True, actual the cause of PTSD is combat, but it’s the relentless reassignment to these zones of conflict due to the limited pool of combat ready GI’s that’s pushing more and more men over the top. More battle ready men, the less rotations which would preclude too many months in a combat zone turning G.I. Joe’s into rabid squirrels.

My Dad who passed away Veterans day several years ago age 87 was in Normandy +8, “the Buldge”, the Ardennes etc. He was shot up, sent to England then sent back to the zone his last command running a POW camp. He was later called up again for Korea, but luckily it was winding down so he didn’t see any serious combat.

I come from a family of five, four boys, one girl. He ran our household like a POW camp with us having to stand inspections in our bedrooms. If we didn’t get it right he dumped everything on the floor making us do it over and over until we got it right. He inspected our homework, our fingernails, our general cleanlisness and deportment. You only reached once at the dinner table past anyone without getting your first and only fork stabbed into the back of your hand…OUCH! You learned quickly to obey and to better each and every day. He didn’t drink and oddly, smoked one cigarette per day on the back veranda at 7:30pm each night?! He abused my mother and us 24/7/365. The doctor’s called if “psychoneurosis” in those days and he needed serious meds, but failed to medicate. Us kids all grew up straight, all of us going on to make a career of the military as officers representing all branches of the service except the U.S. Coast Guard. My sister is married to a physician in Atlanta.

I alway remember his admonition to “us kids” mind you, that “inattention to detail will get one killed in combat” among many others. He whipped our butts from pillar to post and it only took “his look” to give us his thoughts on what he expected. On occasion we’d get whipped for no reason or by mistake. When we complained or whined, he’s simply say it was for “general principles”! Yep I know about living and growing up around victims of PTSD; it ain’t “Ozzie and Harriet”…

“Attention to detail…attention to detail”… : |

Carl Nemo **==

Will we stand by and watch our species dissolve into potential mental idiots. We started this action in Korea, Vietnam and now the Middle East. I want my kids home, safe, in one piece and loving. The strength of America is with these young soldiers. God Damn our government for destroying them in the name of America and Jesus Christ. It is nothing but a biblical religious sacrifice. Hell I lost half the men in the previous generations to wars that brought no peace to America. We will end up like every other losing nation who could not stop killing for liberty.

Our government is using and abusing all Americans for their greed and power. It is time to say NO MORE!!!

Sandy

So when Major Hasan began to show instabilities he should have been rousted and administered a polygraph test as to his allegiance and sentiments concerning jihad etc. There are also drugs that can be administered along with this test to insure that there’s minimal chance of beating it with tacks in the shoe and other such ploys; ie., drugs that will lower one’s resistance to sensitive questioning.

The CIA along with other high level agencies administer such tests to applicants and also to employees that have shown up on their radar screen concerning possible security issues post employment.

If the serviceperson refuses the test then they get a summary General Discharge. Simple as that. Get’em out of the service. Our military doesn’t have time to coddle and screw around with nutjobs that represent a threat to their fellow servicemen and women. By my standards Major Hasan should have been given the boot long before this tragedy, but the bleeding hearts continue to screw around until a disaster such as this occurs.

The Virginia Tech massacre could have been averted by a proactive administration. Cho Seung-Hui, the shooter’s writings and bizarre classroom mannerisms and behavior over a period of time should have caused a high yellow alert to professors with the necessary referral to staff for resolution. Of course this didn’t happen and the rest is tragic history.

I’m providing a link concerning Cho’s classroom behavior etc. and the concern on the part of at least one professor and surely others that didn’t come forward.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/17/vtech.shooting/index.html

Carl Nemo **==

It does have some side effects, or collateral damage, whatever. (Not for weak stomach. Shocking images.)

I’m ashamed that I misspelled “Bulge” wrong this AM along with my opening use of “actual” instead of “actually”, lastly “he’s” instead of “he’d”.

If my dad were still alive he’d be giving me a piece of his mind even at 87 for spelling “Bulge” wrong along with the other mistakes. Three mistakes and I’m “dead” no doubt. / : |

I was rushed this AM and had to go to Portland. This is a case of me not paying attention to detail and I would surely have had to pay with my life or my mens’ too by his standards; ie., in a combat situation, no excuses allowed!… ; )

Carl Nemo **==

Yeah, you’ve seen it, it was called neurosis in those days, but nobody knew why. God and country, duty, responsibility… suck it up and get on down the road.

Really, that’s all there is now, but that stern discipline and fastidious behavior have been replaced by victimhood, denial, and deflecting blame. There really is a reason, even PTSD, but so what?

Suck it up and get on down the road.

Kent Shaw

Kent Shaw