with my cancer I go to the VA plenty and see VERY few young vets there

[Jeffersons Ghost]

Lots of Iraq/ Afghanistan vets have PTSD. After multiple tours of duty they go back because their buddies (squad members) died. They feel guilty. Others are on the streets and don't know how to get help. It's a rapidly growing problem.

[cliffordu]

1. It is going to be epic.

It took decades before the vets of my generation tried to get help.....

And most of us only did one tour.

These kids are experiments in long term combat exposure.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

3. I know that because it's my era too...

I can't imagine how screwed up they are after 7 or 8 tours

[WCGreen]

2. I know a few Vietnam Vets with the PTSD and it ain't in their minds

as many people think...

I had a bit of PTSD from my brush with death back in 2004...

It's real and dangerous for the people who have it and the people around them...

[cliffordu]

4. I was a real and present danger as long as I drank....

sobering up and loading up on the mood stabilizers helps immensely.....

In my case the PTSD was icing on the cake of my 'special' qualities....

:rofl:

Still don't like loud bangs, though.....

[Jeffersons Ghost]

5. I feel fortunate with all communications and no combat. so, no PTSD for me

[cliffordu]

6. Not to worry -

If the right keeps arming up and getting stupider, everyone will have an opportunity to develop some combat skills and some PTSD, too....

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. once again, I totally agree

[pinboy3niner]

9. At least we're not close to that yet

But every time I hear some teabaggerwingnutjob raising the prospect of taking up arms against the government, I know they don't have a CLUE about what hell they are wishing upon all Americans. They love to cite history, but they seem to have missed the part about the carnage of the Civil War.

[pinboy3niner]

7. We just got a Vet Center where I live...

and my best friend (a VN combat vet) was hired as its PTSD counselor.

A young local vet (Army Infantry) who'd served one tour in Iraq and one in Afghanistan had left active duty and gone to Reserves when the Army recalled him to active duty under Stop Loss to do another combat tour, despite his PTSD.

Thanks to the intervention of our counselor, the Army not only canceled his callup and deployment orders, they also released him from the Reserves.

I'm happy to be able to report one story that ended well. Of course, the young vet will be dealing with PTSD for the rest of his life....