Former Marine wrestles with invisible wounds (xpost from Veterans)

[unhappycamper]

Former Marine Dave McBee, left, a veteran of the Iraq War, waits in the "med line" at the Soldier On veterans homeless shelter in Leeds, Mass. McBee fought during two tours of duty in the Iraq War beginning with the invasion in 2003.


Former Marine wrestles with invisible wounds
By David Crary - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Nov 10, 2008 18:17:39 EST

On the plus side, David McBee has a fiancée who stuck by him, a 2-year-old son who loves him. They’ve helped him persevere through dark times — blackouts, anger, confusion — as he struggles with the invisible wounds of his combat duty in Iraq.

As a Marine, McBee engaged in the initial assault on Iraq from Kuwait in 2003 and the often-chaotic battle of Fallujah in late 2004.

He returned to the United States in 2005, worked for a time with the postal service and got engaged. His fiancée, Audra Cardoza, gave birth to a son in 2006.

About a year after his return, McBee began to notice a change in his personality, including what he describes as “blackouts” — periods of time he couldn’t account for.

“One day, me and my buddies and fiancée, we went out and started drinking,” he said. “I had a meltdown. ... All this stuff that was in my head that I’d never said to anybody started coming out. I couldn’t stop crying.”


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_marine_veteran_111008/%2e



uhc comment: This is what war does to people.

[FarCenter]

1. I've only met one combat veteran who spoke somewhat proudly of killing people

Veterans who have actually been shot at and shot others, or who have dealt with military and civilian casualties on the battlefield, are generally not very enthusiastic about the military.

[unhappycamper]

2. Two of the mods here have around

a Silver Star, 3 Purple Hearts, and two Bronze Stars. That last one is me - I got them for not fucking up too much in Nam. (Two trips.)

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

3. Army won't enlist anyone who like to kill

If Johnny puts on his application that he likes to kill and wants to kill more, they will think he is too crazy and turn him away.