From Larry Wohlgemuth…
It’s bound to happen. Eventually someone who served in Iraq or Afghanistan will move into your neighborhood, maybe even next door, and you’re going to wonder. You’ll wonder whether your children are safe, and what’s going to happen to your property values. But you’re going to wonder.
It was never part of the discussion when Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and George W. Bush were assuring us that we needed to become a nation of torturers to be secure. Those from the pants-wetting crowd jumped all over it, although lacking the intestinal fortitude to visit the local recruiting office and sign up themselves. But it begs the question, what will you do when a torturer from Abu Ghraib moves in next door?
We’ve had some experience with this, groups of people who’ve not always been welcomed everywhere. Blacks, Latinos and other minorities have historically known they were not wanted in certain neighborhoods, but this is different. These will be men and women that we’ve used as so much cannon fodder in another war to loot and plunder that we’ll be kicking to the curb. And that’s exactly what we’ll do.
We experienced something similar after Vietnam. I know, you’re going to talk about how we treated GIs, spitting on them in airports and things like that. Rest assured that the people doing that were FBI agents who had infiltrated antiwar groups and served as agent provocateurs to discredit peaceniks. It was known as Operation Cointelpro and was investigated, censured and allegedly shut down by the Church Committee. Allegedly. By and large people had nothing against Vietnam vets until IT started happening, and IT will happen this time, too.
What is IT? IT is posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and it’s estimated that 35% of the veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan will experience this debilitating malady. After Vietnam, and as the number of veterans who experienced PTSD grew, the government worked hard to keep their stories from us. However by the mid-1970s it was clear we’d brought home a group of young men who were irreparably damaged. We had no idea of the extent.
It started with increased amounts of domestic violence and spiraling divorce rates among these veterans. Alcoholism, drug addiction, and violence followed a large percentage of them wherever they went, and nobody had a clue as to why. Finally the VA put a name to it; posttraumatic stress syndrome (later changed to post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD), and said it was a reaction to their combat experiences. Americans’ attitudes towards these men changed rapidly.
Soon they were not welcome anywhere, which really was okay with them because they preferred solitude or to hang out with each other. But the incidence of violence continued to grow, and we read stories about men who picked up guns and shot up their families or their workplaces. Our discomfort with that war was soon replaced by our mistrust of its veterans, and men hid the fact of their service, which only made the problem worse. It was an additional resentment on top of all the other horrors they had faced.
Now we have a new group of soldiers coming home, similarly damaged, that will try to reintegrate into society and live some semblance of normal lives. Their desire will be made more difficult as the reports of veterans behaving violently multiply. We’re already seeing stratospheric divorce rates, and last year 6000 veterans of this war committed suicide. The question is not if this new generation of veterans will explode, rather when it will happen, and it appears that it will be soon.
As someone who’s experienced PTSD personally I know their struggle. You can keep the lid on it only so long, but if you stuff it down the eruption is more violent when it finally comes out. One million eight hundred thousand men and women served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and 35% of them are ticking time bombs walking among us, and even moving in next door. As the violence increases and is more publicized we’ll see a growing intolerance of them just like after Vietnam. The additional pressure to keep from acting out will only increase the probability that we’ll see even more violent outcomes in the future. This problem will be with us for more than a generation.
So you just got a new neighbor, someone fresh out of the killing fields of Afghanistan. He looks like a normal guy, but how can you tell? You’ve heard news stories about violent and antisocial behaviors, and even shootings, and you’re not sure what to think. Was this guy an “interrogator” at Abu Ghraib or Guantánamo? Is he one of the guys I’ve seen on the YouTube videos? Are my wife and children safe around him? What will happen to my property values?
Sadly these are legitimate questions. It’s through no fault of the veteran that he’s in this position other than he chose unwisely and joined the military. They are damaged and destined to create more carnage before it’s over. Fortunately there are a effective therapies that did not exist in the immediate aftermath of Vietnam. Let’s hope the government that worked so hard to create them works just as hard at fixing them, and doesn’t just throw them into prisons to rot.
6000 suicides. It’s already happening. What will YOU to if one moves in next door?
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Wow! Easy partner. Don’t you think this article smacks of fear mongering? I’m a little concerned that people who never would have thought twice about a veteran moving in next door might read this article and start to be needlessly concerned.
You state that you yourself have dealt with PTSD, you certainly have my sympathy. I am an active duty service member with a few tours in Afghanistan under my belt. I have seen PTSD and the things that cause PTSD. After each of my deployments I was required to sit privately with a care provider so that I might address any concerns I might have about my mental well-being. Multiple avenues exist for service members to ask for and receive help for PTSD. It is true that there are still issues with people refusing assistance when they need it, but leaders in active duty units are constantly watching for signs of problems in their Soldiers so that we can get help for those who need it. If you served in the military you should remember that NCO’s have two primary concerns; the accomplishment of the mission and the welfare of our Soldiers.
You stated that these Soldiers (me) were used to loot and plunder. If you served you have to know that anyone who commits these kinds of offenses is subject to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. You also stated that the veterans were guilty of poor judgement in deciding to serve in the military. I have to say that I do resent that comment. The armed services are filled with young men and women who believe in their Country and are trying to do something with their lives that will serve a greater purpose. Although our pay has improved significantly since I first joined, nobody enlists to get rich.It seems to me that your article disparages some of the finest citizens of this Country. Please remember that the vast majority of todays youth can’t even meet the minimum requirement to be eligible to serve.
You stated that some might wonder if their property values wouldn’t fall if veterans moved in next door, your next line stated that these are legitimate concerns. I’m sorry, but I really don’t feel that someones property values are legitimate concern in the context of this subject. If someone is concerned about their property values in the context of their neighbors possible PTSD then they have their priorities a little skewed, at least it seems that way to me.
I can only assume from the tone and content of your article that you had some very negative experiences with the military. I do have sympathy for what you have faced, but please do not spread fear and disinformation, intentionally or unintentionally, that will make the admittedly difficult task of reintigration any harder for these men and women who I have dedicated my life to taking care of.
Bryan, 6000 suicides. Divorces rates going through the roof. Military kicking guys out instead of treating them, at least until Obama became president. All that aside, there are some things you just cannot change. War breaks people, usually beyond repair. There will be violence, it’s just a matter of when. Most of the worst didn’t happen until 10 years after ‘Nam. It needs to simmer for a while. But as many as 35%, it’s just a matter of time before we are hearing about it on the evening news.
BTW, while I served, my PTSD was not military-related. However my next door neighbor was transferred from the marines into the AF because he had become so violent, but they were doing everything the could to get him his 20. Read about it here: http://itbegsthequestion.com/?p=250 WE saw and will see lots and lots of that.
They deserve nothing but our support. They were sent to do a job end of story. If someone cant handle that then they should go screw.
Even if all of this is true, the message of this piece i find to be completely uncalled for. Although i myself have never served, it was a choice that was made for me. I was accepted early acceptance to VMI and was willing to join the Marine ROTC. Even half-way through my college carrier i visited recruitment centers to continue my aspirations of joining. Although i would never use my medical dis-abilities to my advantage the Corp found me to be to “high-risk.” Even so i still help to support the soldiers in any-way i can. I have had two roommates who have served in the war, and i am sorry to say that property value was the least of my concerns. My concern lies solely with trying to get these individuals every opportunity to find their way in the civilian world. I help them out in anyway possible, and more importantly put my own needs aside. These men fought for my freedoms, put their lives on the line, and some may never come home. The least i can do for them is show some respect, respect that they have undoubtedly earned.
And while the war effected them both differently it is not something that i care to ask them about. I do not wish them to dwell on a moment of their life if they do not wish to share. They live normal lives, and one you would never know was a marine. Helping them should be our concern not worrying about what they can do to us.
Well its an article that certainly makes one take a look, but it is a bit over the top. Chances are you will never leave next to an ex soldier. 300 million people is a lot of neighbors.
Life is not a Rambo movie. Most guys come home and they function just fine. Those that dont… well they are way more than 6000 suicides per year of those who are not soldiers. Divorce is rampant no matter what one’s vocation. Its not really a valid argument what you are making here. Just sensationalism.
I think you are stepping way too far into extreme expectations here Larry. Property values go down?? yes there are some messed up guys, but there are messed up people everywhere.
@ American Muslim, I only write about what I have seen. (BTW, I am a Vietnam Era vet, got no truck with guys getting screwed up by war, it’s just that the gov’t doesn’t always feel responsible to fix them) Property values in military towns across the country dropped. Read my blog post about Jim, my ex-Marine neighbor, and you will get an idea of what it was like. To my knowledge he was never violent, but according to his girlfriend that was why they transferred him out of the Marines and into the AF. How bad does it have to be to get tossed from the Marines? http://itbegsthequestion.com/?p=250 There were guys who took guns into towers, shot up places of employment, you name it. It all started 5-10 years after the war ended. You’ll see, it’s coming and it will be tragic.