Hi Emil,

I enjoyed the article by ex-marine Jeffrey Barnett.

Having lived in the Arab Kingdom for a total of two years, it changed my perspectives on being an American on many levels.  Men who were recruited from jobs here to work in SA, HAD to take an R&R every three months out of the country. Culture shock was a given.

My ex-husband was a CEO.  We were told more or less we were on our own while living there.  Our Embassy could only do so much.  The experiences I had while residing there, changed me for ever.  Some good....some sad.

My heart and prayers go out to all of our military who has experienced the reality of different cultures under hostile conditions.  Especially the Arab nations.  

Thank You for bringing this article to our site.  It makes for a good balance of all the things we feel are so detrimental to our well being.  It reminded me to prioritize 'needs' from 'wants'.  

Thanks,

Sandav1 

By Jeffrey D. Barnett (a Marine officer and Iraq War Veteran):

"Before my deployment [to Iraq] I was disposed to always be active. Whether it was with work, hobbies, reading, social activities, or other things, I did not like to be idle. Now I am sometimes content to sit idle with only my thoughts. Watching the ocean, sitting in my front yard with my dog, driving at night: moments when I can contentedly reflect on life alone. Adding a few friends and a pleasant discussion to this activity is now probably my favorite pastime. I now place a much greater value on experiences, while before I almost exclusively valued achievement. And I don’t necessarily mean grand, individual achievements, but also group achievements through things like playing poker or gaming with friends.

Now, I certainly enjoyed experiences before Iraq. Going to the movies to see the latest Will Ferrell film was just as gratifying then as it is now. However, my perspective on activity has changed, and now I am content to relax and just let things happen rather than relentlessly steer every activity towards an ultimate goal. I still steer towards goals, and be sure that I am still relentless, but I now have a far more balanced desire for simple experiences. This has given me a much deeper appreciation for my experiences and those who share them with me, because I know they are just as mortal as I am.

The second change runs slightly counter to the first, causing disconnect with others: After experiencing real chaotic violence and seeing how ugly humanity can be it’s difficult to get excited about some things the rest of the world views as important. For example, about a year after I returned from Iraq a new video game was released and heavily criticized in the media for brief scenes of semi-nudity, I remember feeling frustrated that some of my friends were deployed at that time and probably facing worse circumstances than I had, yet America was in a tizzy over whether its children should be exposed to alien buttocks. At the end of the day, after you’ve seen school children walk in a single-file line past the dead body of a man executed at gunpoint, it’s difficult to care about the social degradation caused by bare buttocks in a video game."

Read the full post in NYT...

Thank you Emil for sharing these three wonderful programs for the women and men returning from Irag and Afghanistan. They deserve more help than they had been getting.

I was reallly touched by all three especially the Home Base Program.

I was somewhat surprised to read our soliders returning are having more problems than the ones returning from Vietnam -how sad.

On brighter note there are these programs to help them as they deserve this and more.

Why are the employees of Bell Helicopter (Euless, Texas) on STRIKE?  Bell is the largest manufacturer of fighting machines for our soldiers.  They are contracted by the government and they are union employees.  There is something very wrong here.  Could it be they are unhappy with their working conditions, or maybe they aren't getting paid enough?  Whatever they can answer or however they can justify their being on strike, how will they look a soldier in the eye and explain?

Whatever your complaint is, please suck it up and go back to work (if just one of you would stand up and be counted)......

Pray for and support our soldiers.

Hello, all.

I am 100% disabled VET and Unemployable due to Desert Storm And Other Military Issues.  Now I am Fighting to get S.S.I. Social Security Insurance, WE All Pay for this through F.I.C.A. TAX or Called Payroll tax if you work for someone or at the end of the year at Tax Time.  It is Insurance if you get disabled or if not you'll get it at retirement.  I have not worked since 04/2001 when the company I was working for reorganized and eliminated 3 people in my department and I found out that the Company hired 5 to replace the 3 hmm, hmm, hmm.  Now for the last 8yrs I have been scrambling just to make it month to month.  I tried for a couple of years to find work till in December 2003 I applied for S.S.I., On January 15th 2003 The Veterans Administration determined I Was 100% Disabled And Unemployable.  with all the stress and the injuries I have been dealing with add that to whats going on in the would the past 8yrs, I'm just barely able to stay ahead of everything. 

the Question I have is this, Why Can I not Get S.S.I.? When other people who did it to themselves to become Dependant on alcohol, meth, or any other drugs are able to Get on S.S.I.. 

I served My Country, in WAR, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Was Injured, MY Health Has Worsened Since I Was in Desert Storm.  I do have good health care and a pension Thanks TO The Army and the V.A. They BOTH Have lived up to the commitment.

NOW The S.S.A. (social security administration) THEY HAVE NOT, IT HAS NOW Been almost 6 years from application 8 years for DIB (Disability Insurance Benefit) and Nothing BUT a KICK in THE BackSide and so for thats it. I Dont Know If I Will, only time will tell.

Thank God, My Wife Is Healthy and able to work, she works for a family as a house cleaner, this is the only reason we still have anything at all.   

I still count my self Lucky, as I know their are others out their in worse than we are.

p.s. I guess I needed A Place to vent my frustrations

http://www.baghdadpups.com/

Baghdad Pups is sponsored by the SPCA to get "buddies" home to their military families, and help others find new homes away from the war. Help support this cause with donations or other.

WOW ** There is life on this Site after all. lol.

Thank you ekikaseven's for takeing the time to reply to me* It means a lot. I don't exspect real help hear but wouldn't turn it away if I was lucky to get it.. I also need advice,, good, real advice from someone who could help me,, help me. Wishful thinking,, after 2 1/2 years of being pushed down the Ladder and squished into Cracks after I was fired from my Job.. Getting tierd of hearing "" Hears a number to a Supprt Group they can help you get your needs met"" The only one who actualy didn't pass me on as someone's else proplem was the Food Basket I go to once a Month for a bag of Food. I hope your weekend was a good one** BIG HUG kiska,,

How well do I understand, how well, how well.  I am a female, same disease, etc, we just have different names.  I can definitely relate.  It is a terrible disease to have.  You are right when you speak about the monies that belong to us -we have to ask for. And, guess what, they deny us!  All that money that we paid into. 

I am so sorry that you have this disease.  I wouldn't wish this upon anyone.  Others don't understand what a monumental task it is somedays just to be able to walk or to get around the house.  They don't understand the stiffness & the pain.  And, don't you just love the one "its all in your head".  We wish we could put it "all in our heads" that way the pain wouldn't be "all over our body". LOL.

I will be praying for you.  If you ever need anyone to talk to just email me. 

I understand,

ekikaseven

I came to Aid-page. I like others are desperate , confused, and frightened. I am American. 4 years ago Independent and hopeful.

I lost everything because of an illness that wasn't taken seriously. So early diagnoses and the right Medications weren't given.

My body laked ability and function and I no longer was valued at my Job. I was fired. They call what I have Fibromyalgia. A big

name for a Illness and to some a Desies.,  But the one who suffers with it, its seen by the Medical Field and the Health Care system and sadly healthy  People as a made up

excuse for Medications, to no longer want daily responsibilities, and complainer. In the 4 years of seeking my help It was also

mandatory Psychiatry visits. One with many negative Tests of all kinds? Yets still complained must be nuts. Daily I was a walking

Pill in pain. I am now no different. I still suffer. I have no Magic Words to make them believe me, to help me. I' a Women of 47

continue to be denied help for an Illness I didn't ask for. Who at one long time ago had hopes and dreams as any Human being wants.

Today are figments. To beg People of power I willingly,, happily Voted for! Only to be ignored now, and sadly,, sadly waite

permission's of strangers to allow me disability money that rightfully belongs to me. Yet the Magic word I do not know? To them

I seem a complainer a Drug addict, or to no longer want responsibilities. How do I get someone to see, believe all I want is help I

rightfully deserve as an American. Why does my Government,, my State denie me the same wants and needs they freely have.