Have you "Come Home" Yet?

Capt Mark Strobl — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 10:28:39 -0400

Too often we read about service members who haven't successfully transitioned out of the ranks. But, a lot of vets move quietly among us. They have a story. Some have fears. Some still need our support. And some just surprise us.

Jonathan Hagedorn has "come home." He stands as an example to all of us.

Welcome Home, Marine!

http://thetab.com/us/brown/2015/10/07/from-the-marine-corps-to-brown-meet-the-freshman-afghan-vet-158

From the Marine Corps to Brown, meet the freshman war vet

'There are skills which just don't transfer over, like my ability to use explosives or guns'

Response by TSgt David L. made Oct 9 at 2015 10:36 AM

TSgt David L. — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 10:36:37 -0400

I medically left OIF before my deployment was over. I lost 3 good friends while I was in the hospital, and never got over feeling that I should have been there. Or it should have been ME. I spent the last 2 1/2 years on convalescent leave/limited duty so I never did another 1 or 2 deployments. I feel that I left something "undone" or never did all that I could to prevent loosing more friends.

Not exactly the same thing as this person feels, but always will be a unanswered question for me...

Response by SSG James Arlington made Oct 9 at 2015 10:44 AM

SSG James Arlington — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 10:44:46 -0400

You can never go home, if you know the aphorism.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2015 11:11 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 11:11:03 -0400

Wow...difficult one to address.

Among the numerous after-shocks of war, is the lingering effect on the survivors. Those who saw combat deal with the memories of that experience...those who lost friends, attempt to cope with the loss and possible "survivor's guilt"...those who served, but saw little, may feel a sense of having left something undone, and have difficulty coming to terms with it.

It took me a few years to "come home".

There I was, standing alongside two friends I had served with in two different AOs, waiting for the woman who agreed to marry me to come down the aisle. The three of us walked in to the bagpipes playing "Bonnie Dundee" ...after a brief moment of silence, Mary Fahl's "I'm Going Home" from Gods and Generals played.

The three of us stood there, and one by one...struggled to hide the emotions spanning the last decade or so of our lives. "Tater", a third friend...was there only in spirit. I left that church with a new mission and a new life-That's when I "came home".

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2015 12:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 12:08:42 -0400

those who seen s#!t while in combat will not be "Home" any time soon, unless they seek serious counceling. i know im not home yet.