Port Trauma: No Distress, No Disorder
Isn’t it interesting that there are so many veterans suddenly realizing they have PTSD? At the rate we are going almost every person who ever served in the military will achieve that magical 100% disability, (with the help of “experts” who can be accessed on internet). This means that after serving just a few years, they may retire for life...and send their wives and children to 48 months of free schooling as well. Wow! That’s a perk that makes military service worth the effort, and makes some civilian job perks look puny.
Problem is that now we are hearing noises in the background suggesting that people who suffer natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults such as rape, possibly should be compensated as well. Is there no end to it? Will we some day have young ladies who couldn’t make it as “high school cheer leaders” receiving lifetime compensation, for emotional trauma? Life is a bitch, and some adults find it trying, but we can’t compensate everyone who calls in sick.
I agree that veterans should not be penalized because of errors made by the VA System, but I also believe that the VA folks are government employees who are being threatened by the politicians right now. I don’t think the VA can investigate the problem of people receiving PTSD payments fraudulently, because there may be people in the employ of the VA who are also cheating the system. I think it would be proper to have the FBI investigate these suspected fraudulent claims, and let the chips fall where they may.
While many people do suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, we need to remember that combat is stressful for every one. I have a stamp which I impress onto the back of my letters which reads: POST TRAUMA- NO DISTRESS, NO DISORDER. It reminds me of coming home after the Korean War and being interviewed by a military psychiatrist at Fairfield - Suisun Air Force Base. He asked me if I had any emotional problems resulting from the war. When I started to tell him about night sweats, and a feeling that we should have stayed in Korea long enough to bring everyone home, he stared into my eyes and declared: “If you don’t like the f-----g Army get the hell out”. That man helped me decide to re-enlist and spend twenty years in the military. I have since that time tried to manage emotional trauma on my own, and for the most part it seems to work.
During a stay for thoracic surgery in a VA hospital, a youngish psychologist was warning me that I could “die” during surgery. I started laughing and she ran away in tears. When the older “shrink” came back to ask me why I laughed, he found that it was because I had already used up my “projected life expectancy," and that didn’t include some close calls while flying for Uncle Sam. I don’t think this sweet young thing was mature enough to decide who has PTSD, but that is exactly what she is doing for the VA Hospital.
Below are links to more of Bruce's articles.
They're always sure to entertain and enlighten!
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STEALTH WARRIOR
John Kerry held another gig,
For which we all can root,
Wore egg on his skinny face,
And shot himself in the boot.
He thought it didn’t matter,
And after the event he lied,
But he learned that soldiers,
Had live e-mail on their side
Why didn’t someone tell John,
Before they turned out the light,
Soldiers see the news today and;
E-mail home….. TONIGHT!
Old Sarge
I Nov.2006
The Naming of A Mountain-Mount KIA/MIA: Story Here
Seeing A Lady Warrior Off to Iraq
When Tanna Bia came to Aztec VFW Post 614 to celebrate a birthday and going away party she had no idea what else was going to become a part of our Post History.
Tanna is being shipped out to Iraq and her family and friends were there in the Post Dining Room to see her off. She was surprised beyond words when the VFW Officers and some Army Personnel walked to the podium and asked her to please come forward.
Commander Abe Saiz then made a few opening remarks and presented her with a New Mexico State Flag. The New Mexico State Flag has a yellow field with a red Zia Sun Symbol in the center. It seems appropriate that a state with so many Native American Warriors should have such a flag.
As a Life Member of Post 614 and the proponent for Mount KIA/MIA it was my pleasure to present a Mount KIA/MIA Challenge Coin to her.
While there are already a few of these challenge coins in circulation, we expect them to become very popular. They will be sold for fifteen dollars each and a part of the proceeds will go toward continuing efforts toward a Mount KIA/MIA Memorial, and we are hoping that there will be a memorial built in the city of Saguache. We are also searching to find a place where people can bring, or send, dog tags honoring killed or missing military personnel. Since these stainless steel tags are almost indestructible it is hoped that there will be a perpetual place of honor for them. We really don’t think they should be on the mountain, but more likely at a “memorial” to be built for this special purpose in Saguache.
New Mexico is proud of all its warriors and I was honored to present the Challenge Coin to one of our Lady Warriors. We wish her a safe journey and look forward to seeing her again when she returns home.
