Military Couples Find Healing After War’s Wounds
Alaska marks a new start for military couples.
Even years after deployments on foreign battlefields or other military service, many veterans face daily battles with pain, grief, and loss. Many struggle with physical wounds and many more suffer from less-visible wounds from military service, including post-traumatic stress, moral injury, and survivor’s guilt. These veterans often carry memories of friends they lost or of traumatic events experienced during routine operations and high-stress environments.
Their spouses carry those burdens alongside them.
The homefront is the where the battle now rages. Marriages teeter on the edge, at times for years, behind closed doors.
In 2012, Samaritan’s Purse started Operation Heal Our Patriots to address the epidemic of crumbling marriages among combat veterans. We fly couples to Alaska where they can find space—away from the distractions of everyday life—for a fresh start. Over their week of marriage resiliency training led by veteran chaplains, they grow closer to each other and meet other couples in similar situations. At each step, they hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.
But Alaska isn’t the end of the road.
We stay in contact with these couples over the long term through our Family Care ministry. Chaplains, key leaders, and our alumni community follow up with them and help connect them with Christian congregations that are faithful to God’s Word. They also are invited to a variety of local, regional, and national follow-up events.
Alaska Marks a New Journey Toward Hope in Jesus Christ
Each Sunday evening in summer, Samaritan's Purse aircraft touch down at Samaritan Lodge Alaska where couples are greeted by a flag-waving crowd gathered on the gravel runway.
Couples spend each day during their week in chaplain-led, Biblically based marriage classes and on once-in-a-lifetime wilderness experiences. Throughout the week, couples have opportunities to talk with chaplains about the challenges they face at home. And each day provides our guests with special times to connect with each other and with other couples.
For many participants, this provides the deeper community they’ve been seeking. Perhaps for the first time, they don't feel so alone.
"Each year we get to see God work powerfully in the lives of these couples as they become a part of the Operation Heal Our Patriots family. God has been faithful to restore and transform many lives and marriages devastated by the wounds of war. I'm grateful that our connection to these men and women doesn't end in Alaska. Our commitment to them is for life."
Operation Heal Our Patriots serves married veterans and active-duty military personnel (all branches, including National Guard and Reserve) serving after 9/11 whose lives and marriages are suffering under burdens of duty-related moral, physical, or psychological injuries. Does this describe you and your spouse? Please consider applying. Applications open Nov. 11. All travel to and from Samaritan Lodge Alaska is planned, provided, and paid for by Samaritan's Purse.
Applications for the 2026 season are now closed. Interested couples are encouraged to sign up to be notified when applications reopen.
Sign Up to Be NotifiedON THE GROUND: For 17 weeks every summer, military veterans and their spouses are invited to Operation Heal Our Patriots for a week-long marriage retreat. Kristy Graham takes listeners behind-the-scenes to experience what these military couples do day by day, immersing them in what life is like at Samaritan Lodge Alaska. Hear how the Lord transforms marriages through Biblically based marriage classes, excursions in the beautiful Alaskan wilderness, and intentional conversations with chaplains, staff, and volunteers.
Lives Transformed
Operation Heal Our Patriots began more than 13 years ago in response to the epidemic of broken marriages among military families. The only real hope to change grim statistics is through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Since 2012, God has been faithful to transform lives and rescue marriages at this wilderness outpost. We have welcomed more than 2,000 couples since then to Samaritan Lodge Alaska and we praise God that 943 participants have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, 1,123 have been baptized by our chaplains in Lake Clark, and 1,050 couples have recommitted their marriages to God.
“We gave our hearts to Jesus. It’s a whole new beginning for us.”
ONE COUPLE'S STORY
A Stake in the Ground
In the wilds of Alaska, Jason and Julia Bush experienced grace and forgiveness in Jesus Christ and found the marriage they thought they'd lost.
Marine Veteran Jason Bush and his wife, Julia, came to Alaska at the end of a very challenging few years. The previous year and a half was especially tough.
“Our family is very broken right now,” Jason said.
So when Jason and Julia received the invitation from Operation Heal Our Patriots, they were amazed.
The flag-waving welcome that greeted their arrival to our camp surprised them. The first person they saw as they stepped off the plane was Franklin Graham. “I was not expecting that at all,” Jason said. “It made us feel overwhelmed with thankfulness,” he said.
What followed was a week of firsts. Their first marriage retreat. Their first time fishing together. For Julia, who came to faith in her 20s, it was also her first extended time with other military spouses.
The couple agreed that Jason’s Marine deployments had contributed to the depression and anxiety he now battled. They also agreed that they wanted a future together and that they were hopeful for the first time in a long time.
Being able to come to Alaska reminded Jason “that God's still in control,” he said. “It was very obvious that God put us here at the right time.”
During Biblically based chaplain-led marriage classes, they learned new ways to communicate. They also spent time in conversations with chaplains and the Bushes found themselves opening up about their difficulties in the previous few years.
Jason has spent 14 years working with veterans himself, leading retreats for others. “I've always been really good at taking care of and supporting everybody else,” he said, “but not myself.”
In Alaska, that finally changed. Together, Jason and Julia rededicated their lives to Jesus.
“We just needed to make that serious commitment to make God the Lord of everything,” Jason said. “We won't make it if we don't do that. We have some major mountains to climb over the months to come.”
“This is our stake in the ground,” Julia said.
“It's nice to know that we have an Operation Heal Our Patriots family,” Jason said. “We can keep learning and growing.”
We praise God that so many military couples have experienced the healing power of Jesus Christ through the project over the last 10 years.
Growing in Hope, Stronger Marriages, and Deeper Community
Our commitment to couples is to be a part of supporting their ongoing spiritual growth after Alaska, and our Family Care ministry provides opportunities for training, community, and service for the long road.
“The real work of ongoing discipleship begins when they're back home and dealing with life again,” said John Pryor, a former Marine who now serves as director of Operation Heal Our Patriots.
Church community is vital to the faith and marriages of military couples, so our regional chaplains help couples connect with local Christian congregations that are faithfully teaching God's Word.
Stronger Operation Heal Our Patriots community builds resilience among couples and their families as they walk through difficult times together. Chaplain-led regional events, Fortify Your Marriage weekends, and Operation Heal Our Patriots reunions provide opportunities to grow in God’s Word, strengthen marriages, and build friendships.
Chaplains follow up with couples and maintain regular contact by phone, email, text, and on our Facebook page. Chaplains also schedule meetings via Zoom or in-person for pastoral care sessions. Sometimes, chaplains will also make special trips to be present during major life events.
Serving Together Through Team Patriot
Team Patriot builds deeper community among couples with opportunities to serve U.S. homeowners affected by natural disasters.
“Imagine how it will impact a homeowner who's lost everything to see a wounded service member out in their yard helping them get back on their feet. We want these wounded men and women to remember that they are heroes and that God wants to use them,” said Edward Graham, a retired Army Ranger and COO at Samaritan's Purse. Edward is the youngest son of Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham.
Couples deploy to areas affected by floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and fires to help homeowners clean out their homes and recover precious belongings. In many communities, veterans and spouses get to serve other combat veteran families—sometimes including fellow Alaska alumni.
Leading Together in Discipleship
"Now God has placed our whole family in ministry, and we're thankful we get to serve together. Operation Heal Our Patriots has created so many disciples, and veterans are now helping other veterans. God is doing so much and we're honored to be a part of it."
Key Leaders Mentor
The Family Care ministry extends beyond the outreach of our chaplains and other staff to include fellow military couples. It is also built upon connection and mutual support from other military couples in the program—more men and women who have their back and understand their struggles.
Through our Key Leader initiative, a group of Operation Heal Our Patriots military couples is pursuing the calling to teach and strengthen other couples in their marriages and in their walk with Christ. Key Leaders go through a year-long, chaplain-led training and mentorship process while also continuing to serve military couples in their communities.
Apply For Operation
Heal Our Patriots
Applications for the 2026 season are now closed. Interested couples are encouraged to sign up to be notified when applications reopen each year on Veterans Day, November 11.
Sign Up to Be NotifiedMarried U.S. military veterans and active-duty service personnel (all branches, including National Guard and Reserve) who have experienced moral, physical, or psychological injuries during their service after 9/11 are encouraged to fill out an Operation Heal Our Patriots application online at samaritanspurse.org/patriots-application. Applications for the summer season are accepted starting Nov. 11 each year.
All travel to and from Samaritan Lodge Alaska is planned, provided, and paid for by Samaritan's Purse.
Bless the Marriage of a Military Couple
Operation Heal Our Patriots helps military couples build a strong spiritual foundation during a week of Biblically based workshops, relationship-building wilderness activities, and individual care by our retired military chaplains. We offer all this free of charge to these American heroes as a token of our appreciation for their service and sacrifice. Your gift will help us cover the costs—including transportation, lodging, activities, and long-term Family Care—so that we can help them find hope in the Lord.
