PTSD 101 ~ A Combat Veteran's Search for Peace

A COMPILATION OF INFORMATIVE REPORTS ON PTSD.



"No one who, conjures up the most evil of those halftamed demons that inhabit the human beast, and seeks to wrestle with them,
can expect to come through the struggle unscathed."


Sigmund Freud



Song Playing ~ "I AM A ROCK"
ARTIST: Simon & Garfunkel

A winter's day in a deep and dark December
I am alone
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow

I am a rock, I am an island

I've built walls, a fortress deep and mighty
That none may penetrate
I have no need for friendship, friendship causes pain
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain

I am a rock, I am an island

Don't talk of love, well I've heard the word before
It's sleeping in my memory
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died
If I'd never loved, I never would have cried

I am a rock, I am an island

I have my books and my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb
I touch no one and no one touches me

I am a rock, I am an island
And a rock feels no pain
And an island never cries



INTRODUCTION

"One More Rice Paddie To Cross"

Cook Barela was one of 12 Marines that survived a fierce battle against a superior North Vietnamese force on November 21, 1967 in the Finger Lake area of what was called the Arizona territory, South of Da Nang, during the Vietnam War. While there were many other battles after that event, they like many other events remained buried in the past, in his memory and because America’s shame did not allow her warrior’s to share the honor and the pain associated with that war. He remained silent about those experiences for over 32 years.

He retired on July 4, 1992 from the Los Angeles Police Department, where the last six years he served as the only ordained sworn Chaplain. He has run for both State Assembly and US Congress. He has a Master’s degree from Fuller Theological seminary in Christian leadership and over 20 years experience as a pastor/counselor.

Today as many Vietnam War veterans began to retire, Cook feels the Veterans Administration and its psychologist are not trained to deal with what they will soon find at their door steps. “America’s Best,” men who fought the war with honor, who love America and honor its institutions, who went on to lead successful lives, raised children and for the most part remained silent about their Vietnam experiences. They soon will be seeking answers to the dark shadows of war that have remained at their side all these years.

~

This site is dedicated to those that died at our side in the jungles and fields of South East Asia and to the many Vietnam veterans who will soon find themselves with one more rice paddie to cross.

Massage to the Iraq & Afghanistan and possibly the Israeli Warrior, their spouses, loved ones and friends ~ from a Vietnam Veteran

As many of our military servicemen and women return from the sand pit, and some begin to leave our branches of service; some after two, or three tours of duty; a lot of new emotions, will began to surface. Spouses will often be the first ones to notice, that things aren't the way they are suppose to be.

Anger, resentment, loneliness, fear, isolation, anxious and or cautious actions, or bust of tears and/or solemn stages of depression will surface in your Marine.

Returning to civilian life after war, sometimes after the frustration of not always being able to find and engage the enemy as Marines have been trained to do, will cause continuing problems in those that have had to fight for life.

Marines are trained to right what is wronged, to seek out and destroy the enemy that planted the bombs on the roadways that killed and maimed other Marines or to find and destroy the enemy that massacred innocent civilians, all those memories are there hidden in the secret chambers of life, fear, and strength but they will surface with time on their hands.

When a Marine returns to civilian life, the demands of the home can be overwhelming even in light of what they have experienced in war.

The spouse also has experienced much pain, while their warrior was away and his homecoming can be at times more painful to have him at home, then when he was away.

You may find him depressed for no reason, irritable; anger will flare in seconds over something of no importance.

For what its worth here is some advice from a Vietnam warrior that has lived with PTSD for over 39 years.

While drugs and alcohol may help temporary they are not the answer.

Faith in God and having trust in a higher being helps tremendously, especially when one has a home church to go to.

Getting a hold of others you served with, hearing their voices, spending time with them, sometimes just emailing them and sharing your feelings with those you served with, that were there at your side, that saw, felt the same things you did can help tremendously.

The most important thing of all is recognizing what is happening. Understanding that you experienced abnormal situations in life, and there are now factors in your daily life that will trigger those emotions, and memories.

. The Israeli war being broadcasted over the TV networks will irritate and cause depression and anxiety in your life.

Israeli soldiers engaging the enemy, seeking them out and destroying them which often our warriors were not allowed to do can be frustrating and have e a very negative effect upon your spouse, when he sees those news stories.

Seek medical help from the VA; find out what PTSD is, and how you can be helped by recognizing it, and how the war will be with you from here on in life.

There is no easy cure, sometimes it helps to be alone, sometimes it helps just to speak to others that have experienced the saw the same things you did, and sometimes those memories are not what you need. There are no miracle cures, or drugs that will help. Only your understanding of what you saw, felt and did and how you want to handle it now will help.

Cook Barela, Sgt, USMC Vietnam 1967-68






I hunger to know more, so I venture through darkened chambers of the horrors of war, to find peace in time's distant shore."
R.M. "Cook" Barela, USMC Machine Gunner, Republic of Vietnam June 1967-July 1968



VIETNAM DIARY


The Poetry of War




Veterans Administration Definition of PTSD

NEW Link to PTSD site