'Marlboro Man' in Iraq War Photo Suffers from PTSD

[sabra]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001773206

'Marlboro Man' in Iraq War Photo Suffers from PTSD



NEW YORK So whatever happened to Lance Cpl. Blake Miller -- the U.S. Marine pictured as a kind of war-weary "Marlboro Man" in one of the most widely published iconic images of the Iraq war?

The 2004 photograph by Luis Sinco of the Los Angeles Times showing Miller, face dirty under a helmet, a cigarette dangling from his lips, went around the world and back again, hitting front pages everywhere. Now Miller, of Jonancy, Ky., is a civilian "and is having trouble adjusting to civilian life," CBS News reports.

Back home, he got married in June, but on duty during the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, Miller suffered from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and was granted an honorable discharge from the Marines in November.

...

He said during his Katrina duties, while on the USS Iwo Jima, a sailor mimicked the whistle of a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG).
"For anybody to duplicate that sound," Miller said, "they've had to hear it. Without even knowing what I'd done until after it was over, I snatched him up, I slammed him against the bulkhead, the wall, and took him to the floor, and I was on top of him."



Lance Cpl. Blake Miller appeared in numerous newspapers as the "Marlboro Man," including this cover of the New York Post.

[Radio_Lady]

1. Gawd, that is so sad. Looks like a handsome young guy, too.

[ShockediSay]

12. Another sad story of corporate victimization, the 'Marlborough Man'

of modern advertising died of lung cancer.

In 1992, dying of lung cancer, "Marlboro Man" Wayne McLaren appeared at annual shareholders meeting in Richmond, VA, and asked the company to voluntarily limit its advertising. Chairman Michael Miles responded, "We're certainly sorry to hear about your medical problem. Without knowing your medical history, I don't think I can comment any further."

http://www.courses.rochester.edu/foster/ANT226/Spring01/history.html



http://www.google.com/search?as_q=cancer&num=30&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=marlboro+man&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images

[Straight Shooter]

2. How about that. He's human, after all.

I wonder if he regrets being exploited as the *gag* Marlboro man.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

16. Well, in fariness, I don't think he promoted himself

as such. The NY Post did that for him.

or rather, to him.

[wicket]

18. And the right-wing bloggers

They had a field day with that photo.

[Straight Shooter]

20. I don't think he spoke out against it, either.

Fame is a tempting thing, even if short-lived.

It certainly p*ssed me off to see a Marine with a cigarette hanging from his mouth being touted as a macho man symbol for the U.S. troops. There were far better images which personified our troops, like the one of the soldier holding close the dead child he carried in his arms. That was a heartbreaker and showed clearly that our troops are not numb to the pain of war. But I guess the right-wingers don't want our humanity revealed because that would be "aiding the enemy."

I hope this young man gets the help he needs, considering that the bush administration is trying to downplay PTSD. It's Deja Nam all over again. x(

[Catch22Dem]

3. Breaks my heart

These guys don't deserve this war. Let their fathers fight it.

[onehandle]

4. War Industry Stocks are Going Up!!!

What's this about some Marine?

[stillcool]

5. The really unfortunate part of all this....

is that these tortured souls are coming back to a society that is degrading by the day.

[ShockediSay]

10. & many will end up homeless

if our vet support system runs true to form, cutting benefits and all.

[Divine Discontent]

6. :(

I'd never seen this photo. Just add this young man to the cadre of others that are permanently scarred from this war, but at least he's alive, hopefully he'll come out of this.


Bush is a bastard.

[adriennui]

7. this is a horrible story

it was in newsday awhile back....he was originally from long island.

amazing how we allow the administration to abandon those who've served this country. these soldiers have witnessed terrible events in iraq. they need help.

[zoeb]

8. I thought that was the greatest war photo...

and should have won first place. National Press Photo. Assoc. only gave it an honorable mention. Most photographers will shoot all their life and not capture anything as incredible as this photo. IMHO!!

Kudos to the photog!
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[yorkiemommie1]

9. my friend's son

enlisted in the marines last year and was severely wounded. he's back home where his mother put her nursing classes on hold so she could care for him. she says he in therapy twice a week and sometimes even has pts attacks in church.

his 18yr old friend did not make it back from *'s war. and * had the gall to mention the boo-boo he got from 'clearing brush'.

[Bark Bark Bark]

11. No Longer Of Any Use? Watch What Happens Next

Because he can no longer be exploited by the PNAC Administration, and for the High Crime of allowing his less-than-glorious postwar story to reach the press, the Reight Wing will now destroy him.

Keep an eye on him. What comes will be an educational counter to any and all recruitment pitches.

[sasquatch]

13. Jesus, they couldn't tell from the picture

Look at his eyes, it obviously shows he has the thousand yard stare.

[leftofthedial]

14. why does he hate Murka?

doesn't he realize the 'conomy is booming?


--sad, sad story that will be repeated 10's of thousands of times in the coming decades.--

[Daphne08]

15. I'm having such a deja vu moment. Just like Vietnam all over

again.

We're just seeing the tip of the iceberg.

[saigon68]

17. Its actually IRAQ-NAM (No jungle)

Its IRAQ-NAM


IRAQ-NAM, is a ruthless, vicious place that asks No Quarter and Gives None.

It is ruled by the Chimpanzee and Cheney Caesar, in the year of Our Lord Two thousand Six A.D.

Death here rides a Pale Horse.

Death claims in no particular order, the Innocent, the Guilty, the Unlucky and the Careless.

[Javaman]

19. Interesting variation of the 4 riders of the apocolypes...

"Death claims in no particular order, the Innocent, the Guilty, the Unlucky and the Careless."

[uppityperson]

21. Death isn't the worst thing coming out of any war

It is the spiritual, the emotional damage that is the worst. Take young people and put them in horrific situations and it really messes them up. Poor guy. I am glad that they are publicizing an update so that people might understand this.