There were other incidents in Iraq, including people she may have killed...

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061015/NEWS01/610150304

Emotional scars from Iraq getting difficult to ignore



Eight friends killed in Iraq within a week — plus a direct order not to cry at their memorial services — took a toll on former Spec. Jamie Bender: nightmares, flashbacks, thoughts of suicide.

"I go to bed with death each night," said the former U.S. Army combat photographer from Great Falls. snip

There were other incidents in Iraq, including people she may have killed, which she's not yet strong enough to talk about. snip

Some Iraq vets also can't stop from being on guard all the time, he said.

"These guys are hypervigilant driving down the street," Mason said. "They get very uncomfortable driving past a parked car or a vehicle that seems out of place."

The military played country western music over a public address system to alert soldiers to incoming mortars. Now that music can bring back terrible memories. snip

Fireworks are still too terrifying, though.

"I spent the Fourth of July heavily medicated and hiding out in my basement," she said.

[NNN0LHI]

1. Keep in mind as bad as this is on our soldiers...

...the Iraqi people never get any R&R.

They must feel like they are living in hell.

Don

[OwnedByFerrets]

2. A hell created by amerika. nt

[panader0]

3. "Ordered not to cry"? WTF?

[dubykc]

4. This is a terrible by-product of war and...

the government is denying PTSD claims every day.

Not only do our service members not have the personnel or equiprment they need to protect themselves in Iraq, they don't get the attention they need when they return.

It seem like the government considers our soldiers, salors and marines to be disposable both on the battlefield and after they return.

[drm604]

5. Great article - but ruined by the last few paragraphs.

"If we walk away from this conflict, these vets are likely to be angry," said Mason. "How in their own minds will they be able to justify the loss of their comrades?"

That will only make a bad situation worse, he said.

"These people should get what they need — unequivocally," he said. "And I don't think they are."

So, we need to "win" this thing for the sake of the mental health of our vets? I'm not even sure how to define "win" at this point and I sure don't see an articulate definition coming from the current government. How many more have to be emotionally (and physically) scarred in trying to justify our actions? I support 1000% helping these vets, but I don't support throwing more healthy people into a meat-grinder in a vain attempt to make the damaged ones whole by giving it all some meaning. They need therapy and medication, not a continuation of this meaningless war.

[badgerpup]

6. The Great Falls is in Montana...it's double hell...

No Montana jokes, please.
Just country western music is popular in a lot of places here...
and people who enjoy have NO CLUE that it says constant
INCOMING INCOMING INCOMING to returned Iraqi vets...:cry:

And I'm not sure how some would react if they WERE informed. :scared: :mad:

[Swede]

7. What an incredible lasting price the US will pay for this war.

There is gonna be trouble.

[Daphne08]

8. This war is reminding me of Vietnam more and more. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

9. We'll Have To Deal With This For Years

The mental strains our troops have had to endure in this ugly invasion are ones that will make Vietnam look like a picnic...and that comes from someone who saw many come back from Nam with PTSD that was never properly diagnosed or treated...created a generation of lost and homeless people. You see them and you might not realize it...the old guys living in the park or under the bridge...they're still fighting the Vietnam war in their head day in and out. Charlie Daniels, while he's a worthless piece of shit now, wrote a great song in the late 70's about these people called "Still In Saigon". I can only imagine what we'll be hearing in another decade about these brave and unfortunate heroes.

There are many people who have had second and third tours...most not of their design and have been exposed to a worsening situation...a very demoralized situation that has to be taking a toll on these people who see a world out of control all around them and the next day is worst than the day before. There's only so much a human can take...especially when you see people you know who have been shot up.

The military makes it a priority to stress loyalty and teamwork...many who return to this ugly war do so not for their love of the military as it is for their strong bonds with their unit...if one goes they all go...and when one is hurt, they all hurt. The Pentagon has exploited this to coerce some to return to that hell hole with guilt over "you're letting your buddies down". That's a very powerful indictment.

People think this war "isn't that bad" cause we don't have the casualties numbers we did in Vietnam, but that doesn't mention the style of warfare these soldiers have had to face...and the heavier amount of responsibility they've had to carry and endure in this fiasco so Rummy could keep the troop levels down. Here's hoping some of those responsible for this invasion are brought to justice some day.

In the meantime the VA hospitals fill with the wounded...physical and other...and be assured our Repugnican friends will be glad to blame them for losing Iraq and to "gut up" the PTSD. These people will be forgotten like a bad dream, yet they're our brothers and sisters...neighbors and friends. This is a tragedy that will keep the stench of Iraq on all of us for the rest of our lives...