My neighbor just got back from Iraq and is walking with a thousand yard stare. Why?

Question

Landed at Selfridge ANG Base yesterday. Then was told he has to go back to Iraq in 8 months.

Note: He just told me the insurgents are one strong group of people. "No way can the USA win this one" the military man said.

Answer 1

The insurgents are fighting a no holds barred war. I spent my time in the AOR as a desk jockey reading reports and preparing presentations for a 3 star. I almost threw up in my trash can when I read a Marine unit's after action report describing how insurgents kidnapped a 5 year old boy, gutted him like a deer, filled his empty abdominal cavity with explosives, dropped the mortally wounded child off at the side of the road next to his parent's house, and detonated him when his parents took him inside.

The level of brutality and carnage in Iraq is going to leave a lot of our guys with PTSD. It should also serve as a reminder that our enemies are not bound a form of morality we would recognize.

Your neighbor almost certainly saw things that would make the movie "Seven" look like "The Wizard of Oz". What should shock most people is that a large number of Shiites are OK with what their death squads are doing, and a large number of Sunnis implicitly support the insurgent's tactics. The idea that large groups of people implictly support these things left me believing that they will massacre each other at the first possible opportunity.

Answer 2

After dealing with the way life was for him on a day to day basis and, I'm sure, worried he would die before he ever got the chance to leave, coming back here probably takes some time to get used to. The daily routine of life around here and not having to worry all the time that someone may kill you if you step out into the street. If he just stares or seems in his own world, he probably is in a state of shock. After being in Iraq so long, nothing probably seems right to him. Then to have to go back in 8 months when he knows he made it safely home, it has to be hard on him. Wondering if, when he goes back, will he ever make it back home again.

Answer 3

Not to mention he's probably suffering from PTSD.

I feel very badly for those guys. I think they would have an easier time being there if they knew it was making a difference.

Lets hope we're not there in 8 months. Or we're there in such force that the mission is actually accomplished.

Answer 4

It takes a lot to get used to being home. He was on guard for so long and he probably forgot what it was like to walk around comfortably. Plus, knowing that he has to go back again is probably making him feel like he shouldn't even get used to being here since he has to go back.

Answer 5

If you know what a thousand yard stare is, then the why is already answered, my friend. He's a soldier. It's his job to sacrifice himself, so that you don't.

Answer 6

Because he smelled you as he passed your house.

The crap you post day-in and day-out has gotten deep enough to offend passers-by.

Funny, though -- I didn't realize that Selfridge AFB was a major portal of re-entry to the U.S. Care to comment on THAT lie, erudite?

Answer 7

Normal reaction. He is still being cautious and will take a long time to let that go. My son-in-law still hides if he hears a loud boom or noise. They are trained to think and act that way. I am proud of him and your friend too.

Answer 8

Probably just to scare you so he doesn't have to speak to you.

You can't spew the hate you do over the internet and not have it show in your every day life.

Answer 9

Post war syndrome

Answer 10

That man has probably seen more bloodshed and sensless violence than any of us would care to see. Knowing that obviously we're not winning and that he's going to have to go back is demoralizing.