The scars of war are hard to hide and hard to heal. For many U.S. combat veterans, the emotional toll combined with debilitating physical injuries can make it tougher to survive on home soil than on the battlefield.

Nationwide, hundreds of thousands of vets are suffering from a healthcare benefits backlog. Compounding the problem, more than 62,000 veterans are homeless on any given night; many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. Another 140,000 are in prison.

Policy makers and the VA need to honor and care for those who sacrificed their lives and livelihoods for our country—and not abandon them when they need us most.

Law students are stepping in to help with a free legal clinic at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco.  Read more here.