Soldier Helps Others Leave War Behind
1 in 6 Veterans Suffers From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

By Brian Williams
Anchor & “Nightly News” Managing Editor
NBC News
Updated: 7:36 p.m. ET
May 20, 2005 - New York

They are veterans of the Iraq war. All are struggling with life back home and the psychological scars of war.
 
For 25-year-old Specialist Aaron Jones, the memories are impossible to shake. All it takes is a loud noise or a familiar smell and he's back in Iraq — back to the rocket attacks, the mortar fire and the roadside bomb that injured his spine. He wasn’t in too bad of a shape when he came home.

"I expected everything to be fine," says Jones. "I couldn't wait to catch up everything that I'd been missing out on for the past year. I don't think I realized the issues I was going to have when I got home."

But then came the nightmares, the anxiety attacks and rage.

"I started wondering, 'Is it me? Am I whacked out? Or is this normal?'" he says.

Unlike the physical scars of war, the psychological effects are often overlooked or hidden. And the soldiers who suffer from them often suffer alone. An estimated one in six soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, an often-debilitating condition that can destroy lives if it isn't treated.

"No one is immune to fear," says Jay White, a counselor with the Hartford, Conn., Veterans Center. "I think the biggest bridge is saying to yourself, 'OK, I need to talk to somebody, I can't handle this myself.'"

White knows, not just because he's trained to know, but because he's been there. He's a soldier: An Iraq war veteran with the 883rd and a new breed of war counselor reaching out to veterans just back from the front lines. He speaks to vets, assuring them they're not the only one with nightmares.

White is hoping that his own military experience will make the difference and encourage fellow soldiers to overcome the stigma of asking for help.

For Aaron Jones, he did just that.

"Too many people want to know things, 'Did you shoot somebody? Did you kill anybody?'" says Jones. "Jay is always on my side. He's gone through everything that I've gone through already."

And so, every day, Aaron Jones tries to reconnect to his former life — a life where a loud noise is just a loud noise and not another reminder of a place he's trying to leave behind.

"I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. . . . . .
They've experienced pain and bought jewelry."

Extremist are nuts on either side. Moderation is key in seeking the truth.

OIF 2 Veteran 13th COSCOM  2 FEB - 23 OCT 04

Thank you for what you have done for our Country. You certainly have standing to say what ever the hell you want on this issue.

However!

I believe this War to be a noble cause one worth fighting. Although I wont be fighting it, my first born will be fighting in it very shortly.  To speak of this War as a "mistake" is a blow to all of our guys have laid down ther lives for us and those that are bringing the fight to the fucks that want us dead.

I dont believe its a mistake to fight those who want to kill us over there and not here. I truly believe that if we where not fighting them in Iraq anbd Astan we would be fighting them here. No doubt in my mind.

THIS IS A HOLY WAR AND THE WAR IS A FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES!

HHC 3/325, 4/325 83 - 89

LETS GO!!!

USPMA #11, CVMA #1271 NH 5-1

Our country has always done well economically during times of war but that sure as heck wasn't the impetus for us enting into this one. The primary public reason for the invasion, neutralizing WMDs in the hands of an enemy, was valid until proven otherwise... Saddam's own senior generals thought they had them so any arguement based on their not being found is an exercise in post-mortem reasoning.

Soldiers and civilians usually apply idealism to justify why they are at war rather than the cold, hard geopolitical reasons that take them there. Saudi Arabia is going to be embroiled in a civil war soon. Something not unexpected as King Fahd has terminally ill for quite some time and his two likely successors are polar opposites who hate one another (heck, their respective supporters have already exchanged gunfire in Mecca of all places.) Between that and a nasty Islamic militant movement that's threatening other oil producing nations in the Mid-East and Africa, the world oil supply is being seriously endangered during a time of shaky economics. Alternative fuel sources are a reality but are also quite some time from being ready for use on any large scale. By occupying and securing Iraq we have gained access to enough oil resources to keep the wolf at bay until industry is able to change over to new power technology (something that has been slowly happening undr the public's radar since the mid-90's...) Also... the Islamic movement (of which Al-Q is just a minor player...) has had it's aspirations severly curtailed by our ops in Iraq and A-stan. We've caused them to be reactionary rather than revolutionary and have taken their initiative away.

Fact is, we may do everything right in Iraq just to see it eventually fall apart after we pull out of the region... but as long as the whole thing gives our nation has enough time to make the transition to alternative fuels and such, thus preserving our economic & technological power, than it was a success. If we on the other hand, fail to capitalize on the breathing room and simply continue along the path of consumption and dependence of foreign oil... then we are doomed to become yet another "has been" power just like Rome, Spain, France, etc...

 

"The degenerative and loony should never be denigrated but, rather, thanked. In their absence, the rest of you would be obliged to fill congressional seats... positions naturally unsavory to the sane and honorable."

Thorax

Extremist are nuts on either side. Moderation is key in seeking the truth.

OIF 2 Veteran 13th COSCOM  2 FEB - 23 OCT 04