My brother, was deployed to Iraq, when he got home he was pretty messed up with PTSD. His eyes were sunk in and he always looked sad. He eventualy started telling us stories, sad stories about the conditions of the towns and the poverty of the people. He was also very effected by the fact that everyone was armed and they had no idea who was a friendly or who was an enemy. He, like so many others had life changing and terrifying experiences from war.
He started feeling tired all the time and was not able to complete his PT exam and was discharged from the National Guard. He had been going to the VA with his concernes about fatigue and they were doing tests to find out what was wrong. After he was discharged one of the tests came back that showed he had Hodgkins Lymphoma. This is why he couldn't pass his PT exam, he had CANCER. He went through 6 months of chemo therapy and several weeks of radiation therapy and his cancer is now in remission.
He has 2 children 9 & 6, his wife has rheumatoid arthuritis and can't work anymore, she can't pick up her kids anymore because of the disfiguration in her hands and wrists. My brother joined the military to take care of his family, so they would have insurance and she could get the medicine she needed while waiting the 24 months to get medicare. Now he can't work because of his PTSD and he is still recovering from the intense chemo and radiation therapies.
They are doing ok now, she is on medicare and he is recieving some VA benefits. Thank goodness he had taken those tests before he was discharged. My brother deserves an honorary discharge, he is a hero. Why does our military not take care of these men and women who risk their lives for our comforts and freedoms? My Brother was one of the best mechanics I know, now he has panick attacks when breathing engine fumes. Where will he work now?
Weiser, ID