General Noah Pierce -- 'the Noah Clause'

[sm4ddc]

Hi all

This is my first post. I'm from Australia but have began reading a lot about Iraq/Afghanistan war verterans, mostly American, but some British and Australian too.

I came across an article about a month ago, a story about a soldier named Noah Pierce: Link Removed

It shattered me. For some reason, I could not get the story out of my head (and the image of poor Noah's sad scared eyes in one of the photo's I found on the internet). A lot can be said about someone's eyes and how they are feeling inside.

Noah was a young soldier who joined the military and served in Iraq -- during his time there, he witnessed many things that caused a great toll on him. I suggest you read the article for more info.

The saddest thing about this story is that Noah was, as described by his mother, a sensitive caring person. And after Iraq, he got washed away in the river that is PTSD. Noah took his life, after experincing nightmares and withdrawing from his friends and family.

Noah's mother, Cheryl Softich, has been pushing for a clause to go into military contracts that requires compulsory therapy visits every 2 weeks after a soldier comes back from war, for a period of 12 months after combat.

It appears that too many soldiers are falling through the cracks, many of whom may have otherwise come out of it if they were given the opportunity to release some of their torment.

I've began reading many books abouts PTSD and Iraq veteran's stories -- many American soldiers are taking their lives because of this disorder, and so too are Australian veterans (although not to the same level as the US).

After reading this article, I want to help push this cause, both in America and here in Australia (and other allied nations too who have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan). I guess I'm not sure where to begin (hence me joining this site to share this article with each of you).

I want to try and raise awareness about this.

Regards

Stace

 

[Ladyhope Somerset]

I'll take a look at the link in a couple of days time.
Regular therapeutic screening of service men and women returning from war zones sounds like commonsense but I've heard they send people with ptsd back to fight again. I saw a documentary about an American kid who went through that scenario. It was shameful!!!

 

[princessx]

Stace, thank you for posting this article. I'm quite speechless right now. It becomes alot more real once you read the details and even moreso when you know someone suffering. The past few weeks, I've also been craving to push the cause because something needs to be done IMMEDIATELY. It is so frustrating that these men and women risk their lives for us and come back with such pain within them. I definitely agree with Noah's mom that therapy should be mandatory. It is the only way that some improvement would be made. Once again, thank you for the post! If you ever need any help with pushing the cause, I'm always here to help - this issue holds a place in my heart.

 

[Steph_F]

The past few weeks, I've also been craving to push the cause because something needs to be done IMMEDIATELY...If you ever need any help with pushing the cause, I'm always here to help - this issue holds a place in my heart.

I feel the same way...I don't know what I can do, but I feel the need to do SOMETHING as well. If you think of something, count me in!

 

[Steph_F]

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[wife of]

I'm Inthe north west of the UK and here there is very little understanding of the condition even among the medical community and NO support whatsoever,most uk forces charities are London based a good 4 hr drive away and no good to us,my darling is at a point where we have had two major crises points at our home and the police are now begging for some help on our behalf as he had to be tasered during the last event and its been ade quite clear to me that if the taser unit had not been able to get there whenthey did with moments to spare then my darling exemplary ex soldier would of been SHOT.....