I worked with severely injured military and their families. I did everything I could do, including finagling when necessary, to get these men and women assistance they deserved, from both government and the private sector. The devastation you see is heartbreaking and directly affects your soul. To see the wife and children accompanying a middle-aged reservist, who suffered bad TBI from an IED in Iraq, is an experience which becomes immediately ingrained in your mind. Or having a young Marine, who was horrifically burned, tell you he has had 30 surgeries
so far, makes you feel guilty for ever having any complaint in your life. To this day I wonder how the individuals who promoted the Iraq War, from Bill Kristol to Paul Wolfowitz to Condaleeza Rice, can sleep at night. I wonder if they ever think about the afterlife and judgment day.
I was against the Iraq War even before I heard the saber rattling (and I was against the Gulf War-- not a fan of Gulfies) but fully supported men and women serving.