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These 30 Responses To U.S. Army Asking ‘How Has Serving Impacted You?’ Was Not What They Were Expecting To Hear
Memorial Day weekend is meant to be a time of reflection to honor the Americans who have served, so two days before the weekend the U.S. Army reached out to veterans via Twitter to ask them to share how their service had impacted their lives – and it’s easy to say it backfired.
The innocent tweet was intended to stir up stories of patriotic pride, and while some did share positive experiences about how their time gave them self-confidence, an overwhelming amount shared dark and heartbreaking tales. The stories came from both veterans themselves and people who had met or were the family of service men and women. Tales ranged from vets who had returned with debilitating posttraumatic stress disorder, to those who had ended up committing suicide.
According to reports from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, about 30% of Vietnam veterans, 12% of Gulf War veterans and 11% to 20% of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom veterans are living with post-traumatic stress disorder. As for suicide rates the numbers are disproportionately affecting vets, with more than 6,000 veterans dying by suicide between 2008 to 2016 and an average of 20 veterans dying by suicide each day between 2013 and 2014.
The U.S Army reached out to vets on Twitter to ask how their service had impacted their lives
Image credits: USArmy
But instead of just patriotic pride, they received a thread of heartbreaking responses
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#1
Mewton’s Third Paw 5 years ago (edited)
This should be number one. It’s not just about the trauma these people face but rather the fact that it’s all based on greed, corruption, lies, and hatred of the American people at large, and anyone who isn’t in the ruling class.
RELATED:
Two years ago President Donald Trump tweeted “will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity,” and this year the policy has gone into effect. Lt. Col. Carla M. Gleason, a Pentagon spokesperson, told BuzzFeed News, that it was not a ban but that “new recruits will be rejected if they’ve undergone a gender transition, that they cannot transition while in service, and they must conform to the uniform and fitness standards of their birth sex.” The estimated number of trans people serving in the military ranged from 2,150 to 15,000.
#3
Elisabeth Bergbom 5 years ago
First they experience war on the outside, then war on the inside. It all leaves scars. We need to talk more about this</3
One out of three veterans seeking treatment for substance abuse, including alcohol use disorder, have PTSD. Overall about three-quarters of people who have survived abuse or violent trauma report that they struggle with alcohol abuse. People who struggle with PTSD and chronic pain struggle more frequently with alcohol abuse.
#7
Elisabeth Bergbom 5 years ago
"You guys sent him back in a box" is literally the most heartbreaking thing ever
#8
A study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration revealed that only 50 percent of returning vets who need veteran mental health treatment will receive these services. Both active duty service members and veterans face barriers to treatment for mental health issues: Personal embarrassment about service-related mental disabilities, long wait times to receive mental health treatment, shame over needing to seek mental health treatment, fear of being seen as weak, Stigma associated with mental health issues, a lack of understanding or lack of awareness about mental health problems and treatment options, logistical problems, such as long travel distances in order to receive this type of care, concerns over the veteran mental health treatment offered by the VA, demographic barriers and false perceptions based on these demographics such as age or gender.
#11
Dani 5 years ago (edited)
"😭" doesn't cut it. I died a little inside thinking of these two brothers. One dead, one the closest thing to death that isnt, because of military duty. A family ruined. What hit me hardest was "I don't know where he is or if he's still alive." I have two siblings and can't imagine anything like this, but I'm sure that they couldn't either, until it actually happened
#12
From 1961 to 1971, the U.S. sprayed more than 20 million gallons of various herbicides over Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and according to the EPA, Agent Orange, which contains the poisonous chemical dioxin, was the most commonly used. An estimated 2.8 million U.S. vets who were exposed to Agent Orange while on-duty later died.
#13
Mewton’s Third Paw 5 years ago
Almost every conflict that we’ve ever been involved in has been for the express benefit of imperialist scum. It’s never been about protecting America.
#16
Lukas Stone 5 years ago
Hold on a minute, your grandmother knocked out your uncle with a frying pan?
#18
#19
Ladies and Gentlemen 5 years ago
Jesus, that's so heartbreaking even to read... what the person is experiencing and is really living with all this is unimaginable for me. I have no words to say! :(
#22
Wil Vanderheijden 5 years ago
A veteran describing how his life has fallen apart telling people to love one another. He's showing more courage then tangerine turd could ever even dream off.
#23
Mewton’s Third Paw 5 years ago (edited)
“Some folks are born Made to wave the flag Ooh, they're red, white and blue And when the band plays "Hail to the Chief" Ooh, they point the cannon at you It ain't me, it ain't me I ain't no senator's son, son It ain't me, it ain't me I ain't no fortunate one, no”
#24
Dani 5 years ago (edited)
My grandfather on my dad's side did not serve, but he grew up in a WWII-era Taiwan occupied by the Japanese. As he aged, he got dementia, and even though he loved everything Japan- Japanese was his preferred language- he hated the bombs. Planes would fly over our house and he would cry and tell us that "they" were coming and they were going to bomb us and he needed to save us. I was four years old and I didn't understand. I laughed and told him they were just jets. Then one day a couple years ago my sister reminded me of those days and I was just like "Holy f***k oh my god I get it now." But my Akong is long dead and there is nothing I could do anymore. By the time I could do something, I cpuldnt. Goes to show, you don't have to serve. War is scarring all around. It may benefit the state but it destroys the individual.
#26
THE ULTIMATE PUGTATO >_< 5 years ago
I’m really sorry. Going into any type of military services can be scarring
#28
Russian Otaku 5 years ago
Funny thing about the military is that contracts are only allowed to be broken by the military...
#30
Susan Nelson 5 years ago
My brother served in VietNam as a Marine Scout/Sniper. On his return home, he was afraid to sleep in-doors. He slept in our back yard for months. (Always with a rifle). He tried really hard to adjust; he married, they had a baby, he had a good job. But as a year passed, he drank and smoked and God knows what else and the gradual change in him sped up. He was killed in a motorcycle/vehicle accident in 1972 and our little family, his little family were and continue to be just wrecked. People, please understand these Vets need so much help after their service because all governments only use them as cannon fodder. They were never expected to come home alive. The U.S. Government still thinks of them as expendables and they always will.
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What do you think ?
Slinkman 5 years ago
What did they expect when they put up this question, lovely tales of the great happy militairy?
Hope 5 years ago
They expected, "Wow, the military was a great experience and changed my life! Taught me about respect & honor! Thank you!" But seriously that's never the case when they're seen as numbers and not people by those who put them into war.
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Tracee Jeen 5 years ago
They were protecting our country? Really? When have we ever have foreign troops on our soil? It's it US that are the foreign troops on foreign soil. We remove Leaders of other countries and leave those countries to crumble in the vacuum. I believe world peace is possible and that there really is enuf for everyone.
Matt 5 years ago
I think that would start by removing your own leaders. They're doing it with the vote of the public. The public have to take off the rose coloured glasses and stop voting for them.
Load More Replies...
Hans 5 years ago
While we ought to be grateful for people who decide to defend their country, there is nothing to glorify about it. Maybe some return from war as heros, but for me the greatest heros are those who care for people returning traumatised from war.
Slinkman 5 years ago
What did they expect when they put up this question, lovely tales of the great happy militairy?
Hope 5 years ago
They expected, "Wow, the military was a great experience and changed my life! Taught me about respect & honor! Thank you!" But seriously that's never the case when they're seen as numbers and not people by those who put them into war.
Load More Replies... Tracee Jeen 5 years ago
They were protecting our country? Really? When have we ever have foreign troops on our soil? It's it US that are the foreign troops on foreign soil. We remove Leaders of other countries and leave those countries to crumble in the vacuum. I believe world peace is possible and that there really is enuf for everyone.
Matt 5 years ago
I think that would start by removing your own leaders. They're doing it with the vote of the public. The public have to take off the rose coloured glasses and stop voting for them.
Load More Replies... Hans 5 years ago
While we ought to be grateful for people who decide to defend their country, there is nothing to glorify about it. Maybe some return from war as heros, but for me the greatest heros are those who care for people returning traumatised from war.
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