PTSD 

       POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after being exposured to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave
physical harm occurred or was threatened, causing a severe and ongoing emotional reaction, or an extreme psychological
trauma.

Howard K. Smith, a 1945 war correspondent reporting from the frontlines about emotional battle
fatigue that many soldiers were experiencing, stated," Although there is no obvious physical
wounds, combat fatigue is the most awful features of war. In relation to combat stress; Combat
trauma have more of a debilitating effect on combat soldiers than physical injuries and wounds.
Injuries and wounds heals and veterans move on with their lives. Not so with PTSD.

During the Civil War combat stress was referred to as Soldier's Heart, WWI Shell Shocked, WWII
Combat Fatigue, the Vietnam war has designated the problem as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD). Presently and for the forseeable future PTSD will represent the most debilitating situation
veterans from past wars and veterans from the Middle Eastern Wars will have to contend with.

PTSD has no outward or visual appearence but mentally distroys the soldier and his family, also
distory his ability to maintain steady employment, or a cohesive family relationship. An affect that's
linked to self-medication, drug use, robbery and homelessness is a result for the majority of 200k
plus veterans sleeping on the streets of this nation today. These are the young men and women 
trained by the military how to kill and how to survive in combat, but who's training them how to live
with Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) after combat.

Returning Veterans to the war zone has proven to be an invaluable therapeutic tool that benefits
veterans who has had the opportunity of making such trips to their place of battle where the trauma
was initiated. 
Now that Warriors Mind Training has been introduced to military use, VETS BACK TO WAR ZONE will
include this program as a useful toole for VBTWZ's project.

                 Vets Back To War Zone

Thousands of America's once young soliders never had the opportunity to reconcile with the trauma
experienced during combat in their early lives. Some go through years of therapy and medication
only to find that after 30 years or more they still struggle with their demons and so does their families.
Due to this struggle, many marriages are often terminated through divorce. Sometime violent erupts
and much worse scenarios are played out.

 Psychoanalysts and Psychotherapists as well as Organized Tour Officials, Organized
veterans Tour Spokesman along with veteran returnees themselves have expressed the following positive and beneficial results from return trips to the war zone.

 The following articles were contributed by the returning 
brotherhood of Vietnam

Vietnam veterans.40 Years Later: 

Rev. Robert Smith, said " I can say I have been through PTSD therapy 15 years ago. A friend of mine who is also a
VN Vet and works for the VA led me through it. It truly was cathatic. However, actually being there was more than
I ever expected. Just seeing those places again and knowing I was in the vicinity was overwhelming. I cried deep
sobs for my fellow Marines and myself. It felt good. I think I have finally come home. I highly recommend it. I wish
I had the money to be able to pay for every vet that would like to go. It would be money well spent.

Robert Smith, USMC.. (visit) http://echo29.polkvoice.com 

                                                                 Rev. and Mrs. Robert Smith (caves of Cu Chi)
                                                                 After 40 years.

    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
        
Jim Dowling 196th. Recon Blt  said "  I just returned from 2 weeks in Viet Nam. Saw Saigon, Hanoi, Hue, DaNang and
other less noted areas. I was first there Oct 70 -Oct 71 with the 196th. Recon Blt. So was I there during the move from
Chu Lai to Da Nang. This trip was much more pleasant than the first. Driving down from Hue we came to the top of the
Hai Van Pass (on Hwy 1, N. over looking DaNang), below was Danang Harbor, the city and the western ridge where the
196th was based. I recognized the ridge and location where the battalion was located. It was a moving moment. It became
a point of reference in which I could balance the new information I was taking in on this trip. When we got to DaNang I
took a taxi and searched out the battalion Headquarters. I Found it! Thats the good news, bad news is, that it is an Army
Base with a guard out front. The area was as I recall, looking east, rice paddies below the base going all the way to Hwy 1.,
then there was the big white budda, then the bay. Most of that open space now has trees, there are lots of new homes
and shops along Hwy 1. I could not see the billets of the battalion as there was much mature vegitation. On the hill tops
there has been a reforestation program with pines and other trees. VietNam did not begin to prosper untill after 1986.
That is when the gov. opened up a some-what free enterprise system. It is impressive to see what they have accomplished.
Yet the gov. has not opened it up to the extent of China, but it is coming. The trip was very therapeutic for me. Before,
when I would think of Viet Nam I would think of the war. Now when I hear the word Viet Nam I think of the people and culture.
The war has now move a bit back in my mind and does't take up as much space ( I can put things into a better perspective),
but it is still with me every day. Before I went on the trip I did some reading. It was an eye opener and helped understand
what I was looking at. It also told me how blind we were as young kids shooting people and we had no idea why. The books
are an eye opener. A book that give a complete history of the war and is so well written is "Fire In the Lake" After reading it,
one can say that the war was lost when Diem was put in power in the 50s. Another book is "Viet Nam Now". It is a current
update. Other items of interest: Chu Lai was an army base but it is now closed. Nothing going on there. China Beach has
the Furama Resort, outstanding hotel. I hope this is of some help. If you have the opportunity to make the trip, I think it
ill help put closure to one of the most adventurous years in our lives. Merry Christmas"
Jim Dowling <innkeeper@gerstleparkinn.com>
San Rafael, Ca USA - Sunday, December 22, 2002 at 20:28:01 (EST)        

  Thanks to Jim Dowling for a most vivid expressed assessment of his present day
war zone.

                                       <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>