Bob Delaney, an undercover cop who infiltrated the Genovese and Bruno crime families in the 1970's, knows what it's like to feel the stress of being alone and helpless, as if no one else understands. That's one of the curses of post-traumatic stress disorder, an anxiety that develops in response to a traumatic period.

This hero cop has harnessed that experience for another career, helping the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars coping with PTSD.

The 60-year-old was honored today by Army Chief of Staff Ray Odierno with the Outstanding Civilian Service Award for his work mentoring soldiers.

Delaney's story was the basis for two books he's co-written, "Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob" and "Surviving the Shadows: A Journey of Hope into Post-Traumatic Stress."

(READ the full story from The Record, at NewJersey.com)