The fatal and tragic consequences of war came pounding home mercilessly last weekend, when the United States suffered its single largest loss of lives in the 10-year Afghanistan war. All 38 people aboard were killed when their military helicopter was shot down in eastern Afghanistan, including 30 Americans, 22 of whom were elite Navy SEALS.

Among those killed was Maui son Kraig Vickers, a Navy senior chief petty officer who would have turned 37 Thursday and, with his wife Nani, was expecting their third child.

The Vickers’ photos of joyful family life in Tuesday’s Star-Advertiser were almost too poignant to bear. It reminded us all, in very human and relatable terms, of the depths of sacrifice borne by our service members and their families.

More broadly, it reminds us of just how much this country asks of its troops. Most carry out their duties with pride and integrity. Americans, however, should not forget that most troops do return from the war zone physically safe — but having risked, and too often lost, much of their financial, social and emotional stability.

Just as heroism and honor rightly go to American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, attention needs to grow for new veterans trying to make the best of transitioning back to society and entering an adverse economy.

A Sept. 7 "stand down" for assistance to veterans, for one, is a worthwhile follow-up to a new federal program providing grants aimed at preventing homelessness.

The first stand down for homeless veterans is aimed at providing health screenings as well as employment and housing help. It’s set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ala Moana Park’s McCoy Pavilion, organized by theStrategist, a management advisory firm on contract with the U.S. Department of Labor.

The worthwhile effort comes weeks after the Department of Veterans Affairs provided $60 million in grants, including $610,000 to Catholic Charities of Hawaii, under a new Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.

"Caring for our nation’s veterans is a continuing cost of war," noted U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, former chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. "It is now our responsibility to help these brave men and women thrive in the society they risked their lives to protect."

The grant to Catholic Charities of Hawaii will be used to assist about 125 low-income veteran families living in or transitioning to permanent housing on Oahu.

U.S. VETS, the largest nonprofit provider of services to struggling veterans, provides housing and treatment to as many as 200 homeless veterans at its Kalaeloa shelter facility and has taken in more than 30 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans since the start of the year.

The number of homeless veterans undoubtedly is much greater. A national survey has determined that 23 percent of the nation’s homeless are veterans.

Hawaii’s homeless population last year was 15,604, and more than half were without shelter.

Darryl Vincent, head of the U.S. VETS Hawaii program, told the Star-Advertiser’s Dan Nakaso that substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and related problems are showing up earlier in young veterans than in those who had come home from the Vietnam War.

With many productive years still ahead of them, America’s returning veterans must be afforded as much help as possible to transition back to society, from psychological services, to job training and employment, to housing help.

Many veterans can, and do, readjust as needed — but the toll of multiple tours in lengthy wars is brutal.

On the battlefield or off, the military motto applies: No one left behind.