This Is Horrible Damn War Kills After We Are Home

[Tim McDonough]

I hope you know it frustates many, many of us too-so awfully. There's some perception out there that there's some split like there was with Vietnam- where service people themselves somehow got attached to anti war sentiement. That was abysmal anyway-it stopped me as a small child from having anything to do with the whole 'Peace Movement' later on, as a teenage. We went to pick up my uncle at the airport, coming home from Vietnam where he'd been 2 tours with the K-9 corps. Hippies threw rocks at him- how peaceful of them. Thank God that sort of crap isn't around now but the government who sent everyone off to so much flag waving waves nothing for their service at the other end, at home. My nephew is home from Iraq with his body intact. We're holding our breath on the rest, watching, helping where it's allowed. There's zero from the government. He lost quite a few buddies but that's all he'll say.

You and Bailey take care.

Anni

If your Nephew starts showing the signs tell him about here- It has helped me vent. On a positive note I did most of my K-9 service Dog training on my own- for a psych/mobility service dog VA told me I had a 5-7 year wait. Isnt that some Bull sh#t. She goes every where with me except to the base when I go to work- I have been waiting on an answer through military red tape for over 2 months now. Hopefully my med boad concludes and they retire me before I even get it approved. I'm pretty burnt out.

 

[anni]

5-7? Good God. Why on earth bother with a waiting list? Scuse- I probably shouldn't toss back anything which is so frustrating it's just silly. That's not at all helpful, I shouldn't think. But whew- yes, that's genuine Bull and whatever other s**t anyone could come up with! I seem to remember my uncle wasn't able to bring either of his dogs home with him due to their previous training and it breaking his heart, although he used to talk about having known they ended up well somewhere-wish I could remember more with that. They didn't do service dogs back then, but he's always had German Shephards since then and it's probably where I got attached to them. Mine's a rescue at the moment and we're looking to get another this spring finally.

I hope the red tape becomes unlooped soon for you both. I'm sure Bailey considers it already done and would be indignant as to the human methods with these proceeding. Dogs are great that way, aren't they? I believe there are other threads on service dogs here somewhere, although it's interesting you've been able to self-train. That's just intriuing to anyone who likes dogs.

Funny it's never occured to me have my nephew look in here. The combat PTSD is such a singular thing, the stories so personal and since I do not know anything about it try not to stick my nose in, you know? He is symptomatic- think I will drop a hint his way, thank you.

 

[Tim McDonough]

I'm also a Psychology major (Yes its crazy I want to know everything I can about this PTSD and be able to help others) Seems no every Veteran gets it and those that do they always seem to have complex multiple trauma induced PTSD- Mine was I had an abusive older Brother, My Dad took his own Life (Vietnam casuality 20 years later) and then I went through my own combat trauma and was on the flight crew for alot of angel flights (Brining home our deceased servicemen and women) . In my experience and working with others, Its always multiple layers like an Onion not 1 particular thing. The last one thing is what we remember the proverbial straw that broke a camels back. The other trouble is GUYS never have a problem being seen as weak or "Cant handle it" isnt a good feeling amongst men. Hope he gets help and takes your hints If he wants someone to talk to that has been through the suck tell him to look me up on here.

 

[Teddy]

OMG, all of this is so sad but I have to say that I can understand why people commit suicide. some how you just seem to get it into your head that the world would be a happier place without you to keep making it so much harder for everyone with the crazy behaviour. Also it is so frustrating to want to be normal but not be able to get back there. Some days it is just too damn hard.
I was at the doctors this week and felt like hell. I had my 19 year old son sitting next to me. I opened my eyes as he was not looking and I simply thought, 'you know if I wasn't here you wouldn't have to be here doing this tonight. You could be out having fun' Usually I drag myself out of thinking that way by reminding myself that I want to see my son grow up and have a family, this time, I just thought, 'oh well if I don't then life will go on anyway'.
I am not a veteran and you have no idea how sad it makes me reading all this stuff!!
there isn't enough support out there and when you get to where I am then where do you go and what do you do??

I am so sorry to hear about your loss and hope your grief will ease as soon as it can.

 

[anni]

I do think most just do not know- as you say, our service people are sent of to much flag waving and come in through the back door, or silently on one of those flights. I thought the top of my head would pop off when early in the whole Iraq thing 'they' began disallowing photographs of the flag draped coffins arriving back on our soil. Why? Why were we disallowed homage to our people coming home having given their lives? I suppose because it would have taken some of the air out of the fervour with which the country was supposed to send them away, seeing the end result could be that. Freedom of what press? If I hear one more pundit pointing an accusitory finger at our 'Liberal Press' I'm going to have all my elderly strokes I'm saving up now in middle age because there isn't one.

My nephew is actually going to be around for Easter- a quiet, competant sort of guy but suffering. He did manage to finally gouge an education out of what's left of the GI bill, getting ready to go to work 3,000 miles away. He told me he deliberately found a company which has many overseas locations and his plan is to be there long enough to be able to choose a job NOT here in the US. He doesn't do any witching about it out loud, zero in fact, just doesn't wish to be here anymore. I'm glad about this timing, since I'm definitly going to point him over here to the combat forum. Thank you.

 

[Teddy]

Anni I live in Australia and if we can help your nephew, even if it is just a holiday, then send him over. We would love to have him and maybe the sunny weather (flooding as it has been lately) will help him a bit. Unfortunately Aussie is hopeless with support for Veterans and for any one with PTSD but we are good fun and a long way away from the rest of the world. We truely are the Lucky Country (so far anyways)

I have sat and watched the wars on TV over the past years and wondered how on earth are we going to support all these souls that come back so sad.
The comments on no flags on coffins just makes me so angry. They gave their life and we can't spend a moment for them with a flag??
As for the rest of the veterans, and I seem to be getting to know a lot of them, I salute you all for the bravery, the suffering and the life you have given whether your heart is still beating or not.
For the suffering of the family members around the veterans, God love you all and keep you in his palms for support.

 

[anni]

I don't know if it's an accurate image of Australia, but it does seem as if it's a somehow sunnier, less frantic kind of place. I remember when I lived in the UK, one or another of the kids always seemed to be emmigrating there and would stay, even though I also found life in the UK rather laid back compared to here. If it's backwards in its dealing with vets, it can't be much worse than the US, but don't know enough about the subject to say either way. I'll have to ask my nephew if Australia is on the list of countries where his new company has manufacturing plants. It's likely, actually. I think I'll put a bug in his ear, since he's a sun/warmth kind of guy and as laid back and pleasant as anyone you could wish to welcome, thank you! :)

 

[Teddy]

Send him over. Tell him to make contact.
I have a 19 year old son and a 15 year old son.
there is a bit done here for Vets but I am not one so there is not much for people like me.
There is a big PTSD unit 5 minutes up the road from here but you need private health insurance and I don't have any.
I know heaps of contacts in all sorts of places so maybe we can help him with a job if he comes out or as I said maybe he just wants to have a holiday.
He is welcome. I wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it.
I will 'bang a shrimp on the barbie' for him LOL We all them prawns so it is rediculously funny for us.
No we are not like the 'crocodile hunter' although his zoo is only about an hour from my place. Great zoo too by the way.

 

[anthony]

Veterans in Australia are very well cared for, for the most part... they are probably one of the best serviced in the world actually, looking at what other countries provide their veterans.

There is endless support, no long waiting periods, DVA here use both established centers as well as private practitioners, free everything related to your specific injury / illness, and for those who are classified as Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI), then they get all the same benefits as what they got in the military, being all free and private medical and dental care, as well as near their full income they got within the military.

Veterans are really well taken care off here.