| I thought real hard about writing this article. I decided | | | | officer school in the east coast. I tried to convince |
| that my information needs to be shared. | | | | him to get counseling. Unfortunately by the time he |
| My ex husband is in the army reserves who served | | | | was convinced we not only got divorced but he |
| in Iraq in 2003-2004. At that time he was an E-6. He | | | | served another year in Iraq. |
| left a devout Christian with a Master's degree who | | | | He is temporarily living with me because we still own |
| never drank an ounce of alcohol. He came back an | | | | our home together. He earned a bronze star medal |
| alcoholic with P.T.S.D. At that time we were still | | | | while serving in Baghdad for his exemplary |
| married. Since then we have gotten divorced. This | | | | performance. I was very proud of him. He again is |
| time he served as an Officer and just returned 20 | | | | suffering from P.T.S.D and alcoholism. |
| days ago. | | | | I was hoping he would be different. I was hoping |
| The following is my story and my ideas about what | | | | that this time he would get more support from the |
| the government needs to do that is not being done. | | | | military. His first tour was in 2004-2005. This tour was |
| My ex husband is the perfect military soldier. His idea | | | | 2008-2009. I received a packet from the military |
| and his life is about serving and protecting our | | | | explaining P.T.S.D and numbers to call for help. This |
| country. He read his bible daily and followed | | | | time I was prepared, or so I thought. |
| Christianity to the fullest. He was a great provider, | | | | Unfortunately much to my amazement I made a |
| loving and dedicated to his work. He originally served | | | | phone call to one of their numbers. I pleaded for their |
| 13 years in the navy before transferring over to the | | | | help. I begged them to come pick him up. The |
| Army reserves. He transferred to the Army because | | | | response I received was sorry but we cannot help |
| he wanted to become more involved. He is an action | | | | anyone unless they ask for it. They said if he gets |
| adventure type of guy. | | | | out of hand to just call the police! |
| His first tour in Iraq was 18 months. When he arrived | | | | What proud soldier is going to admit they need help? |
| home he was a completely different man. He came | | | | Where is the help from our government? Much to |
| home with alcoholism and post traumatic stress | | | | my surprise before he arrived home he was sent to |
| syndrome. He would wake up in the middle of the | | | | Fort Carson, Colorado. They took his unit out into a |
| night screaming and running around the house with his | | | | desert and left them with soldiers who had swine flu! |
| gun. He said, "I can hear a blade of grass move | | | | They were all let go after a few questions of their |
| outside our window." He spent 18 months living in | | | | illness and sent them on their way. |
| fear every day of his life. While in Iraq he slept at | | | | There are so many families suffering because of our |
| night with a knife and gun and heard bombs | | | | soldiers. My idea is that every soldier that comes |
| exploding all day. Here he did not know whom he | | | | back needs to be sequestered in a safe environment |
| could trust. As he put it, "in Iraq you know who the | | | | and each and everyone of them needs a |
| enemy is but here it is hard because he did not know | | | | psychological evaluation before they are even sent |
| who to trust"...he did not even trust me. It was a | | | | back home. These men give up their lives and come |
| very scary time for me. I could not get him any help | | | | home a complete mess. They become a danger to |
| because no one would help him unless he asked. | | | | themselves, their families, and to their surroundings. |
| His drinking problem led him to lose his civilian job and | | | | Something needs to be done and the unaware public |
| two DUI's He was involved in a major single car | | | | needs to know. |
| accident. Shortly afterward he left again for Army | | | | |