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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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.
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.
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.
"You guys sent him back in a box" is literally the most heartbreaking thing ever
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.
US policies are so screwy right now. No Abortion~But once that baby's born forget about any kind of help. No WIC, Medi-Caid, help for the female if she hasn't graduated High School yet. Screw up tariffs. No problem, we'll send you more money. Just don't figure it out that that is our tax money that's going to be used to fulfill this promise. Ain't gettin' no money from China. And to have promised vets that the VA would be fixed, programs would be created for homeless vets and vets with severe depression. There would be treatment for addictions. The frustration and shame I feel in our treatment of vets is overwhelming. Maybe we'll figure it out someday, to pay back the men and women who fought to keep us free.
And the narcissist usurper in the WH now, who used his fake disability (and his daddy's money) to get out of serving, makes me want to puke when he goes on about how he supports our troops.
Any soldier from any country deserves free treatment if they have ptsd from a war they served in.hearing and watching this first hand is scary, especially since you can't do much. I don't know much about this, to be honest, but shouldn't countries with some money care for the people who protected them? Or is it too much money?🤔
Soldiers are just dogs or human weapons for the government. You’re dispensable
And during that waiting...shit happens. YOUR experience may be good BUT perhaps a perusal thru the many suicides committed at VAs over the past year alone ahould help with understanding that the VA is NOT all that!
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"😭" 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
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.
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.
Hold on a minute, your grandmother knocked out your uncle with a frying pan?
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! :(
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.
“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”
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 frick 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.
I’m really sorry. Going into any type of military services can be scarring
Funny thing about the military is that contracts are only allowed to be broken by the military...
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.
What did they expect when they put up this question, lovely tales of the great happy militairy?
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.
They never expected to get called out on the way they are treating veterans. But that's normal for all armies around the world. Every person they send into a war is just a numbered asset. Disposable and replaceable. And how cruel it may sound: Sometimes it seems they prefer their assets coming home in boxes. Saves them the trouble of pretending to care for veterans.
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Did you even read this?Apparently you didn't.Most of these stories are of soldiers who end up killing themselves from ptsd.That needs to be fixed.
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.
defend their country (usa) from WHOM exactly?
I believe Hans was talking in general, and, as someone who was born at the very fall of Yugoslavia I agree. The war should have never happened, but it did, and I'm grateful for those people who worked hard to put an end to it, be it soldiers, be it activists, be it diplomats, be it politicians. The prime role of a military should be to prevent wars, not fighting them. As for the people who came back as "heroes", no, they don't think themselves as heroes. And It's not because they're humble, it's because they're damaged.
I don't know about the US army but here in Canada the Forces help civilians during natural disasters. An army is not only there protecting people from other armies. They are there to serve in time of crisis, whatever this crisis is.
I did not refer to a specific country or war. These are politics. But the world is too bad for not reason to exist that countries merely need to defend their population.
I worked for Raytheon , designing missile guidance circuits. Our missiles were meant to provide a retaliation capability stronger than any offensive the Russians could mount. Whether that's what did it or not we may never know but it's very likely. It's expensive but so much better than getting embroiled in a no-solution, endless mess like the middle east which should destroy any lingering faith in the ability of our leaders to do anything right outside the country, much less in. The British and French got bogged down in the Mideast and found there would never be a victory. They love to keep fighting there. So we were going to show them a thing or two. And we haven't even done as well. Never send a businessman ( who thinks he is smarter than everyone else ) to run ANYTHING except a business. They're not all that good at that either
Canadians, but only during winter. The northernmost states have nothing to fear. We'll just be passing through.
We need to ALWAYS help those who serve rise higher. YOU, I'm sure, never would. Those who are family of veterans are doing what they should-loving those who left and came back, and that's the most any of us can do.
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.
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.
There never was a bogyman, There never was a chance the domino effect in South East Asia, we didn't have to intervene in any war unless there was a specific economic boost for some white men in DC.
Would you rather we left Al Queda and the Taliban to their own devices and freedom?
There wouldn't be any if WE hadn't screwed everything up in the Mid-east. Saddam Hussein would have taken care of them as well as Iran.
Al Qaeeda and the Tellytubbies were as a direct result of wars in Afghanistan against the Soviets, and then illegal wars in Iraq, and the support of a dictator in Iran. Then enter an overthrow of Libya and an intervention in Syria. It is no good creating a problem and then throwing young men to die to "resolve" it.
Excuse me but can you imagine the french/german/british army decide to come in USA to "save" you from that asshole called Mr President ? I don't think so.
I served 4 tours in Afganistan, Somalia, and 2 in Iraq as an Army Ranger. I believe that people who enlisted went through because they wanted to serve. Why else would they join? They were assigned to go on a tour somewhere because that is what they signed up to do. While doing the process, they would have read the terms and contracts and they knew the risks. With the living veterans, all we can do is offer support, and with the deceased, all we can do is remember what they sacrificed, thank them for their lives and our freedom.
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Tracee Jeen, perhaps you need a history lesson.
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Without American intervention the Middle East would have annihilated the enter globe long ago. A simple “your welcome” is all the military asks for.
Ok Ben, I would ask you to take a step back and just observe your words. Do they really come from you? Do you honestly think that these military manoeuvres are legitimate? If you'd like to cast your mind to the war in Iraq, you'll see that the intervention actually sent things out of control. I know it might be hard to believe that your own government is lying to you to get money and funding etc, every country's army and government is. It's normal people like you and me, on the ground that bear the brunt and become cannon fodder. Do you personally really support and believe in war for the sake of what's been going on
While something like World War 2 was justifiable for the U.S. to get involved in, it's been largely involved in wars because of capitalist interests, especially the current wars. I don't want to simplify the issue too much, but it really has a lot of basis in sending the poor to die so the rich get richer.
It's not even "we want your shit" like it used to be. Kingdoms would invade and take the spoils. Now America goes in, soldiers die, a few contractors make money, and taxes have to go up to pay for the war. Super. Only the Haliburton's of the world get anything out of it.
Canon fodder to feed the capitalists in a so-called free market system! Only the rich are free. Everyone else has to pay their taxes to keep them in clover!
I never understood why certain websites glorify weapons of war. how a handful of politicians can dictatie the terms and conditions rest of the population. I never understood how that is even possible in this day and time.
1984...recent anniversary of the book is so apt for our current time
"this day and time" also has people losing their shit simply because people have different opinions from them. If it's possible to lose your mind on a university professor because they said something completely innocuous, it's not a stretch things could go berserk in a myriad of ways.
My ex got a traumatic brain injury while serving in the Army before we met. 18 years later, when our kids were little, his brain function was so deteriorated he committed a felony and went to prison for 5 years. He has no comprehension of his crime. Our marriage didn't survive but the kids (now young adults) are there for him and my heart is broken because of how the TBI ruined his ability to have fulfilling and healthy relationships.
HUGE HUG
Let's see... Health services need to be insured, making it impossible for average people to afford proper care. Your company pays for it, so you become their wage slave. Wage slaves fatten the pockets of the rich. College fees are drastically overpriced so the average person is in debt and can't afford it. Free tuition is touted to underprivileged kids to make the army more appealing, so you can go to poor countries to send their ore, resources and opium home in order to sedate the population that suffers pain or addiction or trauma. Afterwards you don't get the healthcare you're entitled to and end up terrorising the people who love you, so essentially you bring the war home. Now I do believe the majority of the USA to be decent human beings. Why do people keep falling for this shit?
Agreed. It is really frustrating to live with this madness. Unfortunately in my second country (Italy) there's an ugly political shift happening as well. I see it all as a fear response, fear of losing a treasured lifestyle, due to the shifts in migrant patterns (which in part are due to wars that were supported by the "first world " countries) . I get it: nobody wants to lose their comfort. But in the US (at least) it's deeper than that- people see the changes as the loss of the mythical "American Dream". Change can be frightening
(Last presidential election I mean)
I ask the same question every election- particularly the last one
It must be really frustrating. I feel for the fair hearted and logical people there. Actually, I feel for the fearful too. It's hard to be angry at people who don't understand that they're being exploited
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It’s a shame how little you understand about global politics.
Thanks for your extremely insightful posting. You’ve left us with a lot of content to sift through and digest...
I'm shocked and saddened by what I read. I must live a blessed life. It never occurred to me that it was remotely possible that I could be drafted and ordered to fight in Vietnam. I turned 18 in 1975, but they had just abolished the draft a few months earlier, and they ended registration. At any rate it was just luck that a fool like me didn't get sucked into that evil system.
Did the U.S. army even care what agent orange would do to the soldiers?
Obviously not
The people in charge drank alcohol, eat bacon, and smoke cigars. If that's how they treated themselves, imagine how little they cared about anybody else.
I am very sorry for everyone who had or is serving. I’m very very greatful that these beautiful souls are protecting are country and I just wanted to say thank you to all of you and your families. you are all brave
Protecting from who? Zero countries on earth are a threat to America. Beyond their military might, they have friends north and south and oceans to teh east and west.
This is so sad
This reminds me a bif of all those pro lifers... Once you have been born they don't know you anymore. Once you've served you've become useless!
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Very different. The pro lifer didn't want the baby to be conceived in the first place if it wasn't into a loving family. The government DOES want war, at least to a degree.
Many pro-lifers don't want to teach people sex education or for people to use contraception. So they want you to not conceive without giving you the tools to do it.
US army is the only army in the world "protecting" its country by attacking the whole world ... and destroying its own soldiers of course
If you need money to treat people from PTSD of war, maybe don't go to war at all ? You'll gain twice the money to ... I don't know ... not ruining people when they need treatment for cancer or even a broken arm ?
"Fortunate Son", 1969, Credence Clearwater Revival. The poor have been cannon fodder for as long as there has been war, and will continue to be as long as there is war. What is even worse is the way veterans of all those wars have been treated. Talk about adding insult to injury
I served in Afghanistan. Not for the us. Another country. I live in us now, but they will not treat me for ptsd because they" cannot find evidence you served" i sm afraid of most everything and can get very violent when confronted. I am a woman, if that even matters here. I still limp from a bullet i took to the leg. I cannot sleep anymore because i am afraid i will be killed. I cannot trust anybody. I am considered an enemy, even tho i am american citizen, because of my accent. I want to die.
Also, i did not enlist. Military service is a requirement in my country of birth
I hope you find peace and solace soon, much love.
How can you help stop this? Vote against war hawk politicians. Vote against corporatist politicians. Stop voting for the duopoly. Only when we change our national behavior will the nation change direction.
To serve your country.... sounds kind a noble, honorable, you know, sounds good. True definition, however, is: Get used and discarded! What ticks me off to no end, is those who did tours, came back and are now convinced that war IS a racket, as Smedley Butler told us, but still put those who didn't go (often because they maybe recognized what it really accomplished) as non patriots. What the ef are you calling a patriot of anyway? Someone being proud and standing up for a country involved in perpetual wars, covert regime changes, brainwashing (look up MK Ultra) false flag operations, arming countless despots and tyrants? The bottom line is, DO NOT ENLIST, DO NOT participate in this despicable game they are playing only serving the corporate military establishment. Defend your country at home, not from 800 military bases scattered over the globe to keep a control grid functioning. Read, be awake, pay attention, STOP PARTICIPATING!
"The combined arms sales of the 42 USA-based companies in the Top 100 grew by 2.0 per cent in 2017, to $226.6 billion, accounting for 57 per cent of the overall total (see figure 3). Considering the volume of US arms sales and the number of companies ranked in 2017, the USA will continue to be the world’s largest producer of arms for the foreseeable future. Lockheed Martin remains, by far, the largest arms producer in the world, with arms sales of $44.9 billion in 2017" (The SIPRI Top 100 arms-producing and military services companies, 2017)
This was all really heartbreaking to read, my stepdad is in the air force, I did not know him before he went in or deployed, but I think he would be different now. He is extremely controlling, and wants everything perfect, he yells all the time, which my mom, me, and stepsister(7) hate. My mom was a very different person before they met, and I have never seen her so stressed or sad before. They got divorced a little over a year ago, and she came back to live with her mom for a while, and to stay with me, but then on 4 of July, he called her and she went right back to him, after complaining to me how it was so hard for her to live with him. I say he has some kind of spell on the rest of my family and it hurts my heart to watch.
I love google ads. I have armed force mortgage loan in this article
Brit here, my cousin died in Afghanistan about 10 years ago from a IED, his best mate saw him blown into a few pieces, i still speak to his friend regularly as he is home now, he is half of the person he was, he cries at the drop of a hat and is starting to smoke heroin, i will try my hardest to be there for him and get him off that junk.
You're missing the vast swath of sexual assault stories that have also been told and the detritus of recovery for those survivors.
Let's see. My uncle drank himself to death after WWII. My husband served in Vietnam and has 26 basic training classmates up on the Wall, plus his cousin. And we knew a guy who'd been a sniper in Vietnam; at least he KNEW how damaged he was and when he needed to stay away from everyone for a few days. he had found a way to live with it, not well but at least no longer harming himself or anyone else. And the awful part is he WAS treated by the VA! They don't have a CLUE how to treat PTSD. They're just flailing in the dark.
It’s high time humanity puts an end to war. War has never solved anything and it’s insane to keep it up. Not only does it ruin the lives of thousands of people in the US but millions in the world. It has to stop now and if men and women will refuse to fight (or enter the military) it would stop immediately. I can’t imagin that the old men who instigate the wars would actually pick up a gun and continue it. 😒
Both my parents served. Most of my family have served. We are one effed-up bunch. Thanks, US military. THat golden ticket promise of training and/or GI Bill suckers us in and then some rich guy gets richer and we get dead. Even alive, we're still dead....
This is horrific. We NEED to do better. We should be falling all over ourselves to help these people.
Shocking that the main reason of death seems to be not only on the battlefield (which would be bad enough), but because of suicide.
Idiots wanted a pat on the back for posting such a stupid tweet and got hard truth they didn't expect because they're idiots. Are these replies even up, or did the Army only keep the patriotic shit to inspire the naive to serve?
Twitter doesn’t work that way. The Army Twitter account holder only controls its own posts. Everyone replying to them is entirely separate.
Oh, and let's not forget the injections of venereal diseases into black surface men, or the refusal to help out those who suffered from our go to chemical of the day "Agent Orange". Or the navy guys who wiped down their aircraft carrier after wiping out an island of people, who were told nothing bad would happen. Every time I see that horrific burst of flame that killed 8000Japanese instantly, and left countless others to suffer and die, I cry. I cry for how much we play fast and loose with the lives of others while safe underground playing a very scary game of Risk or Battleship. Shame on anyone who ever thinks it's the cost of doing business. Not by my standard ever. Men waving dick to see which one is the biggest, as Carlin said. I value my loved ones more than the biggest dick you got to wave. The potential life it delivers will be killed by some other idiot whipping it out while killing lions who think they are enjoying retirement , not being shot like fish in a barrel.
This is the most shoking thing i have ever read :o I dont understand how people still go and serve even knowing they are risking their lives
The answer is in the posts. They send recruiters to poor areas to tell kids they'll get a college education if they enlist. Then the stuff in the rest of the posts happens. If your whole life is poverty it's a seductive pitch. They don't tell you that you'll be crippled or die because of it.
"They don't tell you that you'll be crippled or die because of it". C'mon, if you have a high enough IQ to serve, you know goddamn well what's involved. Zero kids in training camp don't know they might die a horrific death or see the horrors of war. Yeah the free college thing is seductive and all of that, but don't act like these kids were ignorant of the possible consequences. They all heard of Shell Shocked soldiers.
This has so many replies... Makes me sad and how lucky am I of not being an usa citizen. I'm so sorry for all the families that were broken cause of this.
Is there any country untouched by war?
Not necessarily untouched by war in the past but there are several that don't participate in Iraq war for example, and I'm so glad thdy don't. I don't know what I would do if a loved one hd to serve in the war. And like someone else already said, it's a bullshit war. The US isn't protecting its nation by being in Iraq it's all their financial interest. Fucked up
No. How do you think each country got their borders? Not a border on earth is blood-free.
There are a few, yes.
Well you get hurt the ARMY treats you like you don't matter after I got hurt left waiting while my leg I was about to loose wait was three weeks send me to military hospital so I paid get it fixed so I could keep my leg Filed with VA they said I never had the accident on active duty. Very shameful ARMY As today on SSI disability still waiting on VA and got 9 shots at $1000 each and 3 left in three months waiting on 12 for my left knee THANKS FOR THE DISHONOR ARMY
everyone needs to read this
Veterans are returning homeless and forgotten. Is this what we have become? A machine that takes our youth and casts them aside when we don't need them? Brave men and women fight and die for us, and they still have their benefits cut, receive very low pay, and are cast aside with no regard to their detiorating mental health. I am ashamed of what our country is becoming. One man in uniform has a hundred times more courage than the orange man-child in office today.
Veterans are returning homeless and forgotten. Why? Is this how we treat our brave men and women in uniform? We forget about them, cut their benefits, and cast them aside with no regard or treatment for their mental health? I am ashamed of what our country has become.
My father was recruited from college to play for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957. Uncle Sam drafted him the same week. Guess who got him? He died this year, still hating the military.
OMG, that's the fucking worst. I can't even imagine going from that high to that low in one week.
Yeah, he was never the same, and often fatalistic, much like others from his neighborhood, his ethnic group, his generation, and his social class. He really pushed sports on me as a kid, so that I wouldn't have to serve, although I never played team sports (and I still hate them). The draft ended before I graduated from high school, so I never had his lack of choices. (No, no bone spurs here.)
I burned my draft card...and I am still proud to have done it. -Dr. M
God, these are awful. Thank you to all those who have served, or who are serving, in all countries.
I am forever grateful for those who fought so that we can be free. But the wars should never had been allowed to happen! Our world leaders should have been forced to talk to each other and find a peaceful solution. It breaks my heart to read how the veterans are treated. They sacrificed all and should get all the help they need. They are the real heroes. No more wars!
"Our world leaders should have been FORCED to talk to each other and find a peaceful solution.". I don't like war any more than you do, but please reflect on what you said.
They have a point though. Some one should have forced them to find a different solution
How would you stop war? The people that decided to start the wars also decided to actually kill inocent people. They actually decided to send out boys, men and women to fight a war. They sent people out to kill other people. That, in my opinion, is a terrible, terrible decision. Milions of children, women, men and animals were killed. The suffering is unimaginable and we should know better!! War is not the answer. I can really recommend the documentary about WW2 Easy Company where surviving soldiers tell their stories. It's heartbreaking and impossible not to cry when you hear them talk about what the war made them go through, but it is an important historical document that hopefully makes us learn from history.
My dad served for 20+ years in Air Force. Saw travesties in the Gulf War, Bosinia War, rebuilding water sources in remote Turkey, Rwanda, and Saudi Arabia. Has so many medical problems know we cant keep up with the meds he is on. Doesn't help that tricare costs them so much each month. Suffers PTSD from his service and the abuse and neglect he suffered from his father and step being in nam. Yay military.
No matter if you win or lose a war you’ll always lose more than you’ll gain (loosely quoted from the anime gintama)
And thus is NOT any news. Its been known for at the least since ww1 that war is litterarly tearing people apart weather you survive the war itself or not. How come people still doing that stupid thing?
I have PTSD from Iraq, not an American, and in a bi-kcombat role, but still broken. I am currently being treated by a psychologist, using an eye movement therapy. It's going well, but the in between times are tough. To everyone out there suffering, war related or not, it's ok to not be ok. It's ok to ask for help. It's ok that the biggest thing you achieved today was having a shower- well done for getting that far! I hope you find hope, I hope you know you are loved, and I hope.... I hope the hurting stops. It hurts so bad
I hope you find peace and solace soon, much love.
*non-combat* stupid autocorrect
I served 4 tours in Afganistan, Somalia, and 2 in Iraq as an Army Ranger. I believe that people who enlisted went through because they wanted to serve. Why else would they join? They were assigned to go on a tour somewhere because that is what they signed up to do. While doing the process, they would have read the terms and contracts and they knew the risks. With the living veterans, all we can do is offer support, and with the deceased, all we can do is remember what they sacrificed, thank them for their lives and our freedom.
It is quite sad to read these experiences. I served in Vietnam in combat for 2 years, had command over 150, did not know of any with PTSD. My younger brother died of Agent Orange effects. War obviously effects some more than others. I have gone on to have 7 successful children, 24 grands and 35 great-grands. I may be the some soldiers come in too young. Our nation needs to assure better care for those and their families who suffer. Colonel-St...d9ce9d.jpg
I agree. My Dad enlisted right after Pear Harbor at age 29. He served in 2 invasions. He spoke generally of the war but not specifically of his experiences. He was a great husband, father, grandfather. Will say that the VA and the system to help veterans let him down on his return - but he was strong and just kept going. I do think age has something to do with it and the fact that the US was attacked. I think that veterans should be able to go to any doctor and any hospital to get good care.
No help or rememberance or thanks or public holidays for Australian Vietnam Vets..my biological dad just bottled it up and had zero treatment. He’s a jerk because of it..nobody talks about it at all and it’s a damn shame :
One thing I don't understand, why is the US army is still attractive to people as they are treated as canon meat.
Oh... and I was thinking of joining the army after school. Huh.
I served during peace time (Ha! Ha!) , but the one thing that really stuck home for me was during my in briefing at RAF Upper Hayford 1981. The whole room was told that as far as any one there was concerned was that we are above all else "MERCENARIES", because we accepted money to serve a government in its defense. After I later was discharged from service I could feel the eyes of people following me, and when searching for work hearing "Oh, I see you were in the military. We'll back to you", an sometimes hearing under there breath things like "Babykiller, psycho, or my least favorite.... Walking dead". Then you are expected to be proud of the country that you have sacrificed so much for either in peace, or battle. My apologies for rambling on, but it infuriates me to no end about honoring our service men, when so few even have a clue what we go through. What's the difference between RIGHT and WRONG, when even our own self-serving government doesn't know?
I don’t know a sane person who was or is in the military. Every single one who was deployed came back different.
Many people in the comments complain about how upsetting this is to read. How is it to live through? To die through? These people had to face all this. The least you can do is wish them well, and stop whining for your virtual tears. To anyone who has had to face this; I hope things get better one day.
You DO NOT come back from war a HERO, you come back a MURDERER.
I wonder how people on the other side of this “war” felt ...
Yes, the soldiers are treated horrifically by the government and it's a shame. That said, I have an honest question: What the fuck were these people expecting? Glory? Thrills? It's war. It's watching your friends die and seeing the absolute worst in humanity and it's always been that way and before going in they knew it was life-and-death etc. I'm sure they all heard about "shell shocked" WWI soldiers, so again, to all the undrafted volunteers who went willingly: what the fuck did you expect? To see dudes arms and legs get blown off and to kill people who are just as scared as you are , only to come home and mow the lawn and go to PTA meetings?
Sorry if I may be ignorant, but what exactly is agent orange? Also, I know many here love Pixie and Brutus, so if you go to pet_foolery on Instagram the author posted some great fan comics related to Brutus's PTSD
"Agent Orange was a powerful herbicide used by U.S. military forces during the Vietnam War to eliminate forest cover and crops for North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops. ... Agent Orange, which contained the deadly chemical dioxin, was the most commonly used herbicide." (https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange-1)
Thank you for providing and actual answer.
It's more or less a poison they dropped but the govt didn't care if there were US troops where it was dropped because it was effective. They continued to drop it because it helped defeat the enemy but also seriously fucked up a lot of our troops, as you have read
" They continued to drop it because it helped defeat the enemy " If that were true the enemy would have been defeated, but the pictures and footage of NVA troops rolling into Saigon on the backs of tanks, while the last of US troops fled in helicopters and many desperate south Vietnamese civilians were fleeing in any manner they could, tell a different story. History tells us that North Vietnam won that war. Of course the American politicians of the day never conceded defeat, because according to them, the Vietnam incursion was not a war, but a 'police action'.
I’m so glad that military families in Australia is nowhere near as common as In US. I told my hubby that if he ever enlisted for the military it is bye bye. Thankfully he has zero interest. I know of 2 people who have fought in the war, one came back in a box and the other has significant hearing loss and was discharged. I don’t know any other effects coz I barely know him. Whilst I feel extremely sad that these lives have been taken or people suffering ill effects. the fact of the matter is this is a choice that the individuals made (except for compulsory enlisting).
My ex is in the Australian army, and they're definitely treated better here than in the US post tour. He has been to Afghanistan twice, and was well looked after upon his return. It's not exactly a bed of roses, but from what I've read and seen, much more care is taken in regards to mental and physical health for our military here. Between the US's lack of available healthcare (unless you've got the $$), and the debt incurred from student loans, I'm so incredibly glad to be Australian.
I sincerely question if those children really know what theyre signing up for. How often do you see military families get the opportunity to vent like this? Recruiters roam the halls of our high schools... My son is a freshman in college, last week I got an unsolicited text msg from a recruiter. No doubt he got our ph number from the University. WTF.
This is illegal !!! That is why we sign all those non disclosure contracts, in order to have our private info protected ! I would sue !
This both gives me HUGE respect for all veterans and takes away any sense of pride in my country. When we treat our young men as objects to be tossed in front of a bullet and/or driven insane by being tossed in front of said bullet, we lose all sense of humanity.
My grampa on my dads side ofught in africa in ww2. Ive never met him and im pretty sure hes dead. If he is, my dad doesnt ever really tell me how he died. By now i dont want to know.
All I could was read these posts . I can't even give up votes because it would feel like I were saying "Yeah!", when that feels wrong because there are no yeahs or no applause or no....words. I am just so sorry ....so sorry that so many had to suffer. So sorry
Easier to read: https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/05/25/the-us-army-asked-twitter-how-service-has-impacted-people-the-answers-were-gut-wrenching/
Every up-vote I put here means "I'm so angry and so frustrated on the behalf of all the veterans who have to go through this shit. There should be HELP FOR EVERY ONE WHO COMES OUT OF THE ARMED FORCES. AUTOMATICALLY.
That was so sad and heartbreaking :(
People keep saying that we need to take care of our veterans like we can "fix" them after they come home. There is one way to avoid the problem, and one way only. The leaders of our various countries need to stop sending innocent men and women to fight obscene and evil battles in the name of "freedom"or "defending our country" when it's almost always about control of natural resources. (Did you know about fossil fuels in Vietnam? Look it up.) We need to stop war. We need to stop selling the idea of war as something that brave and selfless people do. It's a cattle train of slaughter and the people that survive it are left irrevocably broken. The stories above are the most real stories, but they are the ones we don't hear. Even when the cause of a war seems valid (WWII for example), the fallout from it is always horrific and problematic: think, the Iron Curtain, rise of "Communism", Holocaust denial, Israel/Middle East issues. Sorry for the long post. I have strong feelings on this.
I am completely wrecked with these testimonies. How is it possible that the people do not see through this trap? US politicians waging endless wars across the Planet, hurting, maiming, killing, destroying everyone, the soldiers and the civilians, entire families, and for what? To keep 400K young men yearly off the US streets, since they have no access to higher education and jobs? To keep the military industry complex churning more billions every year on destructive weaponry and invented made up conflicts? All that remains is pain, destruction and lies, too many people being left behind for profits, a blood trail of suffering, PTSD and damaged families. Too sad, too savage, too primitive for this day and age. We should do better, as humans, and decide to abstain from participating in this criminal madness.
Going to go see some cat memes, that's the only thing that can cheer me up, wish I could say the same for the affected.
And to just think that the U.S.A. army has 1,375,000 active people and 875,000 people in reserves.
I am grateful that my father fought in 'Nam, came back and re-enlistsed twice. 23 years he server his country, I got a wonderful education, Dad's job wasn't easy, but he loved his country and served it well. My BF also served in Navy, his father the AF, my nephew the AF .. all have been to war. All have shadows, yet I don't think one regrets it for a moment. They all cope differently, it changed them yes.. Does our country need to step up after care, fuck yes they do. But we as a community and family need to also step up, learn and help when we can ..even if it's just being there with them. My father's last duty station, his job.. to inform the families their loved one wasn't coming home. Took me along time to understand how hard that must have been for him. I will stand and support every service man - no matter his Creed, color, religion or reason for joining. You signed that blank check.. I am in your debt and I have your so here at home.
My granhid dad, served in the wwll when he came hom hise he began to drink beat and a child molester, in 82 he was arrested for molesting me, and went to a state hospital where they put him under hypnosis, and they told me mon, that he was not who we thought he was, but never told us who he was because it was against the private act as a patient.
That’s why it’s called “serving” it’s not pretty and it’s why we are supposed to thank our soldiers and veterans.
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We should get rid of all soldiers they are uneducated pieces of trash
Are you being serious? This is one of the stupidest things I have ever read
Delete this NOW.
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Most of this is bullshit and most of you are bullshit. A hundred million have died because of communism and you are upset that the US had the balls to try to stop the spread of evil. You immature little spoiled brats have no idea of what you are talking about. Yes, it is about defending freedom...most of you it will not matter as you will be righ and cozy in your suburbs...but for many in Asia, Europe, South America and Africa would be dead or oppressed without the US. If you think oppressive dictators are so great, come live in China and start banging on the keyboard about the government back home. Take a trip to Venezuela, enjoy Russia or any former eastern block country. You libs are hopeless because you give that evil a pass for some reason. And we start these wars because it profits us? Are you freaking kidding me?
You so do not know what you are talking about! Apartheid South Africa was propped up by the USA to fight a proxy war to keep the USSR out. Meanwhile up in Zaïre, Mobutu Seseseko was installed by the USA and he killed his rivals mercilessly.
Furthermore, the USA has traditionally propped up some of the most repressive countries in the World. Vietnam - after partition they kept propping up the corrupt idiots in the South. South America - same thing. Iraq - You do remember that Saddam Hussein was the US's Bitch in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia - The US is supplying them with weapons being used to kill innocents as well as counter insurgents in Yemen. You know nothing about the rest of the world and their struggles of countries trying to throw off the yoke of US Imperialism.
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Honestly not sure how I feel about this being put up on Memorial Day. Partly disrespectful but also partly true.
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Sorry to reply to own comment, but to clarify, I suspect that the vast majority of those who serve, do so with full knowledge of those dangers. If it weren't for the sheepdogs, the wolves would feast on the sheep.
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Leftist Bored Panda... posting this on Memorial Day.
....The actual Army's Twitter posted this ahead of Memorial Day. Would a better time be Halloween or something?
These are anguished reports from real people. They ended up sacrificing themselves for the likes of you. Read and show respect.
You stole Spunkmeyer from Aliens so maybe you're just being an asshole for sport.
What did they expect when they put up this question, lovely tales of the great happy militairy?
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.
They never expected to get called out on the way they are treating veterans. But that's normal for all armies around the world. Every person they send into a war is just a numbered asset. Disposable and replaceable. And how cruel it may sound: Sometimes it seems they prefer their assets coming home in boxes. Saves them the trouble of pretending to care for veterans.
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Did you even read this?Apparently you didn't.Most of these stories are of soldiers who end up killing themselves from ptsd.That needs to be fixed.
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.
defend their country (usa) from WHOM exactly?
I believe Hans was talking in general, and, as someone who was born at the very fall of Yugoslavia I agree. The war should have never happened, but it did, and I'm grateful for those people who worked hard to put an end to it, be it soldiers, be it activists, be it diplomats, be it politicians. The prime role of a military should be to prevent wars, not fighting them. As for the people who came back as "heroes", no, they don't think themselves as heroes. And It's not because they're humble, it's because they're damaged.
I don't know about the US army but here in Canada the Forces help civilians during natural disasters. An army is not only there protecting people from other armies. They are there to serve in time of crisis, whatever this crisis is.
I did not refer to a specific country or war. These are politics. But the world is too bad for not reason to exist that countries merely need to defend their population.
I worked for Raytheon , designing missile guidance circuits. Our missiles were meant to provide a retaliation capability stronger than any offensive the Russians could mount. Whether that's what did it or not we may never know but it's very likely. It's expensive but so much better than getting embroiled in a no-solution, endless mess like the middle east which should destroy any lingering faith in the ability of our leaders to do anything right outside the country, much less in. The British and French got bogged down in the Mideast and found there would never be a victory. They love to keep fighting there. So we were going to show them a thing or two. And we haven't even done as well. Never send a businessman ( who thinks he is smarter than everyone else ) to run ANYTHING except a business. They're not all that good at that either
Canadians, but only during winter. The northernmost states have nothing to fear. We'll just be passing through.
We need to ALWAYS help those who serve rise higher. YOU, I'm sure, never would. Those who are family of veterans are doing what they should-loving those who left and came back, and that's the most any of us can do.