Following Orders

[daniel]

jimmy two things 1) i understand following orders and the guilt associated by not disobeying them when someone lost their life; 2) on squeezing off rounds, i think we all up until the moment wondered just how we would perform under fire.

When the black shadows on a moonless night came at me, i laughed with nervous anticipation, held my ground and fired. The question was answered I did not bolt and run. It was a relief, even if I was shaking uncontrollably

A brother once said, "Everyone sees a different view through their rifle sights."

 

[fallenangel1]

During one of my overseas deployments I was following orders. It was a simple order. 'Do not let the vehicle in front get further than 50 m away from you'. We were in a convoy protecting someone.
In the course of this I drove over the top of a person indigenous to the area. For years I carried the guilt. I should have stopped and waited. But then I could have put others lives at risk. Did I do the right thing. Was it out of my control??

At other times I have sent soldiers on missions which could have put their lives at risk. But the mission had to get done and if I had not have done it, I would have been disobeying orders.

The next point links to 'Knowing about PTSD before you deployed'.
During the latter part of my career, I sent many soldiers overseas on operations and I know that a lot of them came home all screwed in the head. Now, I knowingly knew about PTSD prior to deploying them.
Am I guilty??? No.
If we were to tell every soldier in the world that they could be affected by PTSD or they could die, would they go. Most of them yes.

Thoughts anyone, or am I just rambling.

Jimmy

alot of my feelings and i guess...some guilt is from the fact that i was following orders. those words will haunt me forever.

 

[Lost Artilleryman]

You did what you had to do to survive. I know it did not take long for the locals to figure out who was king of the road once we arrived. Seen traffic stopped ahead, jump the median and keep moving against oncoming traffic. Jump the curb and take the sidewalk if need be. With that being said, you weren't the lead vehicle in the convoy. Military vehicles are loud and clanky. Fat chance on not hearing a wheeled vehicle humming down the hardball. That person should have looked both ways before crossing the road, especially after seeing the rigs in front of you go by.

 

[reddevil1111]

It is a rough one. I lived with something like this. My life or his. I often think maybe the other life was worth more than mine. Hard to deal with. You just dont know do you? It could have been a test to see if you would have stopped. and If you had... you know? Could be anything ...