The Iraq War Ruined My Life.

Originally posted by xXxinfidelxXx
reply to post by usmc0311

 

I admire your courage, as I honestly have not been able to unlock that vault in my head that I put all my problems into. I served in the Canadian Forces for 4 years and experienced many of the things that you detailed here and more that I just can't seem to bring myself to talk about because every time I do, I slump into a depressive state for weeks on end, not being able to think about anything else, or even see the silver lining. The fact remains, though, that we enlisted. We signed our butts away, believing that what we were doing was good for our countrymen, and I'm sure you have realized, just as I did, that war is all about money. Pure and simple. I honestly think that if more of us on either side of the border came out and exposed war for what it really is, I think that maybe we could put a dent in their recruiting quotas and maybe some kid that wants to enlist for the wrong reasons will be given the info he/she needs to conclude that it is not even close to the right thing to do. See, the thing that really ticks me off is whenever I meet some punk who wants to enlist and try to educate them about military life, with their reaction being either a glazed-over stare or sheer incredulity (the typical "You don't know what you're talking about." response). Meh, if you think it's bad in the 'States, here's some food for thought. I attend Royal Canadian Legion get-togethers regularily and have not yet met even one fellow vet that will admit how messed up things are. I suppose they are afraid of the NDAs that we have to sign on enlistment, or maybe they are just so into the whole "Fight fear. Fight Chaos" propaganda schtick. I often wonder what it would take for them to step up and shed some light on a very dark area that many Canadians know nothing about. I only know that just me or you talking about it is not nearly enough. We need more credible voices for any impact to be felt. Meh. Stay frosty.

Well Semper Fi My Canadian brother. I feel you on everything you described. If you ever need to talk just PM me. who knows maybe we can share stories and help each other heal.

Originally posted by MeesterB
I've always heard horror stories about the VA. Truly a shame seeing as how a pat on the back doesn't do too much for toxic exposure.

Anyway, my prayers for you and yours. I'm glad to hear your daughter makes life worth living. Hold on to that

Thank you, and yes the VA can be the devil. Hopefully I can do some good when I volunteer there. And yes my daughter is my world and I will never abandon her.

Originally posted by PlausibleDeniability
Hey man. I am on my phone so I cant say everything i want to but the main thing I would like to tell you is thank you. Thank you for serving our country and for all you have sacrificed. I cant believe you are being disrespected sobmuch as a veteran by those around you. Well I can believe the VA is screwing you but the fact that your family as well as the public looks down on you, well that makes my blood boil. I live in the hippy capital of the world and everywhere I go Iraq and Afghan vets are treated like heros. I dont understand why your being treated that way man.

My girlffriend is an OIF vet as well. She joined right before 911 not knowing what was about to happen and her job was driving trucks as supply. Driving IED magnets all day every day. Needless ti say some very bad things happened and she has major PTSD. Driving anywhere for her now is very very hard, and thats putting it mildly. If you startle her even a little she damn near feints and instantly goes into a massive panic attack. Its like watching someones last moments when they know they are about to die. Its horrible. Her experience with the VA has also been a joke. She had to write down in grpahic detail about every experience she had that she thinks has caused her problems. She cried the whole time she was filling it out and was mentally not right for almost 2 weeks...and then the VA LOST IT and made her do it again. And thats just one of my complaints with them...i hqve many many more.

My stepdad is a gulfwar vet and has the infamous gulf war syndrome which may have been caused by DU or maybe the vacinations. It took him YEARS of fighting to finally be adknowledged and treated. Now he gets monthly payments and is taken pretty decent care of. My mom is also a disabled vet and it took her YEARS to finally get treated. She also gets a montly check. They are boyh pretty much VA experts now and have been helping my gf work her way through the system. I just wanted to tell you what they tell her. The VA will jerk you around forever and play paper work games as long as they can. You must keep playing their game ajd just keep at it. It will take a very long time but eventually they will adknowledge your problems and begin to give you decejt treatment. Dont stop man just keep trying. It is REDICULOUS that they do this to WAR vets.

Good luck man, and thanks again. You deserve the highest of respect I hope one day you find it

Thank you for sharing. If your girlfriend ever needs someone to tslk to just have her U2U me from your account. It always helps to talk to others who have been there. And thank your girfriend and your family for their service. I really appreciate it.

Originally posted by HangTheTraitors
An alarming quote from a major key figure on this planet. A 'mover and shaker' behind the scenes for a LONG time now:

[color=limegreen]"Military men are dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns for foreign policy." Henry Kissinger

This is how our military folks are truly viewed. Enough said...

edit on 4-5-2012 by HangTheTraitors because: (no reason given)

That quote is from just one man. He may be right in some respects but not completely accurate in my view. Thank you for sharing though. It's men like that that make me remember why I will always fight for those who cannot. One day men like him will no longer exist.

reply to post by Mijamija


I would love to hear more about the programs you discussed. If you could send me a U2U that would be great.thank you so much.

Originally posted by Kovenov
reply to post by usmc0311

 

Cumulatively, I've approximately 3.5 years between Iraq & Afghanistan. In all that time I could never discern the national security value of spurting blood, burnt human flesh, screaming women, kids running out of nowhere thru someone's line of fire, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera with my belief in duty & value as a human being. I mean you've got to be a hard SOB in a hostile fire zone, especialy if you're leading. Doesn't mean you're a tyrant or lack a sense of humor & compassion, but we shut off so many things "out there" & probably spend the rest of our lives recycling it when we're not there. After a while a dude may get to the point where he doesn't feel right again until he's "out there" again, until at some point he verges on becoming the menace for which he was sent to overcome.

Anyway, I have no answers & avoid the VA. What gets me by is solitude, my current academic studies, and an occasional date to work out the kinks. Beyond that I'd like to climb to the summit of K2, step foot on Antarctica, and participate in an Eco Challenge (not sure if Eco Challenge still occurs, however). Simple and not-so-simple stuff, but I find that it keeps me focused & content.

Take care, man. Really mean that, too.

So true what you say. I think I need a new adventure in life to look forward to. Thanks for your input.

Originally posted by frazzle
reply to post by usmc0311

 

Please check this out, maybe they can help: www.gulfwarvets.com...

And thank you for your service. I'm so sorry for all you've had to endure.

Thank you for that link. I will look it over when I am sober and ready to face the world again.

I would like to thank you all for your kind words and advice. I have been given more support in one night than I have received in years. You all truly helped me and I thank you dearly for it, From now on I am going to focus on helping others and doing what I can to help those worse off then myself. All your words really have helped so again I thank you.

I'm sorry to hear about the things you're going through. I have a lot of friends who were in the Marines and in the Navy. Some were over in Iraq multiple times, and one friend in particular took to a lot of drinking when he got back. It took a lot out of him and ruined his relationship with his wife who was also stationed in Iraq for a while. Without going into details, he is doing a lot better now. It took him years to get back up on his feet and take charge of his life, but he did it. I'm sure that you can do the same, if not better. Family and friend support is so incredibly important in times like these. It's sad to hear that you don't have that in your life right now.

As for the way the public judges soldiers who come back,... well.... too many people lack sympathy or introspection. They don't take the time to think about why someone might decide to enlist and what happens to that person when they do. The media here in the U.S. is so incredibly good at brainwashing us that most don't even realize it's being done to them. They think it only happens in places like Communist Russia or North Korea.

We (right here in the U.S.) have some of the most sophisticated brainwashing operations in the recorded history of man. We are tricked into believing that we are free to think for ourselves, but there is a war being waged on our minds. Our opinions of the world and the events that take place on this planet are heavily influenced by the people we trust to give us the news, to entertain us, to run our lives and to enforce our laws. Your father seems like he's one of the victims of this brainwashing.9/11 is the perfect example. I admit they got to me too. I believed so strongly that we had to go kick ass, and at the time I really believed that Bush did the right thing. I was here on ATS actually defending G.W. Bush! I actually believed that G. W. Bush would go down in history as the guy who did what needed to be done, and did the right thing. It's strange the way a person's vision of the world can be so transformed with a little bit of truth. I feel like my eyes are now open, even though I felt back then like I knew the truth. It's a strange twist of reality.

My point is that many of us were fooled by our Government and our media, but some of you actually had the guts to enlist and go do something about it! That's admirable! Many of the men and women who enlisted did so for the right reasons, the only trouble is they were lied to. Many of you believed you were engaging in just war, but soon found out it was all a sham. They recruit kids out of High School who don't know any better. They lied to you, they used you, sold you out,... and now you have to deal with the clueless dummies who don't know how to put themselves in your shoes so that they understand you better. I wouldn't say that they're bad people, they're just clueless and need a little help to understand.

Although your pain and misfortune is a terrible thing to endure, you have gained something from it. You've gained the ability to understand those who are going through the same thing as you. Deciding to volunteer and help people like yourself is a wonderful decision. They will appreciate your support, and I'm sure that in return they too will help you deal with your issues. I strongly believe that the downturns in life can be used for good. They can bring people together and form strong, fulfilling bonds. I wish you all the best in life and I hope you can turn all this around for yourself. Try not to be angry with the ignorant, as hard as that may be sometimes. They know not what they do. Good luck to you.

reply to post by usmc0311


You my friend, are a perfect example of a lab rat used by TPTB. I hope kids all over this country choose to never join the military. Thanks for the post.

reply to post by usmc0311


First off.

God bless you.

Not a day goes by,that I don't think about what this country would be like,without those who have fought so bravely for it.

Second,I will pray for you. That is in all honesty. You shared something that many wouldn't. Again,showing your bravery.

If any comfort....You are not alone.


S&F

Semper Fi Marine, your experience is alot like mine you and I could have actually served together I was with 8th marines in fallujah theater in the same time frame, if you ever need to talk you can always U2U me even if it's just to B******t about the corps or whatever man.

I give you and the semper fi girl scout gang a lot of crap on here, but I do it because I don't want anymore stories like yours to happen.

I've always been a supporter of the troops, but I support their safety and well being, I don't support gov't using their courage to manipulate them to be used as gun fodder for foreign policy changes, and to be used as guinea pigs with things like DU and experimental vaccines.

I'm sorry for your struggles, you shouldn't have had to go through all that.
What you can do now is make a big difference in these up and coming kids blindly rushing into the service for something they don't quite understand or have thought through with an adult perspective.

Maybe I was wrong about you, maybe you're all right after all.

Please tell me you have copies of your med records from when you left the unit.Hit the DAV with that info, utilize exterior sources of assistance from the VA.Do you have something you have always wanted to do?
I am going to ART SCHOOL through the VA.It wasn't easy to get into but I just kept hitting until I got it.
I have Gulf War issues they don't acknowledge the illegal vaccines or the chems used or even the nerve agent pills,DU included.
I showed I got ill right after the conflict WITH MY ORIGINAL RECORDS through the DAV and now I am rated 50% for COPD and PTSD.
Don't stop going out join a club doing something you like if your head gets in the way USE WEED if you have to.You just make damn sure you don't receed,I've just seen a man I loved like a brother take his own life.He didn't even try to look for help.

reply to post by cavtrooper7


I wish I was able to get a copy of my original medical record it was lost not once but twice and in both instances I had to report back to medical with a fresh new jacket with none of my prior history. Both times were before deployments to Iraq so even though I had been vaccinated with whatever I got vaccinated with two weeks prior, I had to get the injections again. Of course the military is so efficient they can't even keep records were they belong. To this day idk everything they shot us up with the only for sure shots flu, small pox, anthrax with boosters but they're were so many injections

reply to post by usmc0311


You said for people to go ahead and berate you for your Service in a War we know was fabricated, and lies used for reasons of power and greed. That is not the only reason I'm mad. I'm angry because people like you are treated this way and for what? It hasn't been for my interest's or protection.

I'm mad because they have poisoned are Men and Women and then give them the run- around and dope them up in the process. When we see the over pouring of Love and help for so many " Hero's " but we KNOW it's only for a fraction of whose out there, I get really mad.

I have seen the suicide rates of " Men " that we're duped and used for other reasons then what they were told.

I tried where I could and can to get people not to sign into a War that has been proven to be based on lies and deceit. It is not a secret anymore that they lied to us...so I get mad when people sign on to that lie and then are mis- treated even more as you have just out- lined.

We're angry at the continued lies and abuses...

The dollar is about to collapse but yet we are funding these out- rageous Wars that were built on lies.

Maybe this stuff would stop if you would just not sign-up. We need you here to Protect our Rights from those that are lying and deceiving and putting your life and the lives of innocent people in danger. Again...it's not a secret how these Wars were started....you signed a Pledge to Protect America from both foreign and Domestic Enemies. Your real enemies will not offer you a kind word, an ear to talk to, a sympathetic nod....they shove drugs down your throat and send you on your way.

First and foremost thank you for your service brother. If I were you I'd get your ass to New York for treatment. I know some people in the field that are dying to help veterans, including those with TBI. New York State has the best care for these types of issues. If you want pm me and I can direct you to the people I know. You can contact them through their website to see if they can offer you any sort of help, especially with your TBI. Semper Fi.

reply to post by usmc0311


Hi!
I am very sorry our 'government' military industrial complex did this to you. Thank you for sharing. I am sure many others are suffering as well and maybe you will help them by sharing your story, I have not read any of the other comments, so I hope I am not repeating, but i doubt it.
DO NOT take any SSRI's or anything that messes with your serotonin. I have two medicines for you to try, I researched tirelessly on these medicines before I took them. One, which is legal, is called Kambo. It is not pleasant at all, even the administration of it can be a bit scary. You must burn yourself, scrape of the skin ( make sure you are very well hydrated) and then apply the Kambo frog poison. You will feel yourself burn, your heart will pound in your head and your face will swell up, then you hope to purge toxins from eventually every organ (may take a few times to get to all of them) get on this one before big pharma steps in on it...though it may end up saving the amazon. It is very powerful, a cure all so to speak. The second, is a bark from a root native to western Africa called Ibog (not legal in the US, but is in Mexico, Canada..even Thailand! ). It is becoming wildly known for it's ability to rewire a drug addicts brain, and cure physical addiction in minutes and psychological addiction for months, years and many times forever. It is also widely been touted as helping PSTD. I know it does. I took it for an addiction, that stemmed from some hard core PSTD. It felt like the purest medicine in the world, this one is very visionary, unlike the Kambo frog. Nothing like the hallucinogenic plants etc that you may think of, very different, you are in a dream like state, it can be very beautiful and sometimes strange, and is just amazing...I could write a book, and people have. There is one clinic in S. America that uses both as a tool for physical and mental healing. I have done both with a friend, and advice from others. If you were to go to Afica and experience it with the native tribes that use it, it would be a very hard yet rewarding experience... They give you massive amounts. I feel you can get just what you need from a much lower dose than they give of course. A third medicine, also used with Kambo for thousands of years, the more common Ayahausca... also known for its purgative cleansing and for it's mental healing... all three of these medicines, could help you greatly...though do not take Iboga and Aya too close together, the Kambo would be good prior ( a few days) with both of the others. I feel that we need to get back to our ROOTS... The natural medicines that grow freely. Iboga told me that there is a natural cure for EVERY ailment on this planet...but maybe not for long.
I needed Iboga for my addiction, It found me literally..long story.. it has helped me in many more ways than that.
I applaud you for your courage to ask for help.
Basse'

You need some weed my friend.

Weed fights against both PTSD and it fights cancer(which may mean it may fight the symptoms of DU as well)

reply to post by dadank


That too...forgot to mention that one : )