For veterans of conflict the memories of violence and war are often hard to forget, even with the passing of time. In a special series Al Jazeera meets those who have survived some of the world's most savage or forgotten conflicts - whether conscripts, civilians or professionals, all have felt the shock of war and have been forced or chosen to fight to defend their country, their families or even a an idea they do not fully comprehend. While some veterans reintegrate into normal life with great ease and success, others have been unable to overcome the legacy of the conflict and say they have been abandoned by the countries they once served. Al Jazeera talks to those who survived and the families of those who did not.
