I would like to tell you all that I really am ashamed of some of you! Let me try to explain PTSD for a second here:

You wake up and think that you are back in combat just by some chance a noise or voice brings you back to reality. Then that whole day you carry the experience with you getting you flashbacks of either your friends getting a bullet or watching civillians get blown to pieces. Mind you this is in fragmented memories.

Now I saw one coment to get over it? Most likely you either deny that you have it or you know nothing about PTSD. I am sorry for you either way.

How do I know this? Well 3 tours in Iraq and with SPECWAR I have a little time in the S*&T. I have been in for 16 now and I still serve.

I just would like some to just say THANKS move on and let me deal with my anger,sadness or hurt that I am feeling so that YES I can get over it!

I would just like to say that I support JC rider I he needs to talk You can contact me at daniel.mckee@navsoc.socom.mil and we can chat at anytime if you just want to talk.

On the other hand: If you all here just want to try and understand that biker groups were formed by WW2 guys coming in from war and that is why they where formed to have a get together for guys that went through this stuff to get away from reality and ride on the open road. Kind of like a ZEN thing to ease the mind from WAR torn memories. Read your Biker history people and get the yuppies up to speed on what a real biker is supposed to be and emulate.

That I my 2cents and i will speak no more of this. Sorry Mr Clean had to let people know!

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Ride Hard Ride Fast and never mind who is behind you unless your a couch potato!

I know what you are saying, as matter of personal experience It gets better with time. I don't know you can ever just leave it behind, but with the proper help from others the effects are not as bad anymore. things on the side of the road don't scare you anymore, I'm no longer nervous in crowds, unexpected noises but make me sweat, and I'm not scared of the dark anymore.
Dealing with it properly, I like to talk about it, and time helps.

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Dont play with scissors.
2006 cobalt blue Fatboy

Okay, I have to pipe in here. As a "non-combat" veteran, I won't even try to understand what those that have been in combat have to deal with day in and day out. I respect them (Father and Brother were both combat vets) and all that they went through.

However, I've been around a lot of combat veterans before and NEVER have I heard the things that JC Rider posted in that other two threads. None of them have ever used PTSD as an excuse for their behavior. And I don't care who you are, you don't call out one branch of service the way he did. I'm very proud of my Air Force service and his comments were way over the line. I was just sorry that thread was locked before I could reply to him.

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Danny

Thank you for your service.

The Canadian military structure is just finally starting to address this issue. It's a serious problem for troops returning from the sandbox and it is hard on them, their families, their friends and associates. My father served in Korea and still won't talk about it to this day unless he is really in his cups. When he wakes up the next day, he won't acknowledge talking about it and suppresses everything to do with it.

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I told my father I was going to stop smoking, drinking, chasing "wimmen", and raising hell. He called me a quitter!!!

Danny,
Ok I see your point, I did not see the comments on the other branch thing but You are right it should not be an excuse. However the fact remains that what can we do to help him out as a VET and a fellow biker, what can we do for him to realize what he said was wrong. Iam not going all hippie child on you here, just that I know how he feels. When someone gets on me I turn straight to anger and say things that I regret. Nowthrough guys and others who have been there have shown me ways to cope and deal with it.

SO now I get creative to piss people off instead of loosing my temper and going over the line.

But hey that is what we are here for you know...I for one love my fellow troops and I care deeply for all who served before me because your mistakes are what makes SOP's for today. You all are trail blazers and I respect that. Just give it some time read the posts 3 or 4 times then kick em in the nuts. Works for me!

Respectfully,
Dan MCKee

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Ride Hard Ride Fast and never mind who is behind you unless your a couch potato!

Not a problem. Like I said, it's his comments that irritated me. Not the man himself. But it seems to me that the only way he's going to get better is to stop blaming it on this, or that, and actually get the help needed to deal with it. "Sorry" only works in my book a few times before it doesn't mean anything. Know what I mean?

PS. We didn't make any mistakes.

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Danny

TLB,
Any time bro if you need to talk just klick the keys man. I know what you mean. I am just now getting over the sweats...I have a great wife that helps me out but watch the 4 of july though If I drink and not passed out by the time the fireworks start I am in the closet man...Just does not help and I do not want the kids to hate that time because dad can't cope you know! That is a time to celebrate!

Iceman,
Cool you got it! Hey You hit the nail on the head there brother Let your father know that I said THANKS! and give him a big kiss on the lips! He should understand...or you just might get your butt kicked, either way it is still cool to let him know! Thanks for your input.

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Ride Hard Ride Fast and never mind who is behind you unless your a couch potato!

CelticCB,

Yeah, once I read about the origins of "biker culture," I totally saw it: it was a way for these guys to deal with PTSD before it had a name. And while every war/deployment is different, I won't even pretend to compare my service with what WW2 vets had. 3+ years in the soup with no leave? dayum

But, you surely understand that conduct unbecoming is conduct unbecoming. We are responsible for our own actions. Hell, I get flashbacks/daydreams/nightmares about the time ____ __ me in the ____ with a _____ before the _____ came as well as the time when my #6 Chicken a-la-king MRE had no freakin' M&Ms for some reason. If I insult others' service because of it, I am out of line and should be called on it. A good vet would call me on it, and then he'd offer understanding but remind me not to step on my d!ck again.

I was in special ops, but not SF or SEAL, though I did go to ABN school with a bunch of you guys before you got your budweiser pins. Keep your feet and knees together.

celticcb
We went Disney World, with my kids, a few months after I got back. The kids still talk about me getting mad, and ruining one of the days there. Thank god you have a good wife, I have one too, I had several friends get divorced within a year of returning. My family was very understanding and supportive. I guess it may have something to do with the fact my wife's dad spent 4 years in Vietnam. He was deployed when she was born.
Have a good one.
One more final and this semester of college is over for me. seems odd a few years ago I was stressed daily in Iraq. Now, my only stress is finals and weather my grandson is going to S$$T again before his mom gets home.

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Dont play with scissors.
2006 cobalt blue Fatboy

Thank you all for serving. I have no idea what you're going through but the memories can't be easy. At the least, we owe you whatever you need.

God bless and keep you.

Just my $.02.

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