now it is my turn to comfort you
Posted on 07/20/2008 5:48:50 PM PDT by LuxMaker
A US army medic who became a symbol of American heroism and integrity in the Iraq war has died of an apparent drugs overdose.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
7th Cavalry Regiment....Custer’s and Moore’s unit? R.I.P.
Rest in peace. Such a sad loss.
That’s a shame. I hope he is at peace now.
He died June 28.
Army released this story a couple days ago. Too little, too late for Dwyer, but nice CYA for the Army. It would be nice to see this program in place nationwide.
http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/07/18/11001-chief-says-army-needs-to-replicate-bliss-ptsd-program/
This is heartbreaking. RIP Soldier.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/20/enemy.within.ap/index.html
Really a sad story.
It’s also a shame that so many FReepers scoffed at this idea.
Soldiering is tough duty, not everyone is cut out for it. Most, with a little sleep, some hot chow, and a dose of contact with real human beings put their experiences behind them and go on to lead normal, productive lives whether it is in civilian life or in the military. Their combat experiences did not make them the normal productive human beings that they became, nor did it detract from it.
Some, for reasons that are unclear, do not emerge from their combat experiences as normal, well adjusted human beings. I believe that most of these were predisposed to this behavior before their combat experiences. Some reached their tipping points because of the incredible demands of combat. They probably would have tipped anyway at some time in the future, but who’s to say.
The government owes these men a reasonable support struture and empathy for their plight. But, we need not beat our chests in despair. Some people just can’t handle the demands of life, and they might have reached their limits bagging groceries at Piggly Wiggly.
God Bless Him... may his dear soul rest in peace.
Treatment for PTSD is poor. All they do is bandaid it with drugs.
Ping
RIP
“Tell Mr. Zinn that his photo had nothing to do with Joseph’s death.
Joseph loved that picture. He had it in his “I love me” binder where he kept all of his memorable clippings, photos and awards.
He was a modest person and sometimes he took the photo down in our office because people’s reaction to it, like he was a celebrity or there obtuse questions, would embarrass him.
It didn’t “force him to relive the war”. He would sit, for hours sometimes, on the computer googling page after page of photos and slide shows and montages set to patriotic music.
So if a single photo could be responsible, it would be impossible to narrow it down to one of the hundreds he constantly was looking at. Joe was sick.
Not weak or crazy. He had PTSD- badly. Some people internalize horror differently than others.
I thought I was ready to work in a level 4 trauma room until the day I saw a 9 month old die in front of me. How the doctors, nurses and other medics could continue to work there every day, I don’t know. I never went back. It affected me differently and I responded differently.
Joe was the best friend I ever had, a good person and a patriot. We knew he was a hero before Mr. Zinn ever took that picture, but thanks to him, now so does the nation.
Sent by Dionne Knapp | 2:19 PM ET | 07-17-2008
“
Prayers for his friends and family. May he finally have found peace. Godspeed, hero.
RIP Brother!
I am not sure how much can be done for PTSD.
We can’t go back in time and erase what happened. Can we make them capable of coping with it? I don’t know how.
I am all for compassionate care of our veterans. But I think PTSD is a “disease” for which there may be no “cure.”
Maybe there is no cure, but it does seem to help patients if they can talk about their feelings to other servicemembers who experience the same thing. Too many of them get out into the broader civilian society and find that there is no one among those they love who understand what they saw and experienced, and that makes them feel even more alone.
“I am all for compassionate care of our veterans. But I think PTSD is a “disease” for which there may be no “cure.””
Perhaps but I think much of its effects can be mitigated and I think we owe it to the brave men who have risked their lives fighting for this country to give them the best possible care. In many cases we do just that but in too many they don’t have what they need.
Thanks for posting this added information from his personal friend...helps to clear things up about that one photo and its possible effect on him.
Rest in piece brave soldier..your pain and the nightmares are over.
Thank you for your service.
I wish I could have talked to him before it was too late.
Updated FR Excerpt and Link Only or Deny Posting List due to Copyright Complaints
Associated Press material is no longer welcome here.
We're not going to pay AP's extortion fees and we're not going to allow them to control free speech!
Unfortunately posts containing the photo had to be removed.
piece = peace
I didn’t realize that. Sorry.
It is shameful how we treat these brave souls. Just another example of our kleptocratic government’s incompetence
Upon his shield,
Upon his shield returning,
Borne from the field of honor
Where he fell;
Glory and grief, together clasped
In mourning,
His fame, his fate
with sobs exulting tell.
Wrap round his breast
The flag his breast defended,
His country's flag,
In battle's front unrolled:
For it he died;
On earth forever ended
His brave young life
Lives in each sacred fold.
With proud fond tears,
By tinge of shame untainted,
Bear him, and lay him
Gently in his grave:
Above the hero write,
The young, half-sainted,
His country asked his life,
His life he gave!
GEORGE LUNT
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