Soldiers dealing with the trauma of killing

lookout123 · 07-23-2004, 04:46 PM

did you ever serve tw? that's not an insult.

the reason i ask is that most of the guys i know are fairly open about it. not in proud or gloating manner, but just in a factual, relating the facts sort of way. but now that i think about it, things like that never are discussed around civilians... maybe it's just a concern that civilians would never understand, so they don't want to open themselves to judgement.

i'll have to ponder that one.

Troubleshooter · 07-24-2004, 12:05 PM

One of the things about combat also is the context of the combat.

Shooting somebody, stabbing somebody, bombing somebody, and launcing a torpedo at somebody are all different and I think they require a different form of detachment.

tw · 07-24-2004, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lookout123

did you ever serve tw?

Never served. Almost joined George Jr in the Reserves.

In those days of and after Vietnam, most who came back never did talk. But after the movie Apocolypse Now, suddenly many started talking. Apparently that movie was close enough to reality that some who did serve felt others would understand the conundrum that was Nam.

I have seen same with some WWII vets. Got enough information to know their units were probably fully involved. But they talk as if their service was entirely patrol and guard duty.

richlevy · 07-25-2004, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tw

I have seen same with some WWII vets. Got enough information to know their units were probably fully involved. But they talk as if their service was entirely patrol and guard duty.

My dad was a medic with an armored division in Europe in WWII. When Saving Private Ryan came out he told me he wouldn't see it because he heard how realistic it was supposed to be.

tw · 07-25-2004, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richlevy

My dad was a medic with an armored division in Europe in WWII. When Saving Private Ryan came out he told me he wouldn't see it because he heard how realistic it was supposed to be.

What division and when?

07-23-2004, 04:46 PM	#1
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	did you ever serve tw? that's not an insult. the reason i ask is that most of the guys i know are fairly open about it. not in proud or gloating manner, but just in a factual, relating the facts sort of way. but now that i think about it, things like that never are discussed around civilians... maybe it's just a concern that civilians would never understand, so they don't want to open themselves to judgement. i'll have to ponder that one. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

07-24-2004, 12:05 PM	#2
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	One of the things about combat also is the context of the combat. Shooting somebody, stabbing somebody, bombing somebody, and launcing a torpedo at somebody are all different and I think they require a different form of detachment. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

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