Are we all crazy? Does PTSD ever go away? I’m sure that most members of the US military have a much better understanding of PTSD than the general public.
There are currently about 1.4 million active troops serving in the U.S. military and 21.5 million military veterans. But the U.S. population has more than 317 million people. That means 0.44% are serving in the active military and 6.7% are veterans leaving 93.15% of the population mostly clueless.
So, where does the general population acquire its perception of PTSD?
To answer that, we must ask how many Hollywood movies have painted a positive picture of combat veterans compared to movies that show veterans as angry, violent, dangerous drug users and/or alcoholics (mostly brought on by PTSD).
Three Vietnam Veterans have run for President of the United States—all three lost. One was a Republican and two were Democrats.
Al Gore served in Vietnam as a reporter/journalist for five months. He was stationed with the 20th Engineer Brigade in Bien Hoa and was a journalist with The Castle Courier. He received an honorable discharge from the Army in May 1971.
Gore said, “I don’t pretend that my own military experience matches in any way what others here have been through … I didn’t do the most, or run the gravest danger. But I was proud to wear my country’s uniform. And my own experiences gave me strong beliefs about America’s obligation to keep our national defenses strong.”
John Kerry reported for duty at Coastal Squadron 1 in Cam Ranh Bay in South Vietnam on November 17, 1968. In his role as an officer in charge of swift boats, Kerry led five-man crews on a number of patrols into enemy-controlled areas.
John McCain requested a combat assignment, and was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal flying A-4 Skyhawks. His combat duty began when he was thirty, in mid-1967.
John McCain became a prisoner of war on October 26, 1967. He was flying his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam when his aircraft was shot down by a missile over Hanoi.
What is your opinion about the public image of combat veterans? Do you think these three men lost the White House because of that image?
Discover A Prisoner of War for Life
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Lloyd Lofthouse is a former U.S. Marine and Vietnam Veteran.
His latest novel is the award winning suspense-thriller Running with the Enemy. Blamed for a crime he did not commit while serving in Vietnam, his country considers him a traitor. Ethan Card is a loyal U.S. Marine desperate to prove his innocence or he will never go home again.
And the woman he loves and wants to save was fighting for the other side.
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The Soulful Veteran's Blog 
I don’t know if I’ve told you before, but if you have any readers that are having trouble with their transition coming home – send them here –
http://orderstonowhere.com
Thanks, I will. I was going to Reblog a post on your site but that option doesn’t exist there. I may know someone who served in the Marines for more than forty years who might benefit from your book.
I’d be very happy if I helped. I wonder why the reblog is gone, I’ve been reblogged many times before.
I don’t know why I didn’t see the reblog on my WordPress toolbar. This has only happened to me with one other WordPress Blog. I’ll check again.
If I can’t do a reblog, how about a guest post of about 300 – 500 words that explains the purpose and history behind your book? The guest post can be linked back to your Blog.
Thank you for the offer, but I was forced to stop doing my guest posts for Greatest Generation Lessons because of a lack of time. I’m planning to just keep things status quo for the time being.
I understand. With the Internet there is so much to do and we also have lives outside of the cyber world.
Life has a way of interrupting, doesn’t it.
All the time. Interrupting has a way to knock down doors and make lots of noise.
Hang in there.
Thanks. I’ve been “hanging in there” since 1966 when I came home from Vietnam. It got easier to manage after I stopped drinking in the early 80s. Booze and drugs don’t mix well with PTSD. How about you? Did it follow you home?
I did manage to Reblog one page. I wanted to Reblog the About page but couldn’t get the Reblog link to appear there. Then I went back to the home page and Reblog wasn’t there until I clicked on the title for the post on that page. Then Reblog appeared and I clicked on it.
That’s probably because I do not have an About page – since nothing in the site is about me – there’s nothing to tell.
There’s always something to tell about a person’s life. Every person is unique in some way.
I haven’t received a notice of a reblog, which page did you do?
https://thesoulfulveteran.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/militaryveteran-transitionnews-for-12214/
If you have another page you’d like me to Reblog, send me the link.
That’s great!