has happened over the last thirty years now you have carbon fibers you have titanium -- Microprocessor.

In the joints that can really give you the full range of -- -- to go through this kind of right we -- policy sees his revolution.

We talk about Bluetooth.

Not the cellphone but if you have to move across these isn't your bags -- -- -- plus seasons and the left corner of communicating.

Through Bluetooth technology it's just incredible to see how these guys.

I am able to go through these challenging come back to be terriers.

There's absolutely amazing NN dot doctors -- go -- this money just mentioned.

The medical advances.

You certainly must have been inspired by doing this as well as the message from former President Bush for all of us to get on and on bikes.

Well you know President Bush is inspirational on a personal basis he congratulated me when I interviewed him last night that I was -- figured out but it -- -- that what matters most it's the veterans David's point about technology is totally right but at the end of the day.

-- that there was still riding with one leg he's bicycling with -- one leg the other leg because his reputation was -- -- you couldn't use -- artificial leg on the -- So the technology is advancing tremendously but they still haven't been a big disadvantage but keep in mind -- it's only 16100 amputees.

And David's other point over 200000.

Traumatic brain injury and over a 100000 -- EST you know.

David was talking about suicidal aviation I gotta tell you at the dinner we had there one of the vets stood up and said six weeks ago I was about to commit suicide he said.

But I was talked out of it and now I'm here there's that are getting inspiration and President Bush is not just knowing -- he's part of them.

I saw him off camera nobody watching him.

He's very comfortable with them he's one of them and that's one of the biggest keys especially at a time when we're talking about electability on a personal level he really really inspires them.

Merits in a doctor -- it must been so inspiring -- you talk about the emotion and what was it like.

To be there with them riding along -- not just the former president but but all of these guys who have suffered so much.

You know yesterday I actually it ended up in the lead group has all which is army active and they were literally greased down in there with a stout group and I rode behind them.

And they actually came to rest stop and think you know doctor Siegel he's in the back and suddenly they saw me and I was still with them.

And there were so impressed but it wasn't about me it was about them functioning as a group.

-- working together the group.

And then again behind them was -- -- and -- Melissa began team that they're helping him up the -- that he couldn't make because of the one leg on a bicycle.

But he didn't feel bad about that they didn't feel bad about that it was almost as if they were back out in combat.

Working together I could see it in their minds that they were still human and combat I don't know if our viewers understand.

How amazing how armed services are in that way they work together as a unit selflessly.

Loving each other helping each other up the hills and up the -- the biggest -- back to normal life.

Well god bless them what a great event doctor Siegel that some money just in amazing experience.

And really important doctor -- we'll talk more next -- when you come back is how we help.

The veterans and here's where you can do that it's the bush -- warrior 100 K ride.

You can go on the Internet there it is just log onto www.

100 W 100 K.

Dot com 100 K dot com for video in this story is such an inspirational -- something that all of us around the country can help -- such crucial.

It's cause that's just -- Doctor Siegel -- money.

Watch Live

President Bush rides with Wounded Warriors

Details

Clips

Dr. Siegel's Take

Former President Bush hosts wounded warrior bike ride

Spiritual healing, courage emphasized at Bush's Warrior 100K

Biking with Bush: Wounded vets join president for ride

Summer health fact vs. fiction

How to survive in rubble?

Serious new questions about preemptive surgeries

Ways to reduce your stroke risk

Busting medical myths on nutritional supplements

Study: Guidelines on daily salt consumption may be too low

Is Angelina Jolie's shocking announcement a wakeup call?

Angelina Jolie reveals she had double mastectomy

Busting medical myths about diet and weight loss

Transcript

Recommended