A soldier's life

David Cotrone features a discussion with a Major in the Marines who's 49 years old, knows he's suffering from PTSD, and looking toward going back (h/t the Dish).  Some of his experiences are described here:

“You get these calls, you know,” Mark says. “And they’re just like, ‘Hey, Major Ross, we think it would be a good idea for you to go check out this power plant or that school.’”
He pauses, thinking of how to phrase what he’s about to say.
“And you know what? They’re usually not good ideas, not good at all. You’d think those guys would have a clue, but they don’t.”
He raises his fist to his mouth and coughs.
“They have no fucking clue.”
The Good Idea Ferries usually sent Mark’s unit to the countryside, down farm roads, into gunfire. Once, away from the relative safety of the city, 200 meters of his Humvee were taken off by an IED. Somehow, everyone walked out. But according to Mark there were a few soldiers too shaken up to function, too “fucked in the head” to even get back inside a car, let alone a Humvee. Because of the blast, Mark himself suffers from mild traumatic brain injury, even now. He remembers the sounds of the bomb going off next to him, and then, just a few days later, the next one. He remembers the shock of the concussions. He remembers the ringing inside his ears that wouldn’t go away. He awoke this morning drenched in sweat, with a searing ache in his head, with a memory.

There is much, much more in the article, the whole thing is worth a read.  I think that way too many people don't give a thought to what these guys go through, but feel pretty good because they thank a soldier when they see one.  I would like to think what they go through is worthwhile, but I don't.