Sensei David LoPriore, L.Ac. of Warriors for Warriors has saved my life on multiple occasions!  His acupuncture and counselling over the past 25 years are simply the reason I am still here to enjoy my life, my wife and family, and the things I love.  I have been receiving acupuncture treatment, counselling, and self-help training from him the whole time, which stopped me from trying to slowly kill myself with drugs and alcohol due to Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and severe chronic pain from Vietnam.  After months away and one particularly close call with death, I called Sensei again, and got back in for treatments.  That was four years ago and I haven’t had a drink since!  I am grateful to Warriors for Warriors (WfW) beyond words for supporting Sensei’s efforts for all veterans for the past 7 years.  WfW has made at least 200 free treatments with Sensei available to me.

I was a U.S. Navy Seabee in Vietnam.  Did two nine-month tours.  The first day I got there I watched a whole U.S. troop transport plane crash and explode.  I was 22.  We worked combat engineering missions 11-hour days, 6 ½ days/week, and took mortar rounds from the enemy 5 or 6 nights a week to make sure we never slept well.  The stress was off the charts.  I hurt my back there, and combined with my exhaustion, drugs and alcohol, and always pushing myself hard, it never healed right.  When I finally happily returned from Vietnam I was spit on and called a “baby killer” by American citizens.  Even the other veterans hated us Vietnam vets.  So, I hid in a cabin in the mountains for a long time and turned to drugs and alcohol in a big way.  That didn’t help!

The only thing that has truly helped me are the treatments from Sensei LoPriore.  His acupuncture is amazing.  It virtually eliminates my back pain, headaches, neck, and leg pain every time, and it lets me sleep!  Sensei’s counselling is always on target.  He “holds up the mirror and shows me the truth” so I can get my head right.  I cannot express my gratitude for Warriors for Warriors strongly enough!! Thank you.

-Ackley H.

November, 2021

“Before I found Warriors for Warriors, I suffered with many injuries from my tour in Iraq in 2008-2009.  I was in the Army’s 340th Military Police Company, fighting alongside the US Army Infantry, and teaching Iraqi police.  We did many patrols.  I was hit by multiple IED and EFP explosions that caused me several injuries, and killed multiple buddies in front of me. There was a constant feeling of the unknown and hyper vigilance in Iraq for that year, and ever since I’ve been home. It was literally ‘hell’ in Iraq.

From my deployment, I suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury, severe back and leg pain— I couldn’t walk more than ten minutes without having to sit down.  I couldn’t sleep, was constantly exhausted, couldn’t think straight, and had PTSD.  I was depressed and suicidal.

Acupuncture treatments, counselling, and PTSD Wellness Training from Warriors for Warriors’ Sensei David LoPriore, L.Ac. literally saved my life! – They prevented me from committing suicide. I have much less pain in every area and am much more functional.  I have learned many techniques I use daily to help my body and mind. My service dog Hero helps me tremendously too. Before I had him, I was lost.  All this help has been even more essential due to COVID-19.  Thank you to Warriors for Warriors, and to all who assist and support them in their work.”

-Harris, 2020

January 20, 2017

To Whom It May Concern:

I write this open letter in support of Mr. David LoPriore, L.Ac. and the important work that his Warriors for Warriors (WfW) is doing for the military and civilian communities. He is an acupuncturist with 25 years’ experience treating military service members and veterans with PTS and many other service-connected illnesses and injuries. I have been privileged to know and work with David, whose nonprofit organization WfW brings real relief to suffering veterans. And I count myself among them.

As a military leader with 35 years of service, coupled with the last 10 years as the Transition Assistance Advisor (TAA) for Connecticut, advocating for veterans and their families, I have always tried to find innovative and trusting ways to help members of the military community to find peace and wellness after the ravages of war.

One of the most difficult aspects of command and advocacy is seeing soldiers return from battle with serious physical and emotional wounds. While the VA can help some of them, they can’t do it all—and often, the issue comes down to getting the reluctant veteran through the doors of the VA to seek help!

Thanks to David and his WfW staff’s efforts, soldiers at central locations throughout the state are receiving innovative acupuncture treatments for PTS, TBIs, chronic pain, insomnia, and other grave conditions. I was skeptical at first, but soon became a believer in this holistic alternate form of therapy, after receiving treatments myself, with tremendously positive effects that lasted longer than I anticipated. The treatments had a very positive calming effect that carried through for several days, along with a positive sense of well-being.

I have had the opportunity to talk with many other soldiers who received acupuncture treatments, and they were all pleasantly surprised and thankful for this effective alternative  therapy. I was pleased with the comments conveyed to me that the soldiers almost immediately felt the benefits of the treatment, and that those benefits were long lasting.

WfW has offered free acupuncture events at the Hartford Armory, Rocky Hill Veterans Hospital, for several CTARNG and other military units, and many groups of veterans all over Connecticut and Rhode Island. David and his staff have personally administered more than 1,200 free acupuncture treatments to veterans with PTS and many other issues.

I am happy to report that WfW is actively receiving veteran referrals from the VA’s Veteran’s Choice Program for David’s expertise in successfully treating PTS, TBI, anxiety, depression, anger, hyper-vigilance, insomnia, addiction, chronic pain and other co-occurring psychological and physical symptoms of service. David has gone above and beyond the call of duty to develop the effective protocols and treatments that are making a real difference for our veterans.

Veteran suicide is unacceptable, and we must work harder to treat its root causes before veterans are in crisis. I know David LoPriore’s work does just that. Now it is time for us to step up and help fund his work, and expand it to help even more veterans by spreading the word about this tremendously effective alternative therapy! He has my total support.

//signed//

Daniel J. McHale, Brigadier General USA (Ret-CT)

President, Connecticut Chapter, AUSA

Former Transition Assistant Advisor, Connecticut

Dave,

I just wanted to take a moment and say Thank You!  

I had serious doubts (as I imagine a lot do) on the effectiveness of acupuncture.  But after my session I have no doubts this works.  And it works well.  For two nights in a row now I’ve slept through the night!  It’s been a VERY long time since that’s happened.  Everyone I’ve spoken to who attended that day echo the same thing.  

Thanks again for taking the time to travel up here and spend your day with us.  It was a true pleasure talking to you and your team.  You’ve really opened my eyes to a whole new world of a very  effective method of treatment.  The selflessness of you and your team is greatly appreciated.

//SIGNED//
WALTER R. LEVANTOVICH, LtCol, CTANG
Director of Operations, 103 OSS