Page 108 - Firehouse Pond

Many soldiers went where they were told to go, did what they were told to do,

experienced horrific crimes against humanity and today receive no
acknowledgment for having “been there” and therefore, given no credit for
their service and consequently are unable to obtain basic medical treatment

for “service-related” injuries – including:

WOUNDS THAT DO NOT BLEED

I often wonder if all the things I witnessed was for real, a training exercise, or
a “simple” nightmare. Trauma can affect us in many ways. The shock of
seeing the unexpected is often difficult to process. No matter, it remains real

in my mind and my mind was altered by my service.

Anxiety, stress, worry; call it by any name. The U.S. Government did not

acknowledge it existed. You are a soldier, expected to go where told, do
what you are told and “stuff it”.

Whether it was a training exercise or the real deal, does not matter. In the
mind of the responding soldiers, we were exposed and in grave danger.

During my twenty-two years, I did not receive any physical wounds related to

direct combat. I did come away with many medical complications, including
physical injuries and PTSD from my participation in missions that do not
meet the definition of combat.

Here is a question for you. How would you explain something to an
uneducated person? By uneducated, I refer to an ignorant person. By
ignorant, I suggest unknowing or untrained.

How is it acceptable for uneducated, ignorant, unknowing medical personnel
are often hired to treat a serious condition such as PTSD? Is it a budget

decision or a treatment decision? Problem: Where do we find people
educated in the complexities of PTSD?