'Marlboro Marine' Struggling to Survive (Update w/pictures)

Cincy Post ^ | 11/26/070 | Luis Sinco

[A.A. Cunningham]

Sit up higher so the point doesn’t go so far over your head.

[A.A. Cunningham]

“Twinkie Dispensation” don’t mean squat, sugar britches.

[chuckles]

Over and over again, we are reminded that war hero's are just people. Some are wrong, some are right, some are in between. The guy that pulled you out of trouble and gave a pint of his blood could be a wife beater or child molester. I give kudos to all vets, especially the ones that go above and beyond, but at the center, they are just people. That is why McCain isn't my choice for president. It isn't because he did something wrong in the military or as a POW. I've seen his judgment AFTER the war and am not impressed. This guy was probably from a bad home in a bad area and was probably broken mentally BEFORE he went. Just seeing hell on earth in Iraq is not the only stresses he had in his life. In fact, many soldiers come back to the world and find their lives meaningless because they have done things like Iraq and find the coal mines and small town living impossible.

If being a war hero was a prerequisite for greatness, then we would have president Kerry and Speaker Murtha right now. These men are just people and they need to get help from other people to get their feet back on the ground. To idolize them may make it worse. ( Ira Hayes)

[altura]

I don’t think Kerry or Murtha meet the qualifications for war hero, or any kind of hero.

I just hope this writer is not using the young marine for a story and an anti-war message.

I hope he truly wants to help him and does.

[chuckles]

I agree. If the photographer is using him for antiwar, then that surely won’t help him. I think the biggest problem most Viet Nam vets had was the lack of appreciation they felt when they came home. They came home injured and depleted and only found scorn and spitting. People that go through trauma want someone to sympathize with them so they can vent without judgment. All vets get now is judgment. For all we know this fella was brought up a union coal miner Democrat and was told he was a baby killer when he came home. How do you go from hero to scum and not have damage? Many liberals have trouble adjusting the the real world when they get out away from their programmers.

War assaults a normal persons sensibility and it's difficult to square what you did with what you believe. People in therapy have to have someone they can talk to without being judged. I doubt if you can just "shake it off" unless you are already prepared for what you went through before you left. Most vets will look normal most of the time, but when the lights go out or the door closes, the truth comes to the surface. That's just the ones that are physically uninjured. How about the ones that have limbs missing or are in a chair? How do they square losing everything and people saying the war is wrong? The last thing this guy needs is an antiwar photographer. If he's on the level, then God bless him. If not, move along,......please. He doesn't need to be a cause celeb, he needs to get his head screwed on straight to have a life that is not a car wreck.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Please ping me when Part Two comes out.

[geopyg]

“How do they square losing everything and people saying the war is wrong? The last thing this guy needs is an antiwar photographer.”

I think his trauma is real and is more than just what he hears when he gets back home. However, I imagine that knowing that he fought and his buddies died for a just cause and real success would be a huge help. I thought of this thread when I read the other thread about how Marines today in Falujah don’t need armor and haven’t had any serious casualities in a long while and the town is getting back to normal.

All because of the sacrifices this young Marine and his comrades made. I hope that he can understand the good that he did and somehow that can ease his pain.

[Inspectorette]

Hi MG, could you please add me to this ping list? There's something about this young man that has touched my heart. When I first saws the "Marlboro Man" picture, it reminded me of an old picture of my oldest brother from way back in WWII. He was only 18, and he looked 20 years older after having been in combat. Then, when I saw the recent pictures of Blake, I was astonished at how young he really is.

I know, as kellynla says, that Blake needs to get his act together. One of the unusual things about his case, however, is that he was thrust into the world spotlight, with young women wanting to marry him, and older women (like me) wanting to adopt him!.

He was too young and naive to cope with the sudden fame and adulation - just for doing his job as a brave Marine. Hopefully he'll settle into a maturing process and be able to move on to a successful life.

[Inspectorette]

Hi MG, could you please add me to this ping list? There's something about this young man that has touched my heart. When I first saws the "Marlboro Man" picture, it reminded me of an old picture of my oldest brother from way back in WWII. He was only 18, and he looked 20 years older after having been in combat. Then, when I saw the recent pictures of Blake, I was astonished at how young he really is.

I know, as kellynla says, that Blake needs to get his act together. One of the unusual things about his case, however, is that he was thrust into the world spotlight, with young women wanting to marry him, and older women (like me) wanting to adopt him!.

He was too young and naive to cope with the sudden fame and adulation - just for doing his job as a brave Marine. Hopefully he'll settle into a maturing process and be able to move on to a successful life.

[Inspectorette]

Sorry for the double post - this story is making me emotional.

[visualops]

Pikeville, KY. Car broke down and had to get the clutch replaced there. It is a hardscrabble life for lots of folks up there.
Prayers for this young man.

[visualops]

Pikeville ping

[retrokitten]

I know, as kellynla says, that Blake needs to get his act together. One of the unusual things about his case, however, is that he was thrust into the world spotlight, with young women wanting to marry him, and older women (like me) wanting to adopt him!.

He was too young and naive to cope with the sudden fame and adulation - just for doing his job as a brave Marine. Hopefully he'll settle into a maturing process and be able to move on to a successful life.

I completely agree with you. He is in my prayers.

[girlangler]

I live here on the Tennessee/Kentucky border, near where this young man lives.

Thanks for posting this, I’m sending it on to another (VietNam) vet from Kentucky. He is involved with many veteran’s groups and maybe he can help out.

My prayers are with this young man.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

Looks like a blanket to me.

[TheStickman]

yeah, I needed to read that....thanks hun

[B4Ranch]

It is. Try driving onto a US military base using it as your carseat cover.

[MotleyGirl70]

He was too young and naive to cope with the sudden fame and adulation - just for doing his job as a brave Marine. Hopefully he'll settle into a maturing process and be able to move on to a successful life.

Thank you for the thoughtful post. I completely agree with you.

[visualops]

hmm sorry.
well, go the read the other thread I pinged you to- it’s very funny

[Gator113]

That story moved me to places I had thought I would never return.

I sure wish I could talk to Miller, he needs to know that there truly is life on the other side of PTSD.

For some, it never really goes away, but it can be managed to a point that it just doesn’t matter.

Putting down the booze, finding God and becoming totally immersed in something he believes in, can give this brave soul protection from the demons in his mind.

He needs to know and learn how to face those demons with the same bravery and commitment that kept him alive in battle, as his present battle... is no less life threatening, nor forgiving.

When the mind is cram packed with bad things, it helps to flood it with good things. Others have made it, he can too.

OR, he can continue on his self-destructive course, continue with his internal pity party and fall by the wayside. I think he’s a better man than that, so somebody needs to hit him upside his head with a 2x4 and help him back up on his feet.

Wanna see the scars from where the 2x4 hit me...don’t worry, I won’t show ‘em to ya?! ;>)

God bless that Marine, and all of the folks in his life.