Post by floydragsdale on Feb 27, 2013 12:16:35 GMT -5
Hello Everyone:
Here is a personal story about my post war experiences as a veteran. At first there was a great deal of hesitation on my part if I should post this for the “Discussion Group” to see. Yet, my inner-self convinced me that it might be of help to someone in the future
There are times when a person cannot see the forest because of the trees.
Everybody has problems in their lifetime, major or minor. The majority of folks can deal with the little glitches in life and come up with solutions to solve them. Major problems, in most cases, are capable of creating additional anxieties in ones life.
If a difficulty exists, think of the very worst situation that the issue could create. Then consider of the very best possibilities that could occur! In the majority of those situations the results will be about half way between the very bad and the finest potentials.
If we want to be the leader of the band, then we have to learn to face the music.
Read the following to learn about my dilemma and the end result.
Invisible War Nerves
Who ever heard of that term? I certainly did not. Yet, they pestered this veteran for over fifty years. I was more at ease around family or friends rather than being alone. Also, a feeling of uneasiness followed me wherever I went. There were times when an urge to start running hit me; to where didn’t make any difference - - just run. Just dash to anywhere was the impulse.
Many were the days when me didn’t seem like me. Something different, or someone else was inside of me trying to run daily affairs, although it was the real me who was in charge of doing the navigating.
Thunder and lightning would produce anxious moments during a storm. A head noise, acquired in WWII days was very bothersome, particularly while trying to go to sleep.
Being constantly busy seemed far better than not occupied with something.
To sum things up and after over fifty years of living with that state of affairs, me, myself and decided to meet this situation head on.
Vacation days were just on the horizon and while planning where to go the wife and I decided to visit both Army Bases where I was stationed before going overseas during WWII.
Several days prior to our trip, a local Librarian who understood that I was a WWII Veteran, asked me if I would write my war memoirs. He acknowledged that the local library had volumes of books about WWII, however, no personal accounts from County veterans were in the library reference department. With some reservations regarding his question I responded with , “OK, however I don’t know how much time that will involve.”
While on vacation the wife and I visited Camp Shelby Mississippi where I experienced the rigors of basic training, maneuvers and scads of bivouacking in the De Soto National Forrest. All of that training was completed in an eight-month span of time years ago.
Camp Atterbury, Indiana was on our itinerary and we visited that site several days later. It was during September that I was based there in 1944. The setting looked similar, except G.I.’s were not in formation, marching from here to there, as they were fifty-some years ago.
Visiting both military bases, to say the least, fanned the flames of many army memories from 1943 to 1946.
Before arriving home I was mentally writing war my memories. Yet, a three-year span elapsed before this WWII Veteran finished the undertaking and contributed it to the library.
I’ve never been incarcerated in my life, nevertheless, a profound feeling of release overwhelmed my inner-self when I took the story to the public library and gave it to the reference department, about twelve years ago.
As I was completing my memoirs, the oath that everyone swore as they entered the Army traversed my thoughts.
I raised my right hand and while under oath, stated on my honor that I would dutifully defend the United States and its’ citizens from its’ enemies, to the best of my ability.
I honored that oath along with thousands of Soldiers who served with the 106th Division. There many were times when we served above and beyond the call of duty. - - - What better service could a Soldier render to his country?
Bingo! With those feelings in mind whatever was tormenting my body and soul vanished immediately. It’s a wonderful feeling to be just me, myself and I again.
Since that moment, this veteran has given WWII talks to school children (Jr. H.S, & H.S.) & adult groups. Time is always allowed for questions and answers.
To my amazement, I learned that school students might ask anything! During a Q & A session a lad (Jr. H.S. level) with a serious look on his face and wrinkled forehead asked, “I want to know, when you were in combat, standing in a foxhole and had to do # 1, what did you do?” Needless to say, I was flabbergasted with that query.
I’ll close here by saying, “It’s a good thing the Army issued us a steel helmet.”
Floyd
Here is a personal story about my post war experiences as a veteran. At first there was a great deal of hesitation on my part if I should post this for the “Discussion Group” to see. Yet, my inner-self convinced me that it might be of help to someone in the future
There are times when a person cannot see the forest because of the trees.
Everybody has problems in their lifetime, major or minor. The majority of folks can deal with the little glitches in life and come up with solutions to solve them. Major problems, in most cases, are capable of creating additional anxieties in ones life.
If a difficulty exists, think of the very worst situation that the issue could create. Then consider of the very best possibilities that could occur! In the majority of those situations the results will be about half way between the very bad and the finest potentials.
If we want to be the leader of the band, then we have to learn to face the music.
Read the following to learn about my dilemma and the end result.
Invisible War Nerves
Who ever heard of that term? I certainly did not. Yet, they pestered this veteran for over fifty years. I was more at ease around family or friends rather than being alone. Also, a feeling of uneasiness followed me wherever I went. There were times when an urge to start running hit me; to where didn’t make any difference - - just run. Just dash to anywhere was the impulse.
Many were the days when me didn’t seem like me. Something different, or someone else was inside of me trying to run daily affairs, although it was the real me who was in charge of doing the navigating.
Thunder and lightning would produce anxious moments during a storm. A head noise, acquired in WWII days was very bothersome, particularly while trying to go to sleep.
Being constantly busy seemed far better than not occupied with something.
To sum things up and after over fifty years of living with that state of affairs, me, myself and decided to meet this situation head on.
Vacation days were just on the horizon and while planning where to go the wife and I decided to visit both Army Bases where I was stationed before going overseas during WWII.
Several days prior to our trip, a local Librarian who understood that I was a WWII Veteran, asked me if I would write my war memoirs. He acknowledged that the local library had volumes of books about WWII, however, no personal accounts from County veterans were in the library reference department. With some reservations regarding his question I responded with , “OK, however I don’t know how much time that will involve.”
While on vacation the wife and I visited Camp Shelby Mississippi where I experienced the rigors of basic training, maneuvers and scads of bivouacking in the De Soto National Forrest. All of that training was completed in an eight-month span of time years ago.
Camp Atterbury, Indiana was on our itinerary and we visited that site several days later. It was during September that I was based there in 1944. The setting looked similar, except G.I.’s were not in formation, marching from here to there, as they were fifty-some years ago.
Visiting both military bases, to say the least, fanned the flames of many army memories from 1943 to 1946.
Before arriving home I was mentally writing war my memories. Yet, a three-year span elapsed before this WWII Veteran finished the undertaking and contributed it to the library.
I’ve never been incarcerated in my life, nevertheless, a profound feeling of release overwhelmed my inner-self when I took the story to the public library and gave it to the reference department, about twelve years ago.
As I was completing my memoirs, the oath that everyone swore as they entered the Army traversed my thoughts.
I raised my right hand and while under oath, stated on my honor that I would dutifully defend the United States and its’ citizens from its’ enemies, to the best of my ability.
I honored that oath along with thousands of Soldiers who served with the 106th Division. There many were times when we served above and beyond the call of duty. - - - What better service could a Soldier render to his country?
Bingo! With those feelings in mind whatever was tormenting my body and soul vanished immediately. It’s a wonderful feeling to be just me, myself and I again.
Since that moment, this veteran has given WWII talks to school children (Jr. H.S, & H.S.) & adult groups. Time is always allowed for questions and answers.
To my amazement, I learned that school students might ask anything! During a Q & A session a lad (Jr. H.S. level) with a serious look on his face and wrinkled forehead asked, “I want to know, when you were in combat, standing in a foxhole and had to do # 1, what did you do?” Needless to say, I was flabbergasted with that query.
I’ll close here by saying, “It’s a good thing the Army issued us a steel helmet.”
Floyd
