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On Being Home
By Slab
From The Sandbox, via Blackfive comes On Being Home, by Sgt Derek McGee of Fox Co 2d Battalion 25th Marines. Derek is an incredible writer, and I'm sure his words ring true with combat veterans of all generations.
One thing that hit home was his explanation of how we react to loud noises after we're home. I found myself shaking my head as I read it, remembering our first formation after we returned from Iraq last year. An artillery unit was firing into the impact area on base that morning, and with every impact I had to forcefully remind myself that it was not an IED, and I did not need to rush to the COC to check on our patrols. It's not that the noises scare us, it's that we become conditioned to react to certain noises instinctively. As Derek mentions, the heart speeds up, the adrenaline flows, the eyes start scanning for "what" and "where", and the brain begins processing requests for information and commands at an ever-increasing pace. In Iraq, I was able to hear an explosion over music or a DVD, and immediately figure out general type and location. Once, I helped locate a patrol that had been hit simply because I heard an explosion from inside the COC and correctly determined that it was an IED in Albu Fleiss. I won't even get into IEDs and snipers while out on patrol. Coming down from that sort of heightened awareness takes some time.
If you're still reading my banal writing, you need to get over to the Sandbox and read it from the horse's mouth. My writing doesn't hold a candle to Derek's. If you've been in combat, you'll be amazed at how well he conveys the experiences that can never truly be explained to the uninitiated. if you've never been there, perhaps you'll have a little better understanding.
(Hotel Tango: Blackfive)
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Derek did a great job conveying his feelings, problems, and issues. I really hope he gets the help to work through them. I also need to offer him some venison if I get one this year.
A couple of years ago, I read ON KILLING by Dave Grossman and I started to wonder what we were going to do to help combat veterans transition back to life here in the states. I fear that not enough has been done and I only hope that between DOD and the VA, the guys can get the help they need.