THE MENTAL CHALLENGES OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND
The personalities of the medical company were tremendously varied . There were arguments amongst the CoC personnel , but nobody took the fights to any extent because all understood the mission for us , the medical company , was to save lives .
At night , I assisted with carrying the injured on litters , writing down meds , recording vitals , retracting , and occasionally finding some shrapnel in the face / mouth area . One of the most surreal things I witnessed was listening to and watching injured soldiers with one or two legs traumatically amputated telling their story every 5 minutes while on IV morphine .
Participating in Angel Flight brought all of what we were going through together and made us all realize the seriousness of the situation . Angel Flight was when we would carry a fallen soldier in their U . S . flag draped coffin to the awaiting aircraft , in our case a helicopter , because we had no airstrip . This was at night , three soldiers on each side carrying to the helicopter , covers ( hats ) off , and head down so as to not get clipped by the helicopter blades . A brief military ceremony was conducted , and the helicopter was off .
No one saw the tears ; it was dark and late at night . It wasn ’ t talked about until the next day , and even then only briefly .
Fast forward . It was my time to leave . Col Jon Lundquist had been there a week and was replacing me . Jon looked at me and said , “ I know you don ’ t want to leave these soldiers behind , but you have to go . It is my turn and my office staff is waiting for you to substitute for me . I need you there .”
I believe those that get through it and are able to move on are those that find a way to turn the good , the bad , and the ugly experiences into positive energy .”
Dr . Lundquist stood guard at the door to the dental clinic so I could say goodbye to the best dental assistant a military dentist can have .
I got on the same type of helicopter to re-trace my steps back home . I got on a military transport plane at Al Taquudum , Iraq , on Christmas Eve . The crew had Christmas lights strung up inside and soft Christmas music playing .
I spent another week or so in Kuwait and arrived home on New Year ’ s Day 2006 , at the Harrisburg Airport , late at night . No one greeted me . By now , I had become completely independent . I caught a cab to Ft . Indiantown Gap . There , my truck sat waiting for me . It started . I drove home . The light at night seemed so bright that it felt obscene .
I arrived home . Julie greeted me and said , “ I thought I ‘ d never see you again .” It took a long time to digest it all .
Everyone is affected by war . Some are affected both physically and mentally . Not all are affected for the worse mentally . However , I believe those that get through it and are able to move on are those that find a way to turn the good , the bad , and the ugly experiences into positive energy . Many try to make the world a better place for other people . Helping people , other military people , other people who have gone through many other rough times helps the helper more than anyone .
Most military people talk with other veterans of foreign wars . We all know they understand and they know we understand . We also know there is no way that people who have not experienced war can understand , and veterans still try , when they are ready , to help those who are not veterans understand .
If professional help is needed , it of course must happen and without any stigma attached . Others just need a very good support system that includes veterans .
I believe mental health is much like physical health and , in fact , intertwined . Some people need medicine and support and some need a good support system .
I count myself lucky because I had and have a great support system , including my fellow soldiers , sailors , marines and airmen in Iraq and at home in the U . S ., as well as many veterans that have gravitated to my office . When I retired from the Air Force ( Air National Guard ) on June 30 , 2021 , and told one of my 80-something-year-old veteran patients , Dick , I retired , he looked at me sternly at first , then smiled and said , “ Hell , I wish I was still in the military . I wish I could join again , but they won ’ t take me .”
He understands it all .
32 MAY / JUNE 2024 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL