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Just another Veteran ‘Lost to the Abyss’? Perhaps Not.
Jul 18th, 2011 | 34 responses
There is no denying that too many of our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are having a very difficult time coping with their lives back home—emotionally, financially, medically, mentally and in so many other ways. Homelessness, suicide, domestic violence, divorce, drug and alcohol addiction and even serious crime are some of the symptoms and consequences.
We have read, seen and heard such stories much too often. Equally all too often, those stories have very tragic endings or, as the New York Times says, “Such stories often end in death or prison, the veteran in either case lost to the abyss.”
But this may not be the case in the still ongoing story of Iraq war veteran Staff Sgt. Brad Eifert—an infantry gunner and a truck commander during two of the war’s most violent years—who “joined an increasing number of deployed veterans who, after returning home, plunge into a downward spiral, propelled by post-traumatic stress disorder or other emotional problems.”
While some who read his story—about his “crimes”—may agree with a Missouri prosecutor that war trauma should not give veterans a pass in the criminal justice system, that “P.T.S.D. is not a get out of jail free card,” others may agree with a new and growing legal and law enforcement opinion. One wherein a growing number of experts argue that “a veteran’s criminal actions appear to stem from the stresses of war” and that a better solution than traditional prosecution and punishment may be called for. They claim that “[T]he society that trained them and sent them into harm’s way… bears some responsibility for their rehabilitation.” And “they point to other exceptions in the legal system like diversion programs for drug offenders and the mentally ill.”
This is how Sgt. Eifert’s “standoff” and possible “crime spree” started on an August night in the woods near his home in Okemos, Michigan:
Staff Sgt. Brad Eifert circled through the woods behind his house here, holding a .45-caliber pistol. The police were out there somewhere and, one way or the other, he was ready to die.
He raised the gun to his head and then lowered it. Then he fired nine rounds.
“They’re going to take me down, they’re going to finish me off, so,” he remembers thinking, “finish me off.”
Yes, the police officers subdued him with a Taser, arrested him, put him in the Ingham County Jail and “charged him with five counts of assault with intent to murder the officers, each carrying a potential life sentence.” And, yes, he would probably become another veteran “lost to the abyss.”
However,
… something different happened in Mr. Eifert’s case. Headed for disaster, he was spared through a novel court program and an unusual coming together of a group of individuals — including a compassionate judge, a flexible prosecutor, a tenacious lawyer and an amenable police officer — who made exceptions and negotiated compromises to help him.
Whether you have already made up your mind that this veteran should receive special treatment or that they should “throw away the key,” please read the full story here.
That is the least we can do to begin to understand the plight of so many of our combat veterans, who we send to fight our wars—declared or undeclared, justified or not —under the most appalling circumstances in forsaken, far-away lands.
Image: Courtesy Boston.com (Iraq war veteran Jeffrey Lennon, suffering from PTSD.)
34 Responses to “Just another Veteran ‘Lost to the Abyss’? Perhaps Not.”
It’s totaly amazing to me that, unless it was grossly under reported, that the Vets from WWII didn’t have as many problems. Or did they really, there were an awful lot of troops. Are our newer wars so different, I tend to think so.
There is nothing like a really BIG enemy, think Hitler, Tojo and Mussolini to make you feel like you are fighting for the real deal and the folks back home think so too. Do half of our population even know where Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan are on the map?
Just wondering, DW.
dduck,
The majority view among those who study the military is that WWII combat stress / PTSD casualties were grossly underreported due to severe social disincentives from that era towards any confessions of mental/emotional problems, especially among men.
There is a minority view that speculates about cultural narcissism among Vietnam-era veterans causing exaggerated reporting rates and some degree of fakery, but even if it’s true that there is a little of that, it probably does little to reduce the actual problem or undermine the fact of underreporting from the WWII era.
There is also some speculation that the relative political unpopularity of the underlying mission and/or the indeterminate victory-less nature of modern wars serve to exacerbate perceived stress levels especially upon reintegration into society.
It’s never talked about but the Hells Angels was started by returning WWII vets who could not adjust. They bought surplus military motorcycles and tricked them up.
The nature of war is also different contributing to the stress. In WWII they would fight a battle, usually a few days and then there would be a few day of relative quiet. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are 24/7 for the entire tour leaving little or no time to wind down.
Ron, good points, I can see the difference. Add, in relative indifference or outright opposition back home and these could be some of the key factors. And as LP, points out there was under reporting for WWII.
Another difference would be the populations of Iraq, Afghanistan and yes, Vietnam don’t/didn’t like the “liberators”. I was in the military during Vietnam and although I was never there I knew many who were. They all said that you could never tell who the enemy was. The kid you gave candy at noon would try to kill you at midnight. That has to contribute to the stress.
All good question and good comments, for which I promise to do some research and “report back.” There must be some logical and “reasonable reasons.”
Off the top of my head, I would venture a couple of reasons.
1. I am sure that we have had a lot of PTSD-like “casualties” in all wars, including World War I and II. However, our mental health expertise and treatment capabilities may not have have been sophisticated enough to a. recognize the symptoms, and, b., to treat them.
2. Hate to say this, but our “Veterans Affairs” establishment, budgets,facilities,staff etc., etc., probably were not as interested in and sufficiently capable in such matters.
3. I truly believe that today’s culture is more attuned and empathetic to such issues.
4. There were other social issues, especially when it came to our returning black veterans in both World wars.
This is why you have to be VERY careful when you go to war. You WILL ruin the lives of the men & women you send into combat, it’s guaranteed (the first Persian Gulf War was an aberration).
Did this, or anything else negative for that matter, go through Shrub’s mind when he ordered the invasion of Iraq?
Did this go through anyone who slapped those “support the troops” decals on their car? You want to support them, then don’t send them into war unless it is absolutely (and honestly) vital that you do so.
A man (I forget exactly who) once said “in war, there is one victor and two losers”. It’s one of the key reasons I opposed the invasion, and to this day only Vietnam compares in terms of post-WWII idiocy.
Here are a couple more possible reasons. A couple of our commenters have already touched upon them.
From the Scientific American”
1. New veterans suffering from PTSD may well fare better than their predecessors who served in Vietnam, as the disorder was only recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980. “I think we’ve learned a tremendous amount from Vietnam and from prior conflicts,” Maguen says. “I think we’re in a unique position now to deal with it.”
2. Even with lessons learned from Vietnam and the Persian Gulf wars, however, veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom present a special treatment challenge. In some ways the new crop of veterans have had similar combat experiences to Vietnam veterans. Both groups fought in wars without clearly delineated front lines, where ambush and insurgency are a constant threat. But the types of combat exposure have changed, as have the potential triggers for negative psychological reactions later in life. For instance, Renshaw says, the urban component of the wars on terror and the threat of improvised explosive devices have made driving and traffic jams problematic triggers for some veterans. “Our methodology is still evolving to catch up with the nature of these conflicts,” he says. “I think this is something we’re going to be working on and dealing with for a long time.”
I had forgotten that some of the answers (if not, a lot of background info on PTSD, etc) may already exist in an article I wrote more than two years ago:
http://themoderatevoice.com/26066/ptsd-and-our-troops-data-trends-and-articles
George Carlin
just two cents worth. There is no way to do killing war and be alright if you had a heart and soul to begin with. My first internship was Hines VA Chi ’65; still some WWI vets alive, most were through WWII, Korea, Nam. Few of the public have any idea. Most of the public has no idea, not then, not now. Media is not the place to rely on for the actual. Skin to skin. Face to face. Time and again. There’s the reality.
A “special court for veterans”. Essentially this a separate judicial system for veterans. Sorry, but I think this is unconstitutional.
“Equal justice before the law”, comes to mind.
I would also disagree with Estes hear, because I would assert that All human beings have a Heart and Soul. She may not have been able to reach them, but they were there. In every one of them.
sorry not to be clear to you Allen. Let me restate a different way. Since all humans have hearts and souls, there is no way to send a human being into a killing war as a soldier and expect they will be just fine afterward. There are many factors re why. The general public has little insight into ‘soldier aftermath,’ some call it ‘readjustment’ which is like calling an 8 earthquake in a populated city a displacement of sand. There are several reasons the public is in the third circle out, not even close to the inner circle of experience: one is esp when media acts as a shill for war… meaning inadequate and not in-depth reportage ongoing, relentlessly, breaking through gov’t blackouts to serve public’s right to know… as is the troth of “the fourth estate,” so called, and all their vast resources. Only one instance is the insistance on speaking of human beings as ‘troops’ rather than as individuals who have actual lives, families, interests, humor, grief, hopes. Dorian deWind and Shaun Mullen and myself here at TMV have been tireless in covering soldiers by name, as real human beings, not as ‘a troop.’ There’s more to say, far more. But it would have to be a library’s worth to even begin to cover ‘first circle’ of ‘those who come back who never came back.’
just one w/ 46 yrs of witness– there are others with 60 and more.
Trauma after World War II was not only underreported, but also not acknowledged. My WWII paratrooper father, portrayed in the war movie The Longest Day, and written about in many histories of the war, attempted to get aid from the VA for war stress from 1946 on and was denied any compensation until the 80′s. One reason for denial was “his inability to digest his war experiences” as if that was a character flaw. My book, The Hidden Legacy of World War II: Our Heroes’ Pain, will be published late this year.
Estes-
There is no doubt some vets that are returning screwed up, but some of them are returning “screwed up” and have seen no combat at all. I’m not convinced anybody really knows what’s going on here because most of those that have seen enduring combat don’t return mentally ill.
Among those of you whom have so very many years of witness, has anyone of you experienced war within a combat zone? Maybe even objectively observed first hand the people living in it? Civilians, soldiers, children, parents, all the people? Because by your description, the people say, living in Iraq, whom have little hope for ever leaving the combat zone, must be the most mentally ill people on the planet. Not to mention places like Rwanda, the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, etc.. If not, it might be that not enough field studies have been conducted.
“Dorian deWind and Shaun Mullen and myself here at TMV have been tireless in covering soldiers by name, as real human beings, not as ‘a troop.’”
Dr. E, there are at least four of us, not just 3.
Dr, E, In case you haven’t gotten enough praise for your service to those troops (sorry), and I doubt it, let me add my thanks to you and your fellow healers. You guys, try to mend one and along comes another and another. Your work is amazing. We, society, break em, but then we don’t seem to own them. They only have you guys and sometimes little else.
carolsv:
Thank you for sharing about your father. I look forward to reading your book. Perhaps you can remind us when it is published
Dorian
Estes-
I am indeed sympathetic to our vets mental and physical sacrifices.
At the risk of appearing argumentative, maybe I should suggest that many of these people had problems or were otherwise “mentally not up to the task” before they were sent into combat. Which might point to the military not putting much effort into mentally screening these people before, or, make enough effort to mentally prepare them for the stresses of combat during their training.
So what was your own point with this comment?
:”There is no way to do killing war and be alright if you had a heart and soul to begin with”
Are you actually suggesting, that unless combat vets do indeed come home mentally ill, then they must have had no “Heart or Soul” to begin with? It would seem that you are condemning the healthy as being inhuman! I would rather think that by you using “heart and soul”, that you are simply surrendering that you really do not know what the problem is.
I would suggest that poor mental preparation plays the major part, because mental strength can be exercised and improved just as physical strength. The Sudanese Dinka tribes do this amazingly well. There might be something we can learn there. That is IF we care to actually go out and study why other peoples are mentally stronger than we are.
Allen,
I know that Dr. Estés can defend herself much better than I can—actually there is nothing to defend her about—but let me just as politely as possible point out that she probably knows more about trauma, PTSD, ethno-clinical psychology, post-trauma recovery, and psychoanalysis (something she has practiced for more than 40 years) than all of us at TMV and elsewhere combined and that she is the author of many books on related subjects published in 41 languages.
From her bio:
As a post-trauma specialist, Estés began her work in the 1960s at Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Hospital in Hines, Illinois. There she worked with WWI, WWI, Korean and Vietnam war soldiers who were living with quadraplegia, incapacitated by loss of, either/or, both arms and legs. She has worked at other facilities caring for severely injured ‘cast-away’ children, ‘shell-shocked’ war veterans (now called Post Trauma Distress Syndrome), and their families. Her teaching of writing in prisons began in the early 1970s at the Men’s Penitentiary in Colorado; the Federal Women’s Prison at Dublin, California, and in other ‘locked institutions’ throughout the Southwest.
Estés ministers in the fields of childbearing loss, surviving families of murder victims, as well as critical incident work. She served at natural disaster sites, developing post-trauma recovery protocol for earthquake survivors in Armenia. Since then, her protocol is used to deputize citizen helpers to do post-trauma work on site and for the months and years yet to come. She served Columbine High School and community after the massacre, 1999-2003. She continues to work with 9-11 survivors and survivor families on both east and west coasts.
Estés served as appointee by two Governors to the Colorado State Grievance Board (1993–2006) where she was elected Chair…board member of the Maya Angelou Minority Health Foundation at Wake Forest Medical School…
Aware of Dr. Estés’ background, experience and achievements in the mental health area (including military/PTSD), I was a little surprised at your comments, such as:
“Estes-
:::
It would seem that you are condemning the healthy as being inhuman! I would rather think that by you using “heart and soul”, that you are simply surrendering that you really do not know what the problem is.”
De Wind-
Nobody has solved the problem of war trauma in combat veterans, or it wouldn’t still exist as it does. Regardless of her laurels, she hasn’t solved it either. Blaming the healthy as inhuman, not “having heart and soul”, because they did not return mentally ill is an offense to healthy veterans.
However I’m sure she didn’t intend to offend, but her comment is still improper.
You might read my post a little closer. If you do you might realize that I am making a suggestion based on my own education, experiences, and, intellect, that is from a different perspective. I offer knowledge not known or utilized in the past and presumably not currently injected into the current study, at least by the military, into the problem of combat stress. Clinical research is not the only method or source of social development study . There is field research as well.
Allen, no one said anything about soldiers being ‘mentally ill.’ Those are your words. We were referencing about trauma from war. Yes, have been in direct war zones, as have Mullen and others here who have served in the US armed forces, including Dorian who served for a long time in honor. There are many reasons soldiers suffer trauma in war. There are many reasons they dont want to talk about it with family or with those who have not served. For every million soldiers, there are a million stories of how and why. There are many ‘theories’ about who is ‘hurt’ and who is not. Our work in post-trauma recovery is not to judge, but to listen, to tend to, to help insofar as we can, and there is much much to be done face to face, heart to heart that has far more to do with listening, helping, rather than talking. If only theories could be medicine that works. And you are right, civilian trauma is huge and longlasting during and after war. I come from a refugee family; grew up in the aftermath of it all. The heart, mind, animating spirit of human beings are strong and yet vulnerable. Siempre.
Just my .02
thanks dduck, I’ve printed out your note and will share it with our team of helpers. They never ask to be thanked and yet, as you know, it is miel, honey over the heart to be thanked. I appreciate your and all others prayers too for the men and women and families that we see here, and also that our brothers and sisters tend to in other zones across the ocean where incursions and injuries are rampant.
I was just reading your comment and thinking that Mullen and myself have teamed on many articles in the past and I am thinking maybe Dorian and Mullen and myself ought team on an article now too, on this very subject. From those who have been there first witness. I have often wondered how the public will ever have a clear picture of what the lacerative progressions are in vets, if we dont help others to see. But, too dduck, sometimes when one tries to say– many do not want to listen. They want to have their own romantic ideas about the issues instead. I think of one of many issues that the public doesnt know much about… child abandonment guilt in veterans. Not here. There. Not someone else’s child. Their own. If all ever knew the enormous number of children left, along with their mothers…
There are many more dduck, many more issues that are not spoken about in media, or rarely. Many many secrets kept at the expense of sense of selfhood.
Thanks dduck, and also like Dorian, I’d like to know when the book is published by carolsv There have been several books published on the subject and we ever need more, especially in each generation, to keep the entire shame above the waterline of how war vets are treated– and their families– during and after war. If you have ever seen the poor young families at army bases hardly able to get by while the hubby/father is deployed over and over again, you would weep. The struggles are many fold. Let us know carolsv. Also if you want to write to us and let us know your actual name or would like to write an article related to your book here at TMV, contact me: projectscreener@aol.com I’d be happy to take a look and run it by my editorial peeps.
and Dorian; thanks for the article, once again. I might mention for those who may not read all the sidebars at TMV, that Dorian is now our “Military Affairs Columnist.” Congratulations Dorian.
Dr. E
Estes-
So you are saying that PTSD is not a mental illness? Why are talking about PTSD here or is there something else that you are referencing?
What an interesting comment from a psychologist.
Allen, I think you are quibbling a little here. As some people say “it is what it is” (hate that)and “it” whatever Carlin said was true, it is serious. If you have a magic bullet, let us know. In the mean time I will be grateful for the Dr. Es of the world.
Also, “it was what it was”.
dduck-
Ok duck. Thanks for letting me know that I’m a worthless piece of crap. We have to fall to our lowest point before we can change. Pardon me while I start back up the ladder. You didn’t grease the rungs did you?
I’m not a psychologist Allen. Not sure where you got that. But more importantly, read the commenter’s rules at the top of the home page. Vulgarity and ad hominem attacks are against the commenters’ rules here. So, just stick to the topic of the post and your opinions about topics and all will be well. Thanks.
LP, I’ll be sending all TMV writers a request that they send a list of any articles they’ve written that are specifically about an individual veteran by name, as a profile of his/her life. I am putting together a feature list of articles by Dorian, Shaun, myself and other TMV writers, including Jer Remmers who also served, who have written for the last four years from the personal point of view. I’m going to talk to T about making it a perm sidebar. The personal first-person viewpoint is rare compared to general op ed type pieces about war, soldiers, politicians, secs of war, etc. We’ll see how it goes as an idea.
thanks,
dr.e
Yes Ma’am. I will comply to the best of my understanding.
I assume this was the statement that Allen mentioned that started the exchange and I can see his point. Some solders do go thru the darkness and are just fine and some get lost. That statement seems to say those that found their way thru were lacking “a heart and soul” because otherwise they also would not “be alright”. I don’t believe Dr. E meant it that way but it is easy to read it as such.
Allen, far from what you said that I implied above, I am trying to understand your point of view, and we all quibble a little (see it rhymes)some times. I am not greasing the rungs, as you might think, I just don’t see why you appear to be a down on some people trying to help the vets and their families. If you disagree with their methods, and perhaps think other methods are more effective, that is OK. But, no need to personalize that disagreement.
BTW: I don’t mind personal attack, on me.
DW, A little AF humor, from I don’t know where:
If this doesn’t make you laugh, you might be humor impaired!
The Air Force found they had too many officers and decided to offer an early retirement bonus. They promised any officer who volunteered for Retirement a bonus of $1,000 for every inch measured in a straight line between any Two points in his body.. The officer got to choose what those two points would be.
The first officer who accepted asked that he be measured from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. He was measured at six feet and walked out with a bonus of $72,000.
The second officer who accepted was a little smarter and asked to be measured from the tip of his outstretched hands to his toes. He walked Out with $96,000.
The third one was a non-commissioned officer, a grizzly old Chief who, when asked where he would like to be measured replied,
‘>From the tip of my weenie to my testicles.’
It was suggested by the pension man that he might want to reconsider, explaining about the nice big checks the previous two Officers had received.
But the old Chief insisted and they decided to go along with him providing the measurement was taken by a Medical Officer.
The Medical Officer arrived and instructed the Chief to ‘drop ‘em,’ which he did. The medical officer placed the tape measure on the tip of the Chief’s weenie and began to work back. “Dear Lord!”, he suddenly exclaimed,
”Where are your testicles?”
The old Chief calmly replied, ” Vietnam ”.
Nothing is worth more than this day…..
Thanks Dduck. I needed that .. I think?
Its not as simple as being traumatized by seeing people die. The things that you figure were important before the war are now trivial. The things you trusted before the war…you just dont trust any more.
Simple conversations are not ok. How are you? Uh injured…want a list of complaints? Where are you working these days? Im not? Where are you living? IM homeless? I mean what could anyone POSSIBLY ask that doesnt come across as a loaded question. So the easiest path is to withdraw from everyone.
Others that didnt deploy have moved up in their companites. They have build equity in houses. They have developed relationships and started families. On return for most soldiers they are already socially way behind in those areas. Since we have problems talking WITH others this compounds that problem.
Im one of the lucky ones. When I got back I did have a car. Most dont have that much. The VA hospital asked me some questions. “Does your life look really BLEAK right now? Does it look like its not going to get better any time soon?” What do ya FIGURE I answered to both under the circumstances. I was immediately diagnosed with depression. Apparently I was not the army regulated amount of happy about living in my car while the army and the VA both claimed I was the others problem.
I spent over a year like that with zero income. After writing my congress people they “discovered” they made a mistake. While I was to see the VA docs and go to rehab during the day I as to recieve 106 a month. I told them I wanted to be cooperative so wanted them to budget that for me as far as how much to spend on housing, how much on food etc. Housing food and clothing were apparently MY problem.
They did send me to a PTSD eval at one point. The guy asked me a few questions then asked with a smug tone.. “so…why …would THAT bother you?”. I left.
I was seriously close to suicide that night. The only thing that stopped me from walking in front of the next bus that went by was that I knew the driver would live with that imagry for life.
Sure IM bothered by certain sounds, sites, and smells. Why dont the veterans just get over it? Well if you wake up in the same kinda pain you were in DURING deployment due to current injuries that the VA hasnt gotten around to fixing, in THAT moment before you realize where you are, your back in the war mentally.
How am I doing now? Oh Im still homeless. After several more letters to congressional investigators the VA has again “discovered” they made mistakes on my behalf. They have increased my monthly payment. It goes toward paying my credit card bill. Yes I used my credit card to finance eating and surviving when I was getting paid little or nothing. It also covers the bills I ran up going to the University Hospital with complaints when the VA refused to hear me OR see me for some things. Even if the VA hospital turns out to be WRONG, they do NOT reimburse for that. The veteran carries the debt.
There are some local veterans groups. I could go sit in a circle and tell some bad stories and describe my FEELINGS about it all. It wont change any of it. It wont change the fact that at some point the world split. THere were those of use for whom there was this war. People were getting blown to bits. Then there was this other world where people here continued working at Wal Mart or where ever, buying a home, getting married, and raising a family. I went from being as important as anyone else, to being unimportant if I was ill, injured, starving, or dying. Something shifted where to the rest of you…I just didnt matter any more.
When I first got injured I was ordered to keep going. I braced my leg best I could and did just that. It was 3 months before I could get surgery to try to fix things. I heard then it was too late. “If ONLY” I had “gotten in sooner”. I realized while it was going on that the decision had been made that I didnt matter any more. Once that shift happens there is no putting that back. Do you figure that period of time recurrs in my mind…what was happening to me…to those around me?
I dont think the soldiers from prior wars had it any better. I think there is the internet so the public can get on here and play “aint it awful” a bit, then go on about their lives. You will read MY story and shake your head that something like that shouldnt happen. None of that will change my life…but apparently you folks are enjoying playing aint it awful for a while so I figure I would give you some fodder for your game. Have at it. Play “aint it awful” then go back to your clean suburbanite lives.
Obama made some noises about wanting to end veteran homelesness. Now he says with the budget problem he doesnt figure disabled veterans will get their checks. I managed to hang on to my car. Its 15 years old but I still have it. I managed to hang on to my credit rating. If I made a bill I have been paying it. I guess now thats to be taken from me. It shows me how much you as a public and a set of taxpayers REALLY care. There is no public outcry re stopping the veterans checks. If you really spoke out about veteran homelessness then perhaps your lawmakers would be asking you if you wished to put your money where your mouthes are and to actually build housing for veterans.
If YOU got disabled on your job YOU would expect compensation including food and housing WHILE you attend rehab. YOu as a public arent ready to supply that.
You have the internet. Prior wars didnt have that. Play “aint it awful” for a while then move on to some other game. As a veteran I dont really believe any of you care. YOur the taxpayers. Veterans are YOUR employees. You better hope there is NO afterlife where you will be asked to account for how you treated YOUR wounded employees injured while doing a job YOU ordered.