Have a good Memorial Day

[walrus]

I hope all US members have a good Memorial Day. Hopefully you will be able to see family and friends. Raise a glass to those who never made it back and mow your lawn

[walrus]

You see in movies people using dead bodies as cover during gun fights. In actuality many times soldiers will use their own bodies to cover their dead friends body from receiving more damage. Probably sounds strange to many but those were the kind of bonds and respect built in certain situations.

[Spicoli]

Been watching a few interviews of vets recalling from Vietnam, WW 2 and Afghanistan. For the life of me I honestly don't know how some come home seeing what they saw and basically bottling it up for decades. My old man the same right until his last few years. And then when it came out it was like an avalanche and detailed about 'kids and boys' saw killed and ones they couldn't save. So many not even 20,21 yrs old yet and just 'end' never to come home and grow old. We really do lose generational treasure not only overseas to places High Schoolers can't find on a map but also the ones who made it back and pass away every day. Literally daily. The value of their words and experiences cannot be overstated.

[walrus]

Been watching a few interviews of vets recalling from Vietnam, WW 2 and Afghanistan. For the life of me I honestly don't know how some come home seeing what they saw and basically bottling it up for decades. My old man the same right until his last few years. And then when it came out it was like an avalanche and detailed about 'kids and boys' saw killed and ones they couldn't save. So many not even 20,21 yrs old yet and just 'end' never to come home and grow old. We really do lose generational treasure not only overseas to places High Schoolers can't find on a map but also the ones who made it back and pass away every day. Literally daily. The value of their words and experiences cannot be overstated.

The last stats I heard were 22 suicides a day by vets. Terribly sad. Too many turn do drugs and booze to quiet the demons and it makes it worse. The dreams can be a son of a bitch. PTSD dreams. It’s like every night you are living the worst minutes of your life again and again. I was recently doling out meds at work to a guy and I saw they added a new one. It’s actually a prostate drug that has been found to be very effective in stopping ptsd dreams. I think it has to do with the way it interacts with the adrenal gland but I haven’t read up enough on it yet. I can say this dude, who had multiple suicide attempts says it is very helpful.

[X]

Is Memorial Day the American version of our Armistice Day on 11th November, i.e. Remembering all those soldiers, sailors and airmen etc who died in wars?

[walrus]

Is Memorial Day the American version of our Armistice Day on 11th November, i.e. Remembering all those soldiers, sailors and airmen etc who died in wars?

Yes, showing appreciation to those who served and those who didn’t make it back

[NoSavingByTheBell]

Muhammad Ali rocks.

[Spicoli]

Been watching a few interviews of vets recalling from Vietnam, WW 2 and Afghanistan. For the life of me I honestly don't know how some come home seeing what they saw and basically bottling it up for decades. My old man the same right until his last few years. And then when it came out it was like an avalanche and detailed about 'kids and boys' saw killed and ones they couldn't save. So many not even 20,21 yrs old yet and just 'end' never to come home and grow old. We really do lose generational treasure not only overseas to places High Schoolers can't find on a map but also the ones who made it back and pass away every day. Literally daily. The value of their words and experiences cannot be overstated.

The last stats I heard were 22 suicides a day by vets. Terribly sad. Too many turn do drugs and booze to quiet the demons and it makes it worse. The dreams can be a son of a bitch. PTSD dreams. It’s like every night you are living the worst minutes of your life again and again. I was recently doling out meds at work to a guy and I saw they added a new one. It’s actually a prostate drug that has been found to be very effective in stopping ptsd dreams. I think it has to do with the way it interacts with the adrenal gland but I haven’t read up enough on it yet. I can say this dude, who had multiple suicide attempts says it is very helpful.

That's the glaring wrong that so often goes unspoken undiagnosed and untreated. It's our failure and put's the toxic brew of depression, sorrow anger and 'self medication into gear. We've stigmatized whole generations as up until recently it wasn't something you openly talked about. Vets came back from Europe and the Pacific and as relayed to me from a Fathers son were told to buck up, suck it up and move along. Pop said it was his 'now broken rage' and for the most part kept us away from his old man. Think he felt like he betrayed him later in life. Called shellshock then. Vets from Vietnam were shunned and demeaned outright and it only added layers to bury. Medication, therapy whatever it takes because there are thousands still yet to return fully 'home' ffs.

[walrus]

Been watching a few interviews of vets recalling from Vietnam, WW 2 and Afghanistan. For the life of me I honestly don't know how some come home seeing what they saw and basically bottling it up for decades. My old man the same right until his last few years. And then when it came out it was like an avalanche and detailed about 'kids and boys' saw killed and ones they couldn't save. So many not even 20,21 yrs old yet and just 'end' never to come home and grow old. We really do lose generational treasure not only overseas to places High Schoolers can't find on a map but also the ones who made it back and pass away every day. Literally daily. The value of their words and experiences cannot be overstated.

The last stats I heard were 22 suicides a day by vets. Terribly sad. Too many turn do drugs and booze to quiet the demons and it makes it worse. The dreams can be a son of a bitch. PTSD dreams. It’s like every night you are living the worst minutes of your life again and again. I was recently doling out meds at work to a guy and I saw they added a new one. It’s actually a prostate drug that has been found to be very effective in stopping ptsd dreams. I think it has to do with the way it interacts with the adrenal gland but I haven’t read up enough on it yet. I can say this dude, who had multiple suicide attempts says it is very helpful.

That's the glaring wrong that so often goes unspoken undiagnosed and untreated. It's our failure and put's the toxic brew of depression, sorrow anger and 'self medication into gear. We've stigmatized whole generations as up until recently it wasn't something you openly talked about. Vets came back from Europe and the Pacific and as relayed to me from a Fathers son were told to buck up, suck it up and move along. Pop said it was his 'now broken rage' and for the most part kept us away from his old man. Think he felt like he betrayed him later in life. Called shellshock then. Vets from Vietnam were shunned and demeaned outright and it only added layers to bury. Medication, therapy whatever it takes because there are thousands still yet to return fully 'home' ffs.

Coming back is very weird, in a way you miss the adrenalin in a way you are exhausted. There are also things you just can’t tell the 97% or so who never served in the military as they wouldn’t understand. After a while you do find regular people you can trust enough to talk a bit. TBH everyone I’ve kept in touch with is doing fine. Everyone has their moments. I look back at the D-day invasion or the Marine corps doing D-days all along the pacific against the Japanese, damn the shit those guys faced. War is probably the worst thing we brought about but the dudes that do the fighting are just dudes. Most people who serve in the military only discharge a weapon in training. Good on them. Netflix has a pretty good WW2 doc on at the moment, I’ve been watching it a little at a time. I’m still at the North Africa battles.