Few studies have asked veterans about their lived experiences with suicidal thoughts and little is known about the thoughts and feelings that arise leading up to a suicide attempt. This study aimed to understand how veterans describe their thoughts and feelings just prior to attempting suicide and explored what may support recovery. This was a national qualitative study of 50 (25 women, 25 men) United States (U.S.) Veterans who made a recent suicide attempt (prior 6 months). Participants were treatment-seeking patients at Veterans Affairs medical centers, recruited through their clinician. A modified grounded theory approach was used to conduct the semi-structured interviews, covering topics of military history, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and healthcare and recovery experiences.