Unlike the rapid victory during Desert Storm, I remained in Iraq for a full year, observing our massive increase in everything from soldiers, civilians, and contractors to equipment, vehicles, supplies, weapons, etc. So, it didn’t really surprise me when I was deployed to Iraq a second time, less than a year later.
The new vacation spot was in the “Green Zone,” but like Balad, I only saw brown everywhere I looked. As my time was drawing to an end, the arriving soldiers came wearing the new Army Combat Uniform (ACUs), adding a slight tinge of green to the Zone.
When I left Iraq the second time I knew I would be back a third because I decided to retire and accept a job offer from the State Department that paid a very good wage. By retiring, I would also be able to receive my pension immediately since I served for twenty-three years in the Regular army. Even if I hadn’t retired, I would have been back a third time anyway, whether in Iraq or Afghanistan.
During Vietnam, young men were drafted and sent to the Southeast Asian jungles for two years. When their tour of duty was complete, they could come home and leave the service. In contrast, the soldiers sent to Iraq and Afghanistan came home and were transferred to units going back over again. Many who were prepared to get out of the service, found themselves unable to do so because they had been extended beyond their contracts. Family life was shattered in many cases.
So, why should America now wonder why there is so much PTSD among our veteran men and women? By the way, I do not like, nor ascribe to the term “PTSD.” I prefer, “PTSIO.” The “D” stands for “Disorder.” Replacing it with “IO” would stand for “In Order.” I believe this is more accurate because although I have been diagnosed with PTSD, I am working towards my Doctorate degree, have written five books, and teach computer college classes. There are many other success stories similar to mine.
Anyway, back to our men and women with PTSD, I mean PTSIO. The world has awakened to the recent atrocities committed by ISIS by witnessing them firsthand on the media outlets. Well, just in case anyone forgot, this same enemy is what American soldiers faced over and over again from 2003-2010 in Iraq alone. Even the Taliban and Al Qaeda forces in Afghanistan committed the same atrocities in the name of religion and our commitment there extended beyond the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the reason we were sent in the first place.
To be continued
The new vacation spot was in the “Green Zone,” but like Balad, I only saw brown everywhere I looked. As my time was drawing to an end, the arriving soldiers came wearing the new Army Combat Uniform (ACUs), adding a slight tinge of green to the Zone.
When I left Iraq the second time I knew I would be back a third because I decided to retire and accept a job offer from the State Department that paid a very good wage. By retiring, I would also be able to receive my pension immediately since I served for twenty-three years in the Regular army. Even if I hadn’t retired, I would have been back a third time anyway, whether in Iraq or Afghanistan.
During Vietnam, young men were drafted and sent to the Southeast Asian jungles for two years. When their tour of duty was complete, they could come home and leave the service. In contrast, the soldiers sent to Iraq and Afghanistan came home and were transferred to units going back over again. Many who were prepared to get out of the service, found themselves unable to do so because they had been extended beyond their contracts. Family life was shattered in many cases.
So, why should America now wonder why there is so much PTSD among our veteran men and women? By the way, I do not like, nor ascribe to the term “PTSD.” I prefer, “PTSIO.” The “D” stands for “Disorder.” Replacing it with “IO” would stand for “In Order.” I believe this is more accurate because although I have been diagnosed with PTSD, I am working towards my Doctorate degree, have written five books, and teach computer college classes. There are many other success stories similar to mine.
Anyway, back to our men and women with PTSD, I mean PTSIO. The world has awakened to the recent atrocities committed by ISIS by witnessing them firsthand on the media outlets. Well, just in case anyone forgot, this same enemy is what American soldiers faced over and over again from 2003-2010 in Iraq alone. Even the Taliban and Al Qaeda forces in Afghanistan committed the same atrocities in the name of religion and our commitment there extended beyond the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the reason we were sent in the first place.
To be continued