I have an Uncle whom is now 83 years old. In WWII, he earned 2 Purple Hearts, and 7 Bronze Stars. He was on the front lines in three major island invasions, and helped free more than one POW Camp. He talked about carrying emaciated American G.I.s out of those Camps on his arm, much like you would a 2 year old child. When he was wounded, he went to a hospital, and then right back into combat. TWICE! He went on to get married, lose 3 children, become a Baptist Preacher, and then lose his wife. He's still going.
I have a Cousin whom was a Marine in Vietnam. While going into bases that were being over ran by Vietcong, he had three helicopters shot out from under him and went in hard. Once he fought for 3 days with a dislocated shoulder. He went on to hold down a full time job, and raise a family, and still is active in his church although his old injuries and Agent Orange are reeking havoc on his body.
I have a life long friend that was a Ranger in Vietnam and was in Cambodia when no one was in Cambodia. He did 3 full tours, and a half tour ending when America pulled out of Vietnam. He was wounded in both legs on two separate occasions. He went on to raise a family, work for Pentax, and a 20+ year career in Law Enforcement occasionally taking time out to go to Afghanistan, and Iraq several times to both fight, and train soldiers. Part of the later, he was in his fifties.
My point here? None of these men I know personally EVER complained about their experiences. My youngest son as some here know, was a Sgt in the 82nd Airborne (not exactly a bunch of sissies), and has one tour in Afghanistan, and two tours in Iraq. He now also has a full time job, and has showed no signs of opting out of normal civilization, or everyday life.
I have been diagnosed with PTSD, but I consider it part of the job I did, and am not sure if the condition even exists. No meds, no therapy, I just go about my life. Bad memories? Hell yes! It just a little more of life than most folks usually see. And no, I don't live in a bunker, and watch the neighbors with binoculars, thinking their gonna attack me. Although maybe I should.
There are folks out there, that just don't handle war, and sometimes the everyday horrors of living as well as most do. There has always been that group of people, and there always will be. In many cases, if it hadn't been Vietnam, or Iraq, or Afghanistan, it would have been South Dallas, or the bad area of Chicago. Just my opinion, and no one has to agree. I love my Country, and our Soldiers, but like cops, there are good ones, and not so good ones. Like I said. JMO
