E
edwest2
Guest
Most of the vets I knew were vague and general about the war. What was called being “shell shocked” or having “battle fatigue” was understood. Trust me. These men had clear objectives, and did what they believed had to be done. There are more people today using alcohol and marijuana and they never served. I don’t want to relive the time I was pulled from my car and had a gun pressed to my head either. You know what? I didn’t feel much fear because the only possibilities were two. The other guy would pull the trigger or not. Nothing vague.My dad as well (artillery, Italy, Royal Canadian Army).
What you say is true, however post-traumatic stress syndrome was poorly understood then and many soldiers tried to forget the horrors they endured at the bottom of a bottle.
My wife has had many, many alcoholic vets in her medical practice. Some like my own dad did not go that route, but they did indeed keep the horrors in the cloisters of their hearts. As a kid I would ask my dad a lot of questions about the war but only got very vague, general answers. As an adult I am guessing he didn’t want to relive them by retelling them.
No need to relive that. Being alive and having no bullets flying over your head anymore felt great. That I could tell even as a kid.
Ed