By Peter S. Griffin
This is a brief
excerpt from Peter S. Griffin's book.
“WAR IS HELL” – SO IS COMBAT PTSD!
I pray that the reading of this very personal account
of war and its aftermath will benefit other
combat veterans agonized by severe and chronic
PTSD as it has been for me in the writing of
it. The intention of this account is to help
them, their friends and loved ones better
understand this devastating “psychological,
automatic, and natural response” to repeated,
life threatening situations and to offer them
hope and guidance in achieving a much brighter
future. This publication will bring them to the
realization that they are not alone in their
sufferings and that professional help,
understanding and comradeship, is as close as
the nearest Veterans Administration Medical
Center.
The taking of the lives of enemy soldiers and
witnessing the loss of life to fellow friends
and warriors is difficult, if not impossible,
to forget or overcome. In the case of battle
deaths, the end usually comes in a sudden,
violent and bloody onslaught. Seeing and
hearing others receive wounds, then crying out
in painful agony, sometimes for several hours,
before protection, relief and care can reach
them is a nightmare come true that will haunt
the survivor for the rest of his or her life.
Sometimes the wounded are impossible to reach
because of overwhelming enemy resistance. While
listening to their anguished cries, unable to
bring them to safety, you hear them put to
death unmercifully by a desperate, unscrupulous
and vicious enemy is not an easy thing to get
out of your mind. The unwarranted guilt
associated with such circumstances can agonize
the witness until death relieves him of his
tormented existence. I urge all who suffer from
this torturous, hellish agony to seek
professional assistance and relief before their
flashbacks, nightmares, ill perceived guilt and
intrusive thoughts claim yet another life, or
quality thereof, of another true, brave and
dedicated patriot.
War is an all-consuming hell,
Those
who do not perish in the inferno…
Are seared
for life by the flames!
It is not, to say the least, an enjoyable or
comfortable position to find oneself… alienated
from friends and loved ones because of the
tragic symptoms of this terrible disorder. If
one is unable to find a semblance of peace in
his or her life, how can one offer the same to
those they try to befriend or love?
The modern, fast paced, work a day world following
trauma exposure is sure to exacerbate the
symptoms of PTSD. Most vocations have some
degree of stress associated with them. The
burden of additional stresses, over time and
level of exposure, may become too much to bear
for some individuals. Of course, some vocations
have much higher stress levels than others.
High-risk jobs such as fire, police, EMT and
rescue are sure to increase and hasten the risk
of extreme “burn out” of severe and chronic
PTSD sufferers. Casual or work associations
dissolve quickly, especially if those people do
not sincerely care about the PTSD victim. The
world is full of ambitious, cruel, and
backstabbing people. Many will do anything to
get ahead in the work place. It is a highly
competitive environment and some people will
maliciously and intentionally belittle,
humiliate and disgrace any person who threatens
their position or advancement, no matter how
unwarranted their motives. If these factors
exist and persist long enough in the work
environment, the exacerbated PTSD symptoms in
the sufferer will readily become apparent to
those who add to the torment of the victim. The
final outcome is quite predictable… violence,
and more often than not, premature job
termination for the victim. Voluntary or
involuntary, the difference means little to
those who must release the pressure. Unjust? It
can be but it is certainly a career ender never
the less! If the victim cannot find a way to
relieve the stress, unfortunately, tragedy
could become the final outcome. If this is to
be avoided we all should make note… as surely
as those who lost their lives to battle need to
be remembered, those who survived need to be
understood!
For the combat veteran who is accustomed to the tried
and true leadership methods and skills of the
United States Armed Forces, whose policy is to
lead by example, any lesser standards that he
becomes exposed to later in life will surely
present problems for the former warrior. Combat
veterans were trained to react quickly and
effectively under the most dangerous of
circumstances and to take charge if need be.
The old adage, “Lead, follow or get the hell
out of the way!” is fundamental in their minds
and they will employ whatever action is
appropriate to accomplish their mission and
objectives. If their leader is killed, wounded
or rendered ineffective for any reason the
mission remains their primary purpose. Many
other lives depend on it and they know it!
Under those conditions, the highest-ranking
soldier will assume command and continue the
momentum. Even if reduced to a solitary
soldier, he will either seize the objective or
die trying! After every battle lessons are
learned and new tactics and skills adopted to
save the lives of our soldiers in future
engagements.
In the civilian world of first person singular, all too
often, poor leadership styles, lack of
leadership skills, improper reaction to
difficult, hostile and dangerous circumstances
and inefficiencies in the general performance
of duties are intolerable to the combat veteran
and will ultimately lead to confrontation and
disharmony between the veteran, his supervisors
and coworkers. In the combat veteran’s mind,
those totally unacceptable and intolerable
conditions forced upon him and the
complications from Combat Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder will at sometime, in all likelihood,
reach an “ignition point,” the combat veteran
“will see red” and react angrily and/or
violently, in whatever manner he feels
justified and appropriate to correct the
situation. Unfortunately, it is often to his
own detriment, as his “Monday morning
quarterbacks” will deem his outburst and
opposition as a threat to their authority and
try to punish him for insubordination or some
other unfounded violation of their rules and
regulations. Regrettably, “the powers that be”
usually win out… even if they grossly failed to
perform their duties righteously and
effectively, which caused the confrontation in
the first place! Repeated episodes of this
nature will eventually lead to the loss of
morale, pride and finally, the “undoing of
character” of the combat veteran. If the
negative stimuli which exacerbates the victim’s
symptoms remains unrelieved or unresolved
and/or the victim of severe and chronic PTSD
remains undiagnosed and untreated, his/her
symptoms could tragically reach the severity of
despondency, extreme violence and/or suicide.
The true and brave warrior never ceases to be,
On
becoming a Chief, with all to oversee!
He will
not topple to the strongest of winds,
For to
fail his warriors, the worst of all sins!
Unfortunately, sometimes in our society lesser men seem
to be the most successful. Those who did the
least, got away with it for years, and
patronized their superiors even when blatantly
wrong, get to enjoy the fruits and recognition
of “a long and distinguished career,” with full
retirement benefits and lauded for a “job well
done!” Whereas, all too often, those who
actually did the ground level, grunt work
proficiently and honorably and bore the
excessive burdens of an already stressful
vocation admirably, were unjustly labeled
“unable to cope and were burned out” years
before attaining a “successful completion” to
their career! Unfortunately, “The beat goes
on…” and on, and on!
If this has happened to you, my fellow warrior, despair
not! You have carried your rucksack well… as
well as many of the packs of those who truly
could not bear their own burdens of duty and
responsibility, those feeble ones who had the
audacity to criticize and slander you. You
carried all those excessive burdens, as well as
your own, far beyond the distant towering peaks
those ordinary men swore unattainable. They
were incapable of following in your footsteps,
they know it in their hearts but remain
unwilling to admit it for by doing so they
would reveal the hidden truths about themselves
and uncover their shame that they cloak in the
guise of success and honor. You were the one
who brought the fight to the enemy, took his
coup but still treated him with the dignity and
respect deserving of a true, albeit opposing
warrior. You fought the good fight and there is
no dishonor in regrouping and refitting to
fight yet, another day… with more admirable
leaders who know, respect and value the
honorable traits of a noble and just warrior.
There is no shame in leaving those self-serving
others behind to wallow in the stagnant muck
and mire they so deserve, rejoice and revel in.
If you are too tired and worn to carry on with the good
fight that is fine. You have fulfilled your
obligations and surpassed the goals of the
ordinary man. You have done your duty well,
very well and it is time for you to find peace
for yourself and those you love and cherish.
Pull them close to your bosom and tell them you
love them. Know that no discomfort will come to
you or them as the many deserving medals that
cover your heart, those you so truly and
valiantly earned, softly caress, then gleam
ever so brilliantly from the contact with those
who know the truth, honor, bravery and dignity
of a dedicated and loyal veteran. You have
completed a job that is so much more than just
simply well done! You excelled far beyond that!
You have earned the honor and respect of all
your peers, loved ones and your country… I
salute you, my brother!
If you need help finding the peace you so deserve call
any of the major veteran’s service
organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the Disabled Veterans of America, or the
American Legion, … any one of your choice,
there are many others and they are all good.
Most of their offices, as well as the VA, are
in the Federal Buildings located in major
cities across each of our united states. Ask to
speak to their Department Service Officer
(DSO). He or she will gladly help you file a VA
claim and guide you through the processing
steps to achieve the help and benefits you are
so entitled to. You do not have to join their
organization to get their help. They will be
pleased and honored to assist you, regardless.
It is their job, they are experts at it and
they take great pride in helping all of
America’s brave combat/military veterans.
In your quest for peace, righteousness, and sincerity
never forget that true friends are as scarce as
happiness in Hades. If you have one you are
truly blessed. Thank God for giving you such a
wonderful gift. They will stand by you in the
most difficult of circumstances and times. I
thank God for providing me with a loving and
caring wife who helped guide me through some
very troubled and turbulent years.
The writing of such a misunderstood, complex and
personal topic such as Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder, as a victim, is a challenging, if not
a very humbling, experience. We all, as human
beings, have our failings. The sufferers of
PTSD have more than their fair share of
misgivings and misfortunes that can cause
personal embarrassment and unjust criticism if
directed by the uncaring or uneducated.
Considering that possibility, baring such
details is not an easy thing to do.
However, the good that can come of it can be
immeasurable. I find it cathartic to write
about my personal exposure to war and its
aftermath. I still think like a soldier. One
will not defeat his enemy if he does not come
to know him. That is why I write about PTSD, to
learn more about it and to eventually, conquer
it… so I will be ready when
I hear the bugle call. It is a constant battle but I
seem to gain ground with every small victory.
Coupled with the help of the caring doctors of
the VA I can now see light breaking through the
shroud of depression and gloom. The road to
peace and self-forgiveness is steep, strenuous
and exhausting but I travel on, first one step,
then another and another. It is a constant,
arduous effort but I will ultimately reach my
destination of inner tranquility. I pray other
combat veterans and those that love them will
join me in the march. Come along my fellow
warriors and your true friends, just put one
foot in front of the other, again, then yet
again. Forward, march on determinedly forward,
to the final victory of understanding,
acceptance and peace. Then you too, my
brothers, will be ready… “WHEN YOU HEAR THE
BUGLE CALL”
About the Author
Peter S. Griffin, enlisted in the U.S. Army
on 13 March 1964 and was honorably discharged
on 10 March 1967. His unit assignments were
Company A, 2/502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne
Division and Company C, 2/505th Infantry,
82nd Airborne Division. On Memorial Day
weekend, 1998, he was inducted into the 502nd
Infantry Distinguished Members of the
Regiment, Halls of Fame, in a ceremony at Ft.
Campbell, Kentucky. He served on the 101st
Airborne Association, Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Monument Committee, helping to establish a
Division Monument to honor all Screaming
Eagles, past, present and future.
After discharge Peter Griffin attended the
Police Academy at Syracuse, New York and
served as a Police Officer for the Oswego
Police Department (New York) for over ten
years. Peter Griffin is the author of
When You Hear The Bugle Call: Battling PTSD
and the Unraveling of the American Conscience.