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Military Respect

It's always nice to hear/read about people supporting our military & their families. Today's "two thumbs up" comes from a bluemooncafe blogger giving an account of his personal experience of shopping at Lowe's & Home Depot (both of which are supportive of our military!).

I don't know about the rest of my old time buddies here in AM, but every so often, I overload on the disrespect shown for our military men and women..

Of late though, I have begun to see an undercurrent of miltiary respect, for those fighting for our freedoms.

In less than a month, and I must confess it happened while shopping at Home Depot and Lowes-I have been amazed at the outpouring of support for our troops.

To make it clear, I carry a wallet; Marine style with emblem emblazoned in the middle and a picture of our Marine son on the opposite side. The first time, this happened, a young Home Depot, cashier noticed the emblem and asked if I was in the military...

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To the bluemooncafe Air Force veteran,
we thank you and your sons for serving our country.

Return to real life can be hardest part

Link to entire article

After a yearlong deployment in Afghanistan, Sgt. John Wilder thought coming home would be easy. Rocket attacks would no longer keep him awake at night, and his back injury, caused by a piece of rocket that knocked him onto the dry, rocky ground, would heal with a doctor's care, he thought. He and his wife, Candy, planned a romantic getaway to the Caribbean.

"Everything has changed at home," he said. "We're so close to different worlds, different directions; it's unbelievable."

"Researchers are finding that National Guard and Reserve soldiers in combat support roles are showing higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder than front-line troops."

Emotional scars from Iraq getting difficult to ignore

"PTSD is an increasingly common disability.

More than one-third of the returning Iraq and Afghanistan vets seek treatment for combat-related disorders, a number far larger than the Veterans Administration anticipated."

""Combat equals trauma," said Eric Kettenring, counselor at the Missoula Vet Center.

The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research found that PTSD frequently leads to aggressive behavior, alcohol abuse and marital problems.

"The yearly divorce rate among U.S. Army soldiers doubled between 2001 and 2003," said Kettenring. "Among officers, it tripled."

Treatment may take six months to a year for those with moderate damage who seek help early, said Michael Mason, chief counselor at the Center for Mental Health (formerly Golden Triangle Community Mental Health).

"More severe cases may take much longer," he said. "We're still working with Vietnam vets, many of whom have been in treatment most of their adult lives.""

Link to entire article