Brain Injuries Are Common in Battle. The Military Has No Reliable Test for Them.

Ever have any super long memory loss reported? I'm talking 52 years where events can be recalled, but no names/faces of platoon members that were served with for months in the field? Seeing their names listed on a roster or pictures brings no recollection whatsoever.

Kurt,
It is unusual to have this persisting and specific memory loss. It is the limbic portion of the brain which is responsible for converting short-term to long-term memory formation. I'm sure it was encoded and stored. Our brain exhibits unlimited storage especially of events that are important to us. Your's is quite specific. Absent any neurological damage, I suspect massive repression if these memories are painful. The bonds formed in a squad are the most intense of all relationships we have. If this is the case, your observing Ego deems them irrelevant now.
Rich

SSgt Richard Kensinger - BINGO! Yes, I have lots of specific memory loss. Plus I have episodes of transient global amnesia recurring about every 13 years (as far as I know). I have no recollection of those episodes, other than coming out of them. In fact, my wife, 15 year old daughter and I were discussing that very thing this afternoon. I'm due in the next two years or so. My daughter freaked and asked what to do if is just the two of us. My wife says the last one lasted about 45 minutes. Talk about luck! The first time it happened with her -- shortly after we were married -- I had no idea who she was, or even that I was married. So she asked me if I wanted to be married to her, a total stranger about whom I knew absolutely nothing. She says I got a bit smile and said, "Yes." Whew, dodged a bullet on that one. I guess everything I told her was the truth, so she essentially had me on truth serum and could ask me anything. Fortunately I have never cheated and have always been completely honest with her, so I am not worried about the next one.