Wednesday, April 19, 2017

The Sobering Veteran Stories College Station TX Soldiers Live Over Again

By Carolyn Barnes


There are certain soldiers who have decided never to talk about the things that happened to them and what they did during the war. These individuals decided nothing good could come from relating the trauma they experienced. Later generations have made different decisions and are coming forward to share the experiences they have had during and after the conflicts in which they served. The sobering veteran stories College Station TX relate are cautionary tales.

One marine tells a story about how he woke up one morning, after he got back from active duty, to find one side of his face paralyzed. He went to various doctors, who had various opinions about the cause, until they finally agreed it 'as probably Bell's Palsy. In the meantime, his bills have gone unpaid because of some problem at the Veteran's Administration. He's currently being held liable for the charges.

PTSD has become a commonly diagnosed problem for many veterans. A soldier who did two tours in Iraq turned to alcohol and drugs before he was diagnosed with the disorder. It got so bad his wife left him because she feared for herself and their young children. When suicide seemed like the only option, he saw the Veteran's Crisis Line phone number, called, and asked for help. He credits the soldier on the other end of the line with saving his life.

A soldier who served in Baghdad has another story to tell. He is also a victim of PTSD and applied for disability based on the disease. After much paperwork, he was finally granted disability, but it was not based on his military service. He is furious and frustrated that the government does not accept being shot at, attacked, wounded and physically compromised in combat as a reason for his inability to adjust to civilian life.

A soldier's wife reminds listeners of the hardships military families face. Her husband returned from the Middle East suffering from PTSD. Any unexpected noise or movement causes him to cringe. He still doesn't function normally and has no appetite. The doctors he has seen suggest patience and prescribe powerful antidepressants.

There are positive experiences, and returning soldiers like to emphasize them whenever they can. One soldier is happy to report the great experience he had with the Veteran's Hospital in Virginia. He had to have his knee replaced. They performed the operation. He spent time in a rehabilitation facility. All his bills were handled by the VA in a timely and efficient manner.

One soldier lives with the nightmares of killing innocent women and children in the name of war. He lives with the guilt, the noise, the smells, and the pictures in his head. This soldier never returned to the United States and has no plans to do so. He doesn't believe he deserves the rights afforded an American veteran.

Individuals who choose to serve their country and put themselves in harm's way deserve to come home to praise and support. They shouldn't have to fight another battle with doctors and government red tape.




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