PENN TWP — James Manning knows what veterans go through when dealing with their return to civilian life; that’s why he helps out when he can, a gesture that was recognized by the Butler AM Rotary Club Wednesday evening at the Hardwood Cafe.

Manning was one of seven people honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, a recognition given to individuals who have donated $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation or had a donation given in their name, according to Jennifer Linn, the Rotary Club district’s membership chairman.

Manning was the only person recognized who was not a member of the club, Linn said, which she called “a rare honor.” An anonymous donor gave the $1,000 donation in Manning’s name.

Manning was chosen for the honor because of his involvement with the veteran community through his work at the Butler County Community College, according to Linn, who is a trustee at BC3.

“We wanted to showcase him and show appreciation for all that he’s doing for the community as a student,” Linn said.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation, a celebration the club wanted to recognize alongside Veterans Day, making the honor for Manning appropriate, Linn said.

Manning served in the U.S. Army for eight years before retiring as a staff sergeant, he said. During his service, he was deployed to Iraq twice, once in 2006 with the 1st Cavalry Division and again in 2009 with the 1st Armored Division.

Now he works in the financial aid office at BC3 with individuals who receive veterans benefits along with their educational benefits, he said.

He also serves as the president of the Student Veterans Association at BC3, working to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder and to provide places for veterans to talk about their experiences. “It’s nice to be recognized, but I just feel like I’m doing my job, giving back to veterans, trying to help people in general,” he said.

Up to 20 percent of veterans who served since Sept. 11, 2001, have post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the U.S. Department for Veterans Affairs.

Around 12 percent of those involved in the Gulf War and 30 percent from the Vietnam War also suffer from PTSD. When a veteran comes back from combat, he or she can face a range of mental health disorders, from anxiety and depression to substance abuse and suicidal thoughts.

For Manning, the adjustment from war to civilian life was tough, and admitting that to himself was a process.

“It took me a little while when I got back to acknowledge the issues and actually seek any kind of help for it,” he said. “I dealt with that toward the end of my time in the military ...

“I hold myself accountable for the deaths of a few of my friends. I have a tattoo to memorialize them. On my first deployment, we lost five guys, and I blame myself for three of them.

“It’s something that I’ve struggled with. It’s something I’ve gone through counseling for. I could continue to deal with it, but I have coping mechanisms and I’ve found my outlets.”

But it took him some time to realize he could make a difference for other veterans.

“When I got out, I wanted nothing to do with the veteran community as a whole,” Manning said. “I just wanted to be myself and not recognize as a veteran for a while.

“I came around to realize that I am a vet, and I always will be. That’s something to embrace, and it’s a whole community to be involved with.”

That change happened during the fall of 2015, and for Barbara Calvert, an accounting major at BC3, Manning has created new outlets for veterans.

“You tend to isolate and feel like you are the only one who is going through this, and you realize through talking to the others that you’re not. Even if you are just sitting in the room and listening to the conversation between two other fellow service people, you don’t actually have to be saying anything, but you can hear that there are other people going through the same thing. And it allows you to open up ... He’s creating a social outlet for us to get together.”

In May, Manning graduated from BC3 with associate degrees in criminology and homeland security. He still attends BC3 as a guest student, working toward his bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from the University of Pittsburgh, which he hopes to complete in December 2017.

While Manning is not sure where his life will take him after he completes his education, he will continue his involvement with the veteran community, especially since veterans can often open up more easily to others who have served.

“It’s definitely easier for vets to talk to other vets, in my experience,” he said. “I think the logic and reasoning for that is because we’ve all been there.

“We have the same experiences when it comes to what you have to do in a combat zone so we feel more comfortable talking to other vets about it.”

But that’s not to say that the average person cannot help the veterans in their lives, Manning said.

“Let the vet know that you’re there for them and you’ll support them through everything, that if they need to talk, you’re available to talk,” he said.

Other people honored as Paul Harris Fellows Wednesday night were Lisa Campbell, BC3 director of business and industry training; Chris Panian, an account manager; Bryan Stevenson, travel itinerary service; Jeff Smith, manager, city treasurer; James Barbara, a retiree; and Timothy McCune, Butler County judge.