got loaded with my buddy home on leave from iraq

[knowbody0]

he ssssssstutters now and didn't b4.he even ssssstutters when he's drunk. his blue eyes are now dark brown.i took everyone's advice and did not opinionate.tell me what to do with my hate.boots on the ground=disposable flesh. vietnam redux.

[John Q. Citizen]

1. Oh man, it breaks my heart to hear about

the pain and suffering this stupid mess has caused.

[eleonora]

2. didn't get the last part

tell me what to do with my hate.boots on the ground=disposable flesh. vietnam redux.??

[Vincardog]

3. Point your hate where it belongs at ther NEOCONS

[Ernesto]

4. And the stupid chimp that believed their every word N/T

[HuskerDem]

5. His eyes changed color? Good God.

What are they doing to our youth? I don't know what to say.

[knowbody0]

6. met him when he was 7

grew up with my boys. was the frail one. intellectual articulate. just like vietnam. boys came home changed forever. at least more of us are aware of the damage done, so we can support them when they do come back. he is 30, and very dedicated to the boys under him.

[NuttyFluffers]

19. Eye color change?

is this a potential response from stress? akin to having hair go white? if so i am unaware of it. most fascinating, but saddening at the same time.

[Spector]

7. Thanks...

This is my first post so first of all; Hi everyone! Thanks DU for this great site!

This subject means alot to me. You see, I returned home not too long ago also. While my wounds are readily apparent, not all soldier's wounds are easy to see.

Just be his friend. Be there when he needs you. If he does confide in you and tell you some stories, please don't be too judgmental of the things he had to do. Just listen, and help him heal. When is he going back? Does he have everything he needs?

When he comes home for good, encourage him to get professional help. It took me awhile to recognize the fact that I needed help, but after I did, the world started looking better.

In the mean time, tell him for me that he will be in my prayers. Also, remind him to cover his 'six' and don't come home with any 'enemy marksmanship badges' (i.e. purple hearts). It's ok to duck and cover, medals mean jacksh*t back in the world.

Thanks for taking care of your buddie... and stay pissed; it's the only way things are going to get changed!

[TroglodyteScholar]

9. Welcome to DU, Spector....

And thanks for your service to our nation...it means a lot.

:yourock:

[Ladyhawk]

10. Welcome, Spector

I'm sorry for what you and this young man went through. It seems there aren't enough tears in the universe to cover all the pain these days. :(

[Spector]

13. Thanks guys,

I've been lurking on this site for a while, been afraid to post because I didn't think I'd be welcome here. After seeing this thread today, I just had to post. Thanks for making me feel different.

Keep the Faith...

[happynewyear]

14. greetings Spector!

I don't know why you'd think you would not be welcome here. Many/most on this site have someone in their life that is in the service, has been in the service or sadly, will end up in the service.

I thank you for your post and welcome to the DU! :D

:kick:

[Spector]

21. To be honest,

I was hesitant to post because I've seen some troop-bashing on this site. I don't mind people condemning soldiers who commit crimes, but to bash soldiers just because they are there bothers me. Thankfully there seems to be a lot of people here that believe the troops are in a no win situation and don't blame them.

People have to understand, there isn't a whole lot of politics in foxholes. The guys I fought with are my brothers, all of them, not just the ones that vote like I do. Our only concern was to keep each other alive by completing our mission. Liberal vs Conservative don't mean sh*t over there. Heck, I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for my brothers. I trust them, not assh*le politicians who aren't capable of backing their convictions with action.

I was kind of an odd-ball in my views, mostly because I have a hard time with chicken-hawk politicians who seem to be gungho for war but never fought in one. Ask any combat vet, we all HATE war...

I am a Gulf War vet who got out of the service and then re-enlisted when the sh*t hit the fan, because I knew my fellow soldiers were going to need experienced NCO's that could help them survive in combat. My concern is with the soldiers.

Sorry for the rant, this is bringing back a lot of hard feelings.

Keep the Faith...

[Ladyhawk]

23. Yes, there has been a bit of troop-bashing lately...

...along with gay-bashing, youth-bashing, etc. People are still looking for scapegoats for their anger, unfortunately. Some of the troop-bashers might be trolls.

The way I feel: those kids wouldn't be there if Washington hadn't failed them. We do have other vets, here, too. I have the utmost respect for them. Personally, I want all of the troops home, now. :(

My bumper sticker:

[Spector]

29. I agree that Washington failed us all... mostly the Iraqi's...

This may not be a real popular view, but this is how I feel about Iraq, please hear me out;

We left the job undone after the first Gulf War and abandoned many people who wanted to be free of Saddam. We abandoned them to their fate, to be hunted done and killed.

...and the chicken-hawks in Washington wonder why they didn't welcome us with open arms.

I was in Iraq for almost two years; before, during and after the first Gulf War. I was there when we promised the Shiites and the Kurds that we would support them if/when they attacked Saddam. I was there for the aftermath when we didn't keep our word. Do you know how many tens of thousands of Shiites and Kurds were killed by Saddam because we didn't keep our word? A lot of those mass graves are directly our fault.

...and the chicken-hawks in Washington wonder why they didn't welcome us with open arms.

I was there when we left Northern Iraq for the last time in '92. One of the Peshmerga Generals begged our Commander not to abandon them. He showed us pictures of their slaughtered children and was crying freely. I remember vividly when we snuck out of Iraq in the early morning, hours before dawn.

I remember going back to N. Iraq a few years latter, a lot of our supporters had been killed. Those left, didn't trust us. Hard to understand why not..

So, whatever the real reason bush decided to go back into Iraq was, I felt we were going to right a wrong that we did by abandoning the majority of Iraqi people in the first place after the first war. My honest thoughts were; screw bush's agenda, we were going to finally go back and do the right thing.

The problem was, the people we went to help were mostly gone. Those that are left are so beaten and distrusting I don't know that we can ever really help them, especially since a fair number of civilians are becoming casualties. What some of them must think of us... I shudder to think.

Don't get me wrong, a lot of Shiites and most of the Kurds are happy that saddam is gone. They just aren't real sure that we won't abandon them again. So, of course they don't trust us to stand by them and finish the job. Most are laying low until we prove we are people of our word or until we give up and go home. Since we aren't seemingly keeping our word to secure the country, rebuild the infrastructure, and help them create a new viable government (i.e. doing it fast enough), they aren't fully backing us. So no, I don't think we should pack up and leave; we should keep the faith and our word with them.

I honestly don't think bush can come to the logical conclusion that his 'after saddam falls' policies were and are all f*cked up, so I don't trust that he will set things straight.

Kerry had the right ideas I think. Get enough troops in there to stabilize the country, preferably troops from nations that the Iraqi's can trust. Help the Iraqi's to feel and be secure. Make it secure enough to actually fix the infrastructure like we have been promising. Of course this should have been done from the start, but what's done is done. Do the right thing now.

Sh*t, I don't know, there are no easy answers. The point I'm trying to make is that we created the mess in Iraq (starting in the early 70's-- chk Iraqi history) and it is our responsibility to fix it in my belief. I wish our troops could come home right now, but I truly believe that would make the entire situation in the Middle East, much worse.

I'd go back in a second, to help out and watch over my troops, if they would let broken soldiers like me back over there.

Oh well, sorry for the long post. I feel very passionate about doing right by the Iraqi's.

Keep the Faith...

[diplomats]

26. Welcome, Spector

We honor those of you who served and are serving now. They are the best!

Thanks for posting and take care, my friend.:yourock:

[txindy]

16. Lots of veterans here

And every one of you has my deepest gratitude and respect for your service to our country.

Good to have you here. Welcome! :hi:

[karlrschneider]

18. Hey, Welcome Spector!

Like Will Rogers said, we don't belong to an organized party, we're Democrats. :D

Sometimes it helps to have a thick skin around here, but I'm sure you can deal with the occasional screwball out of 50,000 mostly VERY supportive people. :toast: And thank you for what you did...we know you
didn't start the fight.

[smbolisnch]

20. Welcome Spector!

I am so glad you decided to post! Thank you for your service to our country, and SO glad you are home! :hug:

[Ladyhawk]

22. No, you will be welcomed heartily by most.

My heart aches for the troops every day, as well as for the Iraqis. We have members here who have family members in Iraq. We have members who have lost family members in Iraq.

As far as I'm concerned, you are very welcome here. I hope we can help ease your pain. :(

[Jazzgirl]

24. Hi Spector!

My brother is in Afghanistan so I felt this posters pain. My brother is a nurse and runs a med squad. He's pretty tough but I know he will be forever changed when he comes home. He has lots of support and has seen a lot. I feel for all our guys in Iraq and Afghanistan. I cannot imagine what they are going through and wouldn't wish it on anyone. You are most welcome here. Keep talkin' to us! :hi: :grouphug:

[Spector]

30. Thanks Jazzgirl,

I appreciate the welcome. I will pray for your brother's safe return. I have no doubt he will return a "changed person", but I also have no doubt people like you will help him heal. Thanks for your support. Take care of your brother.

Keep the Faith...

[Mari333]

25. Honey, some of us have kids over there

dont be afraid to post here. Im glad you are okay. Just be his friend. encourage him to see a counselor for PTSD.

[wellstone dem]

28. Thank you for your post

and welcome to DU. Please post more, your thoughtful post was so helpful. My neice just graduated from ROTC, she was scheduled to go to Korea, but now may be reassigned to Iraq. I appreciate your suggestions on how to help.

[Spector]

31. Thanks Moonkee2,

Has your niece gotten her orders yet? If she ends up having to go, make sure she has all the equipment she needs before she goes. What's her branch and job specialty?

If she needs any help or advice, drop me a line. That goes for everyone...

Keep the Faith...

[immoderate]

11. Hi Spector. I'm glad you're here.

We will benefit from your experience. Welcome to DU.

--IMM

[babylonsister]

12. Hi, Spector!

Thanks for all you've done for us! All of you great people are in my prayers! :pals:

[newyawker99]

17. Hi Spector!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[elehhhhna]

8. you sound like you might benefit from a good cry.

let it rip. it's okay.

[happynewyear]

15. just be his friend

that is all you can do I believe. He does need help but I don't know how you can personally approach this other than by being his friend - non-judgmental, willing and ready to listen if he can still voice his thoughts.

I know what this is like knowbody0 .... I am dealing with an Agent Orange Vietnam vet right now myself. What I could do was give him my address and phone # and let him know I am his friend still.

[Hawkeye Pierce]

27. It is sad to see how "our boys"

get transformed by this evil war. Many of the young kids I had to lead in Iraq ended up becoming a former shell of themselves. I have pushed for and have had some other folks push too for support groups for these folks. Fortunately me being a bit older I think I can handle what was going on a bit better then these poor kids but, it does get to me just as well.

[Spector]

32. JohnJohnson,

I know what you mean. I had a harder time during the first Gulf War. I think it is important to have older and more experienced NCO's and Officers training/leading our troops, esp. in combat.

The problem is, so many are getting disgusted with current policies and will not be staying in the service. Hell, I know how I felt after the first GW. I wanted nothing to do with the political BS and left the service. I was pretty disgusted when we abandoned the Iraqi's. I spent my first six months out- drunk off my ass.

It took my old Commander to come and straighten me out. We in the service have to take care of each other no matter where we are, we can't trust politicians to look out for us after we have served their purpose.

Thanks for you service John.

Keep the Faith...

[Swede]

33. Just be his bro.

That's all he'll ever ask of you.