Veteran called for help...

@Disgustedman, I'm glad you posted the video. This topic needs to be remembered, but far too often is not.

Too many of our vets need help & don't ever receive it. Sadly, they end up a stat. This is a beautiful story of how things came together that night & one of our vets got help in time.

That vet came across a trooper who was out doing his job & who had no idea when he started his shift, that he'd come across someone who was contemplating suicide.

Tpr. Daniels handled it by talking up & reassuring the highly upset man the entire time that the wasn't on his own. He maintained his own safety by asking the vet if had any weapons on him & before checking him, asked if he could do so. Only after the vet said it was OK, did he check. This trooper was calm & moved slowly during the entire encounter so the vet wouldn't become more distraught.

Not to go off topic, but ... the next time someone wants to condemn the police, just put their uniform on & try to do their job on a daily basis. Could you do it? Remember, many of these men & women are vets themselves.
 
Men and women that have been to war can have an attack at any time. There are triggers that combat veterans come in contact with that gets in their head. Everything seems fine and then without warning, someone innocently sets off a round of firecrackers that can trigger a reaction, or a line of helicopters can fly over at a low altitude and memories come flowing back. Guys and gals that suffer from PTSD can have a sudden panic attack or a stressful moment very quickly.

I have visited men at Walter Reed in their mental health and substance abuse unit. It’s very sad that these people suffer 24/7.
 
Men and women that have been to war can have an attack at any time. There are triggers that combat veterans come in contact with that gets in their head. Everything seems fine and then without warning, someone innocently sets off a round of firecrackers that can trigger a reaction, or a line of helicopters can fly over at a low altitude and memories come flowing back. Guys and gals that suffer from PTSD can have a sudden panic attack or a stressful moment very quickly.

I have visited men at Walter Reed in their mental health and substance abuse unit. It’s very sad that these people suffer 24/7.
I was in Walter Reed for 15 days after returning home. I had an infection that they couldn’t isolate. The sample was sent to the Pasteur Institute, UT and the Cleveland Clinic. My doctor told me I was not a risk for death, but could stay ill for months, if they couldn’t find out why the infection was thriving.
 
How does that old adage go———“Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes?”

I have spoken to several WWII veterans when they were around. There’s very few left anymore and the sad thing is that when they die, along with them goes a lot of history and stories we have never heard. What we call PTSD today back then was called “Shell Shock.” When I was a little boy, my mom tried explaining to me about her uncle who had shell shock. One time when he went off on a tirade about the war and was cussing, instead of telling my uncle to stop, Dad told me to go outside. Later, Dad explained that it’s best to let people like Uncle Will go until he’s done because of his illness. Dad said, ‘You understand?’ I shook my head yes, but I didn’t get it until later in life when I was a little older and heard more about shell shock.
 
My Dad served in WW2. I had so many questions, but was told by my Mom not to ask him as a kid. To her, it was something that shouldn't be discussed & I so regret listening to her. Different times as a kid, he would talk about a little of it, I wish I would have asked when I had the chance.

Years later, I worked with a lot of guys who served in Vietnam & a couple opened up to me. I didn't do anything except to listen. I think it was what they needed. I learned a lot & it gave me more of an insight to my Dad & what he experienced.

@Been There, you should be honored that you were able to talk to those gentlemen. A lot of times, people need someone who will just listen to them. They want their stories to be known & live on after they're gone. Even if it has been decades later.
 
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