Page 844 - Total War on PTSD

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.” - Gilda Radner
Courtenay: Through the years, similar to Jerry, I learned what my own strengths were and how to utilize the strengths of those working for me.
A short distance from my barracks there was an area where vehicles were staged for convoy. I experienced the sound and the rumbling sensation beneath my feet and, as I walked by in the early dawn light, I caught a glimpse of some young soldiers profiled against the interior of their vehicles. They were too young and I wanted to volunteer to go in their place. Many of them looked too young to even be out of high school, let alone being in the military. I would have been willing to go in the place of any of them as long as it meant they could go home. Who was I to remain on the air base and never go on convoy? I already had a chance to live a lot of my life while they were just at the starting gate. I know it was still dangerous on base, just not as dangerous as their assignments.
Over and over again I had to tell myself that those soldiers, those men and women, however young, were there to do a job for which they were trained.
It was kind of like a mother finally accepting that her children had grown up, and were capable of taking care of things that she used to take care of for them. I just had to constantly remind myself that I was there to do my job and they were there to do theirs. That’s how things are supposed to work.
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