Posted on 03/10/2005 4:48:07 PM PST by SkyPilot
This is certainly a classic case of severe PTSD; actually probably more what they used to refer to as "shell shock". It appears that this Marine was in very violent traumatic war experiences. People react very differently to such situations. I would hope this Marine gets help.
Having said this, it is unconscionable that the Left takes such advantage of this tragic situation. They feed on this trauma and thus traumatize the man twice. This is very similar to what Kerry and his scumbags did after Vietnam.
Here we go again. I will pray for this Marine that he gets the help he needs and that he is removed from those who don't care about him at all and just USE him for their own selfish political ends.
Interesting if the Sarge kept his mouth shut until he got his honorable.
Medical "retirement" you mean, with a monthly check and benefits
Having said this, it is unconscionable that the Left takes such advantage of this tragic situation.
Your response here sounds like you are believing all the crap in this guys story. If these things had really happened, several people would have come forward with it by now. This guy apparantly wanted a medical discharge(which he likely got) and 15 minutes of fame(which I'm not so sure he'll be as successful at getting).
A Marine comes forward with a war story which doesn't jive with your idea of how the war is being waged, and you automatically downplay his testimony? Maybe this is routine over there, who knows. I'm disturbed that so few of you dare to assert the possibility that what he said is true.
I do not believe what the story describes. However, if this guy did see violent action that he was unable to handle he may "remember" it in a distorted way. His inability to handle the experience then "distorts" not only his experience but his feelings. He may then be very vulnerable to those who wish to take advantage of him and the story takes on an even more bizzare "memory". Something may have just broken down this guy. This is how I saw it, one way to "understand" this. Other interpretations are also possible.
Thanks for the ping!
If it were routine, do you think our troops could survive over there, in the open on the streets, in a country of about 25 million people if we committed those atrocities with the frequency and violence suggested by this guy?
I don't buy it. Have innocent civilians been killed accidentally? Yeah, no doubt that has happened. Have some people crossed the line? I am sure of it. Is this guy's story SOP? No way.
Don't you think, with all those embedded reporters, that at least ONE of them would have seen and recorded these types of events as described by this guy? At least ONCE?
How frequently did he claim this happened? From what I've read, he has only mentioned that it happend on a few occasions. Also, I believe that the vast majority of embedded reporters are officially attached to a unit, so the men know when they're likely being recorded. Regardless, even if it isn't routine, we shouldn't dismiss this guy's testimony out of hand just because it happens to play up the liberal side of the argument.
I'm disturbed that so few of you dare to assert the possibility that what he said is true.
Probably because for the past 35 years I have either served in or worked for the military(including a year in Vietnam). This kind of stuff CAN'T be covered up. We now have about 300,000 vets from the Iraq war. Of this number, exactly ONE clown says we gun people down routinely. This absolute BS.
War does have different effects on different people. This guys story is just too extreme to be truthful.
Exactly!! A medical discharge is also honorable, and you're right again that he likely secured it before making up his stories. Gotta have a DU poster child ya know.
Look, my dad was a 30 year naval veteran, I grew up in the military and spent 4 years in myself. I've known a lot of military personnel. What this guys speaks of would indicate a massive breakdown in discipline. Everyone I have talked to who has been there says it is no cakewalk, but they aren't pretending they are John Frickkin Kerry either.
This guy is maintaining our SOP there is indiscriminate and wanton murder of innocent civilians. I do not buy it.
Whether he was in charge or not, any 12-year NCO (SSgt is E6 in the Marines, right?) who didn't take any action to stop or report such incidents is complicit in them and should have been court martialed.
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