The Devils of the Mind after Discharge
by Veterans Day is a time to give thanks to someone who took the time to serve the cause of freedom. Sometimes we forget what a war costs beyond the dollars and cents the bean counters push around. They faced bullets and bombs, and end up being no match for red tape.
Now our boys are in another war, and God only knows what war trophies they might have brought home. Originally the Pentagon frowned on such things, but based on the fact so many other atrocities have been committed by U.S. troops, I suspect the Pentagon wasn’t monitoring this very well. It’s one thing to come home with something tangible you can pass around for your friends to see, but the emotional trophies aren’t something you parade around. Actually, if your desire is to make the military your career, you shut your mouth and never admit to the devils in of the mind.
We’ve all heard at least one story about Gulf War veterans who has been deployed too long and it stressed his marriage, caused incredible financial strain, became a domestic abuser, or has committed suicide. How awful is it when a man who performs his duty is left to deal with the demons of war alone upon return!
According to a Raw Story feature article , here are some interesting details exposing how the military is not adequately caring for our veterans even though a 1997 law requires a pre and post evaluation.
In fact, a 2003 GAO report specifically found that "the percentage of Army and Air Force servicemembers missing one or both of their pre- and post deployment health assessments ranged from 38 to 98 percent of our samples."
"The post-deployment process was absolutely terrible and totally inadequate," recalls Paul Reickhoff , Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) . "Physicals were not mandatory as part of our post-deployment. There were no mental health screenings, unless you self-diagnosed by checking certain boxes on the 2796" (the post-deployment health assessment form).
There are mountains of paperwork after long, uncomfortable flights. There are memories and thoughts sometime a man needs to grapple with first before he talks to someone, but those who admit to having nightmares and flashbacks, they are often not referred for specialized care. Well, what’s the point of admitting it when some government pencil pusher won’t let you have access to it, and it delays your return home for several weeks for nothing? You would think there would be a better system in place, but red tape is a spirit killer.
Next time you see a veteran, remember it’s not the wounds outside; it’s the devils of the mind after discharge that needs addressing. Our boys in Afghanistan and Iraq deserve much better care with no red tape. After all, they have answered the call for three years in what the public now knows is an illegal war.
I humbly challenge those who honestly believe this is a just war to enlist and put your morals where your mouths are. Take a turn and get shot at, or dodge a few improvised rockets, or maybe roll the dice with a roadside bomb. It’s easy for you to say it’s just while you’re in one functioning piece, sleeping in a warm bed, and possibly next to a mate. Bleeding and dying are strangely, much harder than flag waving and screaming for Osama’s head on a platter.
My thanks and my gratitude is with every single person who serves. It takes a special kind of person to stand on the wall and guard freedom. I sleep at night because you are awake. I appreciate how hard it is for you to be away from your lovers, missing births, birthdays, and holidays. May God bless you and keep you always in the palm of His hands.
Other quazen.com articles by this writer can be found here , relijournal.com articles here , and picable.com images here . If you enjoyed this article, consider digging it with others.
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