Posted on Oct 26, 2021
Can you describe how you felt coming home from a deployment or combat?
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Posted 4 y ago
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When I got back from deployment I had a hard time sleeping and the women I was dating I couldn't sleep with her for the longest time I was afraid I would hurt her with the nightmares I had, but with help from my pastor and communicating to her what I went thru I was able to at least lay in the same bed without fear of hurting her. I still have nightmares and jump and try to draw a weapon when I hear loud bangs but I still talk to my pastor and that is helping me.
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PO1 Terry Scott
Just keep talking. PTS is not a d. Folks who have big stress in their life and aren’t affected are the D. My dad after WWII didn’t talk, he just beat his kids. My first father-in-law spent a big part in Burma. He didn’t allow any lights on after dark and wondered window to window. He did talk to his wife and had lots of dreams about the guys he lost. After he worked nights family life got more normal. He was a good father and husband till he died. My second father-in-law served Guadalcanal for starters. Retired from the post office, wife died while the kids were little but had brothers and sisters that listened without judging. With four little kids and no mom he had more to do than feel sorry for himself but knew he didn’t have to do it alone. His sons were taken aback when he talked to me about some of the traumatic episodes he experienced but had never mentioned it to anyone else. His sons never served.
I’m a Nam era Navy Corpsman and Nam was one of the few countries I never got to. Didn’t save everyone and it still gets to me. Sometimes an ambulance racing by will choke me up. More people need to be shot at in anger by folks they don’t know, go with out a shower and change of underwear for extended time. Sleep rough and take turns staying awake. Couldn’t get me to do it again but part of me misses it.
Took awhile to find value back in civilian life. Still have trouble suffering fools, and don’t like crowds. Where are all these people coming from? Useta could drive for hours and not see another car. Now have to wait till the wee hours of the night. There are folks that will hear you and not try to fix you. Your not broken. Just have different experiences.
I’m a Nam era Navy Corpsman and Nam was one of the few countries I never got to. Didn’t save everyone and it still gets to me. Sometimes an ambulance racing by will choke me up. More people need to be shot at in anger by folks they don’t know, go with out a shower and change of underwear for extended time. Sleep rough and take turns staying awake. Couldn’t get me to do it again but part of me misses it.
Took awhile to find value back in civilian life. Still have trouble suffering fools, and don’t like crowds. Where are all these people coming from? Useta could drive for hours and not see another car. Now have to wait till the wee hours of the night. There are folks that will hear you and not try to fix you. Your not broken. Just have different experiences.
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Amn Roger Omberg
Our GOD hears YOU, bless You. You asked the question "where are all these folks coming from, the answer is NO ONE KNOWS, because the BORDER is wide open to anyone from anywhere, & that sucks.
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It was odd coming back and going home. Kinda like a dream state that lasted for weeks. People were talking about all the things they saw on TV but we didn’t see any of that for 8 months. We only experienced what was going on in our units. It took a while to acclimatize to civilization again and learn to relax and let your guard down.
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The first time I returned from RVN, 1968, I was very excited about being home and seeing family. Second time 1970 I was sent to Ft. Lewis without any assignment orders. I was a bit pissed. I took leave home until I received orders. It was still great to get home and see family. I was never treated badly by anyone while traveling in uniform.
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I returned home in 1969 after 18 months in I corps Vietnam,I was excited to be in a safe location . Was not long I realized two things, first I realized I was bored, the everyday excitement/ comradely was not present and secondly I soon came to realize the WWII and Korean vets wanted nothing to do with Nam vets. Used the GI Bill and obtained a bachelor degree.
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I was on a ship. I was single and when we would get back from deployment there was never anybody to meet me at the dock. Being back was more like I was a turtle and no matter where I was, everything that was with me at sea boarding bad-guy ships and chasing stowaway ships was at home port too. It felt good to be back but it wasn't like the reunions when later I was working as a US Maritime captain as a married guy.
After I got out I went to broadcasting school on my GI Bill and was in Norfolk working on 106.9 The Fox when the Russian Navy came to town. US Navy ships would head out every week, other US ships would return every week. I talked to a lot of sailors and the bachelors were having the same experience as I had when I was in... but when the Russians came to port every co-ed from Savannah to Baltimore flooded the docks. I went after the whole injustice of it on my morning show. All these American Sailors who needed that kind of treatment -- sailors who were part of what keeps this country going were being upstaged by communists. Filthy Communism. The Soviet Navy was such (poop emoji) and yet civilian American women and American men were out to give the stinking Soviets an arrival event. I'm still ticked by it. ...and I was born during the Eisenhower administration.
After I got out I went to broadcasting school on my GI Bill and was in Norfolk working on 106.9 The Fox when the Russian Navy came to town. US Navy ships would head out every week, other US ships would return every week. I talked to a lot of sailors and the bachelors were having the same experience as I had when I was in... but when the Russians came to port every co-ed from Savannah to Baltimore flooded the docks. I went after the whole injustice of it on my morning show. All these American Sailors who needed that kind of treatment -- sailors who were part of what keeps this country going were being upstaged by communists. Filthy Communism. The Soviet Navy was such (poop emoji) and yet civilian American women and American men were out to give the stinking Soviets an arrival event. I'm still ticked by it. ...and I was born during the Eisenhower administration.
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SPC Lyle Montgomery
PO2 Kevin C O Dunn, Great post. I was an Army grunt so I never experienced what you dit. I enjoyrd reading your post and wholehearted agree with you.
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I was for a lack of a better term "thrilled" to be going back to the USA. Unfortunately, I was somewhat apprehensive too. I had heard about the "potential negative greeting" one might receive. Yes. the "dirty, long haired, anti-Vietnam War Protestors" were there. Was really a let down for me! I was proud of my service and the uniform I wore. Those "draft dodging people" made me feel like an enemy of the United States. After I received my "Honorable Discharge", I had to report to local draft board and sign up for the Draft. The woman behind the desk said "sarcastically", "They are sure letting a lot of you out!" To this day I have not thought of what civil response I should have blasted her with. That was over 50 years ago!
Regardless, of the reception I received I would serve my country again... However, to this day I have no use for the so-called "Hippy Participants, Jane Fonda, Draft Dodgers, etc."
Forgot to mention, my family treated me like a Super Hero.
Regardless, of the reception I received I would serve my country again... However, to this day I have no use for the so-called "Hippy Participants, Jane Fonda, Draft Dodgers, etc."
Forgot to mention, my family treated me like a Super Hero.
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Peace. I’ll never forget the feeling I had that first day home after my first deployment to combat. All the officers met with our Battalion Commander that evening at the “O Club” for a drink. He asked me: “Steve, how does it feel to be home?” I said: “Good, but strange; this morning we were in the sandy miserable desert, and 12 hours later here we are in green lush Germany sitting and having a beer; it’s weird.” The Colonel just looked at me a little puzzled and smiled.
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Odd. Like you know things had happened that you don't know about. Songs came out. People got married or had a kid. Seeing kids was weird. I wanted to go back on deployment because everything felt off.
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