Page 875 - Total War on PTSD

Farah and our Civil Affairs Unit to have the father come pick up his child’s body. I was actively involved in this situation. I heard this child’s screams on the radio while the boots on the ground were reporting it to us. I called for the Medevac. I was denied. I contacted the Spanish force in the area to assist. I was denied. Once the child was brought lifeless back to our FOB, I carried the body to the Civil Affairs Unit to have possession given back to his family. The smell will not be forgotten. The image of him cannot be forgotten. The blood that was transferred onto me from this child will always be a part of me.
Sleep deprivation combined with energy drinks, loss of weight from not eating and the constant movement with no emotions was too much for me. I sat many times just staring with my side arm in my hand. Staring at my M4. Placing the weapons in my mouth and aside my head, one at a time, many times. After being involved in an altercation that still boggles my mind to this day, I was sent to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
After spending three weeks in Germany, I was transported by plane hops through multiple Air Force Bases to the final one, Luke Air Force base in Arizona. It was there that I waited for an Army Detail to take me to the place I would stay for the next seven months, Fort Huachuca in the southern part of Arizona. While I waited for the detail to arrive, I was able to call my now ex- wife. I waited for five hours for her to drive the 25 minutes from our home to see me. She didn’t make the trip. I spoke with her multiple times on the phone and each time she said she was on her way and about 15 minutes out. The detail arrived and waited about 45 minutes for her to show. I knew, after the first two hours, she was not going to come. The date was our wedding anniversary. I truly don’t believe she even knew it.
875 of 1042