Point of particular Doonesbury strip?

[Mark44]

Aren't veterans often unwilling to tell about their experiences?

As you noted, it depends on the person and experiences. My dad was not on the front lines or flying in one of the bombers, so his experiences were different from the guys who were in infantry, armor, artillery, or in the planes, many of which were shot down.

 

[berkeman]

Aren't veterans often unwilling to tell about their experiences?

It's probably similar to the situation with EMS providers, but would be even worse for soldiers if they saw a lot of combat.

In EMS we have different ways of coping with being involved in very stressful situations, sometimes involving a patient dying from trauma or illness (and sometimes a kid who is dying). There are usually counselor services available, and we often talk through stressful calls in a debrief or "hot wash" after the event is over.

It's pretty common knowledge in EMS circles that you don't ask another medic "what's the worst call you've been on" because that can dredge up bad memories that have been dealt with before and put away in a reasonably safe place. Unfortunately the general public does not know not to ask that stuff, so sometimes we have to deal with it and do our best to satisfy their curiosity without having bad flashbacks, etc.

I've been pretty lucky in my 18 years in EMS so far. I haven't lost a patient (that I know of), and have saved a few lives in some pretty gnarly situations. I'm also lucky that I have not had any bad dreams about my EMS calls, which is a big deal. Having bad dreams or flashbacks would definitely be a reason to seek counseling.

 

[Baluncore]

It is at times like this, that I wish I had listened to my mother when I was young.

Aren't veterans often unwilling to tell about their experiences?

On return, they learn quickly to partition the subject and keep it away from their friends and families. They will talk to other veterans, and stand together, but then avoid private things that might display weakness.

Veterans will be unwilling to talk until you sit down next to them alone, and ask general questions, in a genuine conversation, usually starting with where they were over some period. Keep it general at first, always let them decide the pace of the story.

Once you start to listen and accept them, they will open up and release the things they have kept buried for too long. With trust building, and time for them to think over several weeks, they will gradually expose what they have hidden the deepest. It is well worth the effort, you get to expose unwritten history, while watching them rise, as the weight of the past is released from their shoulders.

The technique to use is called active listening. You need sufficient knowledge of those times to avoid breaking their flow, and the willingness and acceptance that, for some time, you will become their closest trusted, and responsible friend.

 

[sbrothy]

It's probably similar to the situation with EMS providers, but would be even worse for soldiers if they saw a lot of combat.

In EMS we have different ways of coping with being involved in very stressful situations, sometimes involving a patient dying from trauma or illness (and sometimes a kid who is dying). There are usually counselor services available, and we often talk through stressful calls in a debrief or "hot wash" after the event is over.

It's pretty common knowledge in EMS circles that you don't ask another medic "what's the worst call you've been on" because that can dredge up bad memories that have been dealt with before and put away in a reasonably safe place. Unfortunately the general public does not know not to ask that stuff, so sometimes we have to deal with it and do our best to satisfy their curiosity without having bad flashbacks, etc.

I've been pretty lucky in my 18 years in EMS so far. I haven't lost a patient (that I know of), and have saved a few lives in some pretty gnarly situations. I'm also lucky that I have not had any bad dreams about my EMS calls, which is a big deal. Having bad dreams or flashbacks would definitely be a reason to seek counseling.

I'd imagine that being an EMT or a firefighter and having to clean up after a messy suicide by train or jump is pretty traumatic in itself. People who choose that way probably wants to make a statement, but it's inconsiderate. Normal working people have to clean up after you and they can't erase those pictures from their brains. Admittedly, noone makes a pretty body, but to involve others in your suicide is downright wrong.

 

[sbrothy]

BTW, to be completely fair, here in Denmark they are actually called "Golf-krigene" [sic]. So I'm pretty sure I'm excused for being a non-native!

 

[berkeman]

I, needless to say, don't fully understand the diffferences between the US army and the U.S. Marine Corp.

 

[sbrothy]

I would say it's not a joke. It was drama.

The marines now sometimes serve as a landbased force. I remember the battle of Khe Sanh. It was silly because marines won't dig in even if being shelled in a static position.

I'd say their persistence is mostly tradition.

You may have hit the proverbial nail here. A lot of the strips are drama and not jokes (or a strange mixture of the two).

I think The Marine Corp. serves as an important oppurtunity for people who have no other choice (in fact, a little like the French Legionnaries) as @.Scott mentioned in what I think was post #2.

EDIT: Also, unsurprisingly the pejorative expression "jarhead" is mentioned in the movie "Jarhead". Go figure!

 

[sbrothy]

I know this thread is kinda dead, but just to point out the horrendous translation, the Danish version translated "an explosion in a meth-lab" to "an explosion in a methadone lab". To be honest I'm not sure that the original version meant methlab but I'm willing to kill a small furry animal like a badger that it was.