Former soldiers and other service people from this country's various overseas military entanglements (three . . . that we know of . . . heh-heh) are turning up at alarming rates in the streets, soup-kitchen lines and substandard housing. After fighting for America, they return to fight for their lives. Fortunately, the nonprofit Orange County Veterans Employment Committee (OCVEC) helps connect returning (or long-returned) U.S. veterans with the resources available for them. Among other things, it has teamed with the state Employment Development Department for job fairs for vets. Besides getting former military personnel to its events, OCVEC has made sure potential employers and service providers are there to greet them. Now here's a mission everyone can get behind: teaching veterans what it takes to meet their education and career goals, as well as informing potential schools and employers why they should include our heroes in their ranks. OCVEC points clients to existing job centers with veterans representatives in Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Buena Park and Westminster.