Incompatible: Military Macho and the Mind
by Donna M. Carbone
For the past 18 months, I have been communicating with a veteran of the Vietnam War. This brave soldier has been suffering with the effects of PTSD for 35 years. Thirty five years! Yet, it is only recently that PTSD has gotten the attention it deserves.
The Monday, March 19, 2012, issue of the Palm Beach Post carried a wonderful front page article by staff writer Carlos Frias. Mr. Frias interviewed retired Army field medic Miquel Gonzales about his experience with PTSD. The public needs to hear more stories like this one. The public needs to be made aware of the devastating effects of war that linger long after the battle ends.
In June of 1775 The Continental Congress formed our official military to fight the Revolutionary War. Deserters were rampant and the government used every means possible to track down these runaway soldiers and punish them. Why? Armies are useless without manpower. It is imperative that every soldier gives himself over completely to his superiors. Cowardice has never been an acceptable option in the service.
What if not all of the men who deserted were cowards? Is it too big a stretch to imagine that post traumatic stress disorder has been with us since the dawn of time? Here we are nearly 250 years after the American Revolution and some doctors are still questioning the validity of such a diagnosis. In fact, the Pentagon recently dropped “disorder” from the condition, claiming that the word stigmatized soldiers suffering the effects of wartime anxiety. Many veterans disagree with that decision. They fear the change in terminology will jeopardize their medical benefits. Their fears are justified.
Soldiers are expected to be brave in the face of all danger, unwavering in their allegiance to their country; following orders blindly even knowing that death will be their reward. Should they not be able to perform to these standards, shame is their only companion. As a result, an inordinately high number of our fighting men and women refuse to request help when the stress of warfare begins to take a toll on them mentally and emotionally.
My late father-in-law often related a story that took place while he was in basic training during World War II. In his battalion was a very nervous young man, who hated to be touched unawares on his back. Should someone do that, he would flail his arms and legs, jumping like a marionette on a string. His condition worsened as training intensified.
One day, while lying prone on the ground during target practice, my father-in-law noticed the sergeant coming down the line and stopping behind each recruit. He would then place one hand on the soldier’s backside and lower himself into the same position in order to see the target from the soldier’s perspective. The jumpy guy was next to Dad, and Dad feared that the sergeant’s touch would send live ammo flying all over the field and, in particular, directly into his skull.
As the sergeant approached, my father-in-law stood up. He was immediately order to resume his position. Dad was no fool and he was not afraid to challenge authority. With a nod of his head, he directed the sergeant’s gaze toward the soldier on the ground. The sergeant was no fool either. He realized that his own life could be in jeopardy. Keeping his hands in the air, he knelt beside the soldier, never making contact.
Isn’t it possible that Pre-traumatic Stress Disorder begins before deployment? Shouldn’t the army be watching out for potential victims before sending soldiers into battle?
The workings of the brain are fascinating and frightening. Think how uncomfortable we are when confronted by someone with a mental illness. Our first inclination is to run. Fear of the unknown, and nothing is more unknown than the workings of the brain, sends shivers down our spines.
Imagine how the hierarchy at the Pentagon must feel. Our Armed Forces were founded on testosterone. A soldier carries on no matter what pain he must endure.
The “bite the bullet” mentality works well in cases of physical injury but is not as effective when dealing with the human mind. As horrible as it is to lose a leg or an arm, that injury is treatable because it can be seen. There are bandages to stop the bleeding, bone grafts to repair breaks and prosthetics to replace limbs. What replaces brain matter?
No x-ray machine invented to date is able to pinpoint PTSD. No MRI can isolate an effected mind, allowing doctors to cut that portion away, leaving only healthy tissue. We fear what we cannot see and the military runs on the visual.
Gays in the service had Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell to protect them. Soldiers suffering from PTSD have only “Don’t Speak.” Should they disobey that rule, they risk being labeled as cowards. Isn’t it time to break the vow of silence and get our veterans the treatment they deserve – without fear of shame? By not providing proper mental health care, the U.S. military is essentially holding the gun and pulling the trigger. That’s murder.
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