Page 159 - Stand Down Vietnam

I suffer from PTSD trauma from being a common soldier.
The things I witnessed while serving my country altered
the way I think, the way I act, and the way I live.

I think PTSD is measured on a scale. Figure out in
your own mind if you see incident “A” you’re at level
one, you see incident “Z” that’s level 10. Again, the
psychological aspect; the fact that every single

soldier was taught to “stuff it”, comes into play.
“Stuff it” was just ground into our minds.

PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. In my opinion,
PTSD is a purposefully ambiguous term; it should be
Post-traumatic Stress Injury. I was injured. But it
is easier to call it a disorder and just go through the
motions of treatment.

I was injured psychologically, spiritually and morally.

I think the government doesn't want to admit that
there's an injury because they are concerned financial
obligations could become expensive.

I have nightmares. As I'm writing this book, I’m
having to deal with flashbacks, and some aspects of the
stories contribute to my nightmares.

PTSD is real and the way it’s being treated at the VA;

let’s just say I think they're trying to help. I think
we outnumber the doctors and until such time the
government classifies it an injury, I don't think we
are going to be successful.

I think the “stuff it” state of mind is one reason why
some of the guys coming back home from Vietnam had so
much difficulty. They needed to talk to someone, but
they were being told otherwise. “Stuff it” soldier was
a daily, if not hourly expectation.