Make room for the other version
Ask what the other person understood before assuming that you are arguing about the same facts. For a message about how to support someone returning from deployment, use this factual base: use the person's language for the transition and notice the immediate access, identity, housing, work, or family need.
Correct the record precisely
Correct only what you can support, acknowledge any real impact, and propose a practical way to prevent repetition. Offer one concrete step and let the person decide whether they want problem-solving, company, or quiet. Make the immediate next step clear enough that the recipient can answer without reconstructing the entire history.
Agree on a testable next step
Do not demand optimism, a complete explanation, or a timetable for adjusting. Use qualified legal, medical, trauma, housing, immigration, or emergency support when the transition carries serious risk. Do not recruit an audience, publish private evidence, or turn a misunderstanding into a campaign about character.