Greatings

[reddevil1111]

Lurch, Thanks for that man. I know its not easy but it does help all of us. A lot of my friends were in the Navy. Please don't be upset if you are. Like you said it is a balance. We don't want you to spill your guts your right that's not what this is about.
Your among friend here. We only want to support, help and learn from you. We all learn from each other. And no one is above the rest. Its a great place with good balance.
Im glad you found this site. I really think it can help in your daily life. I use it as a form of therapy myself. A lot of us do.

 

[CAFTT0607]

Welcome Lurch...I am retired AF (about 23 years)...two OIF tours one OEF and many that remain classified. Anyway, welcome to the forum

 

[Sleeping Dragon]

Welcome Lurch,

I did my combat time with the First Marine Division although I was U.S. Army at the time. But, when the bullets fly we're all just grunts no mater what branch of service we were in.

I'd like to go back to something you said. "In the past two years I have had to come to the realization that I will never be "normal" again and I had to learn to live with my diagnosis". Although it's true that you're definately different than those who have never seen what you have, on this site you're as normal as normal can be.

All of us here were changed by war. Those changes caused us to set things aside that were a huge part of our lives before we became warriors. All those things are still there, buried under barriers we built to protect us from a brutal, savage world.

Building those barriers is PERFECTLY NORMAL. Getting past them is a lifetime challenge.

SD

 

[Chin Strapped]

Evening and welcome mate.

 

[Lurch]

Evveryone thank you for the warm welcome.

Reddevel, not upset at all. In the beginning just need some guidance as to expectations. Thank you.

Jimmy, when I was in high school I was the tallest in the school and had a flattop. Now I say I am about average for the people that I hang out with.

Sleeping Dragon, thank you for the comment about being normal. After reading some of the post yesterday, I am feeling not so weird. It is hard for me, sense the ground pounders look at me as an admin wheenie and the admin wheenies look at me as a ground pounder. I have always maintained the attitude that the mission comes first, and will do what it takes to get it done. I really do appreciate the warm welcome I have received. This is a special place that we can learn form each other.

 

[reddevil1111]

Let me tell you something about that feeling you have of not belonging. Your not alone. I was an intel puke that when I came out of intel school was recruited or volunteered as they say. I was the series high shooter in my boot camp that made me stand out I guess.i went to go play in the weeds with Force Recon. I had to earn it. I earned my wings and lungs. I went to the same schools and learned what I had to. I never felt like I fit in. I tried my best. I ended up proving myself and my worth but at a high cost for me. And only after failing the first try. Its hard for me to talk about. I really don't talk about it. What I am getting at is your not alone in having to learn to fit in where you might have felt like you didn't belong.
My best friend is the corpsman I served with. He is like a brother to me. He expresses the same feelings you know. But I can tell you everyone loved him for who he was. Not for being a corpsman, for being himself.

 

[BaMuoiBa]

Welcome aboard Lurch, Nam Navy, FMF.

In general I run hospitals, bury the dead and teach Corpsman

Don't be ashamed your earned your right to be here. Without your skill many brave warriors, I'm sure, would have crossed the bar.

Doc, your among friends here in our waiting room so pull up a chair.

Ba

 

[vikingr12]

I'm always late to the discussion. PJ, Air Force, Fishhook, Cambodia, Laos. And lost but I am making time....

Welcome. This place is home, and home hurts sometimes but it gets better. That big bubble you have can be broken here. We are good at irrigation and drainage of a wound, not that it's a cure.