If you have a Combat Veteran in your family

Miscellaneous
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If you have a Combat Veteran in your family and you don’t like their moods and behavior around the holidays; please consider these six things:

1.) Your combat veteran has served in countries where people are blessed to receive a tattered pair of shoes or have clean water to drink; he/she no longer lives the “first world illusion” and no longer cares that if you buy one play station you can get a second one for fifty percent off. In fact, they find it hard to appreciate any of the gluttonous commercialism and overindulgence that permeates American holidays. Standing watch, boring as it was, had so much more purpose than going to the mall.

2.) Your Combat Veteran is thankful for the most basic things; not thankful for mega-sales and million dollar parades. They are thankful to be alive; thankful to have survived both the wars far away and the wars they struggle with inside.

3.) Your Combat Veteran is thankful that it wasn’t them that got killed, but their celebrations are forever complicated by guilt and loss over those that were. Some of the most thankful times in their life were some of the scariest. Their feelings of thanks and celebration often conjure memories that are equally painful.

4.) Your Combat Veteran is not like you anymore. At some point, for some period of time, their entire life boiled down to just three simple things: when will I eat today, when will I sleep today, and who will I have to kill or will try to kill me today? They are not like you anymore.

5.) Your Combat Veteran does not need a guilt-trip or a lecture; they already feel detached in their grief while others so easily embrace the joy of the season. They need understanding and space; empathy not sympathy.

6.) Your Combat Veteran does love his/her family and is thankful for the many blessings in their life…and they are thankful for you.

To all my brothers and sisters of the uniform, know that we all struggle with one thing or another but as we go into this holiday season, reach out to those you love. You didn’t fight alone on the battlefield and we don’t have to fight alone at home.

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Image of THAT'S IT!!

Thank you Brother from another Mother.
Very well said.

Merry Christmas (If that’s in keeping with your situation)

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That’s how it was living on the streets of Denver, Salt Lake and Los Angeles

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That’s beautiful, Brother. It made me cry.

Yeah. Me. Hard a**ed ME. Crying. I have a shop full of diesel mechanics looking at me like I’m from another planet because I’m crying over something I read on the internet.

Not too many people can find that chink in my armor.

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I have done some of these things. but, getting battlefield acupuncture for the past 5 years, every 15- 20 days from my P.M.D. (pain management doctor). has pretty much change my whole world. panic attacks, feeling uneasy in crowds, pain and nightmares have all but disappeared. my P.M.D. she puts these little gold pins in specific places in your inner ear. the results are almost instant with me I feel like I am alive again

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And Thank God for that Brother.
No One should Suffer from Serving Our Country.
I’m happy you made it out the other side Bruh.
(a lot of us didn’t)

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Neither my father or my brother would talk about their combat experiences very often. Dad was in the Pacific. His brother served in Europe. My brother was 10 years older than me and in Korea. I was between wars so never saw combat. Besides I was an electrician (lineman) in base and remote site maintenance.

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Joseph202, thank you so much for your service!

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I did needling, similar to acupuncture, for when I was having sciatica pain. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Very glad your treatment is working for you.

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Yeah, I did a little needling myself.

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Thanks for posting this. As a combat veteran, I can totally relate to everything in here. Because of the places I’ve been and the things I’ve experienced, I make it a point to live each day in a constant state of gratitude.

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I’d like to offer a heartfelt thank you for your service and your sacrifice!

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Very well said.
Thank You

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Hold on to that chink in your armor. It is invaluable in providing relief (for some) during alone time, flashbacks, etc. Proud of you for having the strength to openly share it, many cannot. I was one of those who couldn’t, but with guidance and counseling I slowly got better at it. Stay strong.

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Greetings & welcome to the community, Nic2!

I thank you sincerely for your service, my friend.

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Welcome to the community. I don’t confuse compassion with weakness. Look forward to you sharing.

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Wendell YOU ROCK!

"Thank you for your Service Brother!’

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Nic! Welcome to the fold Brother!
You are right where you are suppose to be!

Thank you for your Service man!
Welcome to the other side glad you are on this side of the grass!, It’s nice huh?

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welcome to the family :+1: :+1: thank you for your service brother

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Thank you, Nic, and Welcome to the forum. We are glad you found us.

My guidance and counseling comes from a 5’ 1", brown haired, brown eyed walking talking bottle of Prozac.

She is my rock and I am hers.

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