PTSD

[spence]

I believe this was this fourth deployment, three in Iraq and then Afghanistan. The report was he thought he was done and really didn't want to go...at 38 years old and with two young kids I don't blame him.

It's a sad situation and just sucks all around, but for years many have been saying we're pushing our troops too far.

I hope they don't go after the death penalty, it just doesn't seem right even considering how brutal his crime appears to have been. My guess is his leadership will be scrutinized significantly.

-spence

[likwid]

The base has a history of dismissing PTSD cases based on keeping expenses down. (resulting in suicides and shootings)
2 headshrinkers were canned for (basically) ignoring PTSD
He had a history of (minor in this case) incidents in the past
He was stop lossed

Recipe for disaster.

[nightfighter]

When the combatants cannot be distiguished from the non-combatants, you are going to have this reaction manifest itself. Going to put this back on the enemy who continues to hide among the civilan population, using women, children and animals to wage war against our uniformed troops.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

When the combatants cannot be distiguished from the non-combatants, you are going to have this reaction manifest itself. Going to put this back on the enemy who continues to hide among the civilan population, using women, children and animals to wage war against our uniformed troops.

If this had happened at 1pm in a skirmish, absolutely. When you walk a mile at night solo and open fire (and then burn the bodies of some of the kids) it is not on the enemy.

I heard an interview with the IAVA head who was very cautious to put this on PTSD as he said there are lots of folks suffering from it w/o going on a rampage...

regardless it is a tragedy for the victims and the family of the perpetrator...

[likwid]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

When the combatants cannot be distiguished from the non-combatants, you are going to have this reaction manifest itself. Going to put this back on the enemy who continues to hide among the civilan population, using women, children and animals to wage war against our uniformed troops.

This has nothing to do with what the combatants look like. Its the stress every/any soldier goes through and how its handled/dealt with.

Friend of mine came back from Sadir City, Iraq after the height of it being a complete hell hole of bombings/attacks. They were shelled multiple times a day, shot at on patrol constantly. Saw kids playing in the streets in the middle of fire fights completely oblivious.

He called saying he wasn't sure if he was going to shoot himself or shoot other people and needed help. The base pretty much told him he was "eligible for 4 meetings with the shrink but thats it".

Very thankful that Wounded Warrior (and Nick of Soldier Ride, a friend) is picking up where the military/VA is completely failing.

You should watch this some time. HBO: Wartorn 1861-2010: Home

You'll realize what the enemy looks like has nothing to do with how people handle war.

[nightfighter]

My point is that the entire deployment becomes a "skirmish", 24/7. This is not like the Civil War when both sides retired for the night. The fact that the enemy lives among the population and kills from the safety of hiding in plain view is what manifests this reaction. The kids might be oblivious to the threat, but our troops are not. I would liken it to spending an entire tour in a sniper's scope. Takes a toll....

[spence]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

My point is that the entire deployment becomes a "skirmish", 24/7. This is not like the Civil War when both sides retired for the night. The fact that the enemy lives among the population and kills from the safety of hiding in plain view is what manifests this reaction. The kids might be oblivious to the threat, but our troops are not. I would liken it to spending an entire tour in a sniper's scope. Takes a toll....

They had a lot of PTSD in the Civil War, it was just called Solider's Heart, then Shell Shock etc...

-spence

[basswipe]

Who so far in this thread has served any time?If you haven't and throw out the "I can only imagine what its like" line, no you can't imagine what its like.

Americans are very different from the rest of the world,we've never had an occupying force in our country EVER.If you say yes we have and quote the Revolutionary War you are an idiot and if say the Civil War you are just plain stupid.

This same type of incident has happened here before and we just spent the last 12yrs fighting two wars because of it.The Afghan people should be pissed,16 non-combatants otherwise known as people are dead at the hands of an American.

You,me and the rest of the world may never no what was in that soldiers head until if ever he decides to speak.Until that time comes if it ever does happen,stop speculating as to the mind set of this soldier.

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by spence

They had a lot of PTSD in the Civil War, it was just called Solider's Heart, then Shell Shock etc...

-spence

Totally missed my point. In Civil War, both sides would retire for the night, and resume the next day. This war is round the clock.


I'm out. Used up my quarterly quota in this forum.

Basswipe, I have.