Page 14 - Stand Down Vietnam

PROLOUGE
Wounds That Do Not Bleed

Significant numbers of our nation’s Veterans suffer
from physical, emotional and other medical conditions,
such as PTSD, associated with their military service.

Being wounded, or witnesing traumatic events; countless

Veterans continue to suffer; many struggle from wounds
that do not bleed. The aftermath of experiencing
horrific events often becomes suppressed deep within;

resulting in memories that remain ensnared.

Observing people being injured, wounded or killed

during hostile engagement or while training, turns
everything upside down. All that encompasses one’s
moral character is challenged. This holds true whether

in combat, combat service support, or rendering
humanitarian aid.

These injuries often become a lifelong sentence,
producing questions that only the soldier (Veteran) can
attempt to answer:

 “Am I hateful or respectable?”;

 “Are/were my actions hateful or respectable?”;

 “Were my thoughts and actions my own, or just me
following orders, deprived of any opportunity to
ask questions?”;

 “Did I commit any immoral acts while performing my
military duties?”