The long recovery: Many combat veterans deal with PTSD

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The long recovery: Many combat veterans deal with PTSD
By COLLIN BREAUX

When Ephraim Lopez recalled his military service in the Vietnam War, he broke into tears and had to walk away for a moment.

Lopez deals with post-traumatic stress disorder relating to his time serving in the Navy. He went to Vietnam in 1969 and wasn't the same person when he came home.

He's not alone. About 30 percent of the U.S. servicemen and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD, according to the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs. An additional 20 percent to 25 percent have had partial PTSD at some point in their lives, the NDVA said.

Lopez talked about PTSD while eating at a Panama City diner recently with fellow veteran friends. The group regularly meets for breakfast where they kid around.
Sometimes they tell war stories.

While in Vietnam, Lopez saw people he knew die, and there were times he felt disrespected when returning from the war. One old friend who was "sitting in the same bar stool" from before the war made a comment to Lopez along the lines of asking whether Lopez was a baby-killer. Lopez said he punched his friend after that comment.