Soldier's Heart

12:46AM - Nelson

During the process of Soldier's Heart, one of the writers, Will Campbell, was inspired by the writings of another writer, Eran Deran, that he wrote a brief graphic novel style introduction to the character that Eran wrote about. Hence, "Nelson". I think this one of the best things to come out of the SH project.

Click to go to the full feature at soldiersheart.org

6:34PM - I love these guys..

Hi all, thought I'd pass on some of the silly antics my marine and his gun likes to pull off during down time.

11:28AM - Rememberance Day

I became obsessed with military history as a kid. I had heard a story told to me by my father about his grandfather, Bernard Woodruff. He fought in the battles of Ypres in 1915 in Belgium. In the infamous Flanders Fields.

He lived in the trenches. There was a German Sniper in the trees, not far from their position. Bernard and some other men were called to find the sniper and kill him.

( story and such )

9:48AM - It's Veteran's Day...

Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country and the sacrifices you have made!

5:31PM - Yo, Jarhead!

Happy fuckin' birthday!

3:38PM - [picpost] We could use a little levity, I think

Give it your own caption.

12:29PM - Bid for the Berkys

I hope this is alright to post here.

This is a charity shop set up to help the family of a fallen soldier.

Bid for the Berkys is opening on Wednesday, in memory of Bryan Berky, all profits go to our friend Erin and her infant son Harrison to help them at this difficult time.
http://hyenacart.com/CharityShop/

If you can't help, please pass this on to someone you think may be interested. Thank you!

6:00PM - A video to bring a lump to your throat.

Hi,

      just got this in my lj in-tray, and thought I'd send it to you guys. Yes there are tears, but I can't imagine how happy the 'lil gal was later...


http://elisi.livejournal.com/443403.html

    Ray Harley, Blairgowrie, Scotland.

7:13PM - Hello

I saw this group spotlighted, like so many others here, and joined after reading what it was about.  I was in the Army from 2002 to 2005, when I was medically discharged due to an injury.  I'm on disability now, and deal with PTSD.  

It's hard, sometimes, to relate to other civilians, even after four and a half years.  I have bad days, when all I want to do is either beat the crap out of something or tear myself apart.  Those are, thankfully, not as frequent as they used to be.  

I have trouble sleeping at night without medication, have terrible nightmares and wake up so tense and shaken I can't unclench my hands sometimes.  That, too, is hard to convey to others.

I was thankful to find this group, where I can say these things and not be looked at with pity or as if I were a freak who needs to get over it.   I may not be saying this right, it's hard to talk about.  

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and say that if anyone would like to talk, or if you could find it in yourselves to listen, I'll be around.  

6:49PM

I started doing that backward slide today, it was not one of my better days. I got on LJ and looked at my FP and read a request for help. I had to stop sliding and look at what the person needed, and tell them the little information that I know. The backward and downward momentum were broken by having to concentrate on that act.
Thank you.

4:54PM - Joining during the spotlight. :)

These spotlights are always huge things for communities.

( An introduction and some background information on me. )

I only have one military student this year, but when I saw this on spotlight, I realized how much this community could help me. Nice to meet you all and if you have any questions, please let me know. :)

10:17AM

I am the partner of a veteran of the Iraq war. My partner served there for 1 year and we didn't meet until after he had been home for 2 years. I have never dated any veterans, nor do I have any in my family. This is really new territory for me. I love this person more deeply than I can ever hope to express, and want to be able to be the best I can be for him in his times of need. PTSD is a part of our lives, as he suffers from it in a bad way. I am still trying to learn more about this disease, and how to best deal with it from the prospective of a partner who cannot fathom what her lover has seen or done in his past. I try to stay positive and supportive at all times. I am understanding of the days when he is angry, or when some date comes up that coincides with a battle date or deployment or the death of a friend, and he cannot function properly... but I still feel the need to reach out so I don't feel quite so alone. It feels good to read about other partners, other veterans, and how they are surviving in the "real world."
Thank you all for sharing your stories and reading about mine. Anyone who feels like commenting please point me in the direction of any useful PTSD information that might help me understand it further.


Thank you

11:51AM - combat spouses

if you have had a disagreement with your spouse and went to bed not speaking to each other, then do not attack them first thing in the morning. you do not know where they were that night. just ask my soon to be ex-wife. she sends me back to past conflicts every morning. maybe i was already there and was looking for a friendly face and found nothing but more war. save it till after lunch. it will keep.

7:17PM - Question! On the relations in the military.

Good evening to you all. Like most people, I come here because the LJ spotlight intrigued me and spotlights are always fun and, well, this community happened to come at rather interesting time in my life.

Swift introduction, as it may not be particularly valid or important: I am not in the service; however, my cousin served in USMC six years ago and on and off my family sporadically has had members in the service. I myself am a freshman in college and have been interested in joining the armed forces since I went to an intelligence conference in D.C. in February 2009. As we speak, I'm kicking around the idea of joining our school's ROTC.

But this is not about me -- this is about a friend of mine in USMC. He's nineteen, stationed down in 29 Palms, CA, Kilo Company and getting closer and closer to deployment in February to the Helmand Province. Which, I understand, is a pretty serious hot zone right now. And while he doesn't tell me much of anything, I'm beginning to get a very good inclination that he's scared. More than I even can imagine.  We used to talk somewhat frequently, but I've noticed he's become a lot more withdrawn. And quiet about everything.

Now, as an intelligent eighteen year old female who generally tries to research the shit out of everything to get a better idea of  -- well -- EVERYTHING, I'd consider myself well-versed, but I know that the territory he's dealing with is nothing I can imagine or even try to understand. But my question, directed towards those who remember the young whippersnapper days when they started off (or not young whippersnapper -- all age ranges are welcome) is this: did you feel like you began to withdraw from people close to you before your first deployment? Or did you try to get closer? I have no doubt that this likely varies from person to person and personality to personality, but I'm trying to get a generally feel of what exactly goes through one's head before their first deployment. And how they respond to those in civilian life around them.

Anyway: thank you so much for your time and reading. I appreciate it sincerely.

-- Megan

9:20PM - Please watch this.

Think before you complain

Justin | MySpace Video

7:17PM - A poem from ny nephew, to his dad. Dedicated to all those who've served, on this Remembrance Sunsay

Hi,

      I'm new here, having joined just last week. This Sunday is Remembrance Day here in the UK and, formy first post I wanted to say something about my brother-in-law, Lindsay Martin, who died last June, just a month short of what would have been his fortieth wedding anniversary. He met my sister, Marlene, in 1969, while they were both serving in Singapore. She was a nurse with the Royal Air Force; he a mechanic with the Army. They married about six months after they met; my sister often joking that they only did it because they needed the married quarters; more room you see.

    We didn't get on well at times, but I had an enormous amount of respect for him; especially because his three kids, and my great-niece, are amongst the people I love most in the world.

    A couple of days after his father died, his son Robert; my best friend, more than my nephew, posted the following poem he wrote to his father. It says far more eloquently than I can how most everyone he knew felt about him.

    I want to remember him for that, not for the fact that we didn't always like each other.

   For you Lindsay, and all those who've served their loved ones; their friends freedom; their country.


Sent: Sunday, 14 June, 2009 12:09:47 AM
Subject: i needed to do this

    
    For all those who've died, and those who've survived, I dedicate my nephew's poem to all of you,
    Ray Harley.

1:33AM - Supporter, Here

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

11:02PM

looking at the clock i can't believe how early it is in the evening.  i quit my usual nightly routine in favor of attempting something more productive, but i'm at a loss.  i suppose that if i wasn't intoxicated, i wouldn't be considering this; i highly doubt it, actually.  moments like this make me think that i require substance abuse to produce a catalyst for constructive action.  i'm hardly as critical of my habits when i'm sober.

i made a pathetic attempt at an editorial for veterans day.  i learned a great deal about the history of the holiday and found a very inspirational collection of writings that followed the origin of the tradition.

here is a preview:

http://books.google.com/books?id=B4onmAGKpLgC&pg=PA179&lpg=PA179&dq=armistice+day+woodrow+wilson&source=bl&ots=_0a9hOP10f&sig=oM9xmYOzN5_w_z3kr3Gb9i6mUdI&hl=en&ei=cuz0SvD2FYrN8QbxppzzCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CBgQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=armistice%20day%20woodrow%20wilson&f=false

Veterans Day was originally named Armistice Day following the signing of a peace agreement at the end of World War I which ended conflict on the Western Front.  It must have been a very inspirational time.  It was supposed to be the 'war to end all wars'.  Why couldn't it have been?

Here is an excerpt from Armistice Day - the collection that I linked above - by Grace Hazard Conkling.  She writes about the destruction of Rheims Cathedral in France prior to American involvement in the war:

Rheims Cathedral - Grace Hazard Conkling, 1914

A WINGÈD death has smitten dumb thy bells,
And poured them molten from thy tragic towers:
Now are the windows dust that were thy flowers
Patterned like frost, petalled like asphodels.
Gone are the angels and the archangels,
The saints, the little lamb above thy door,
The shepherd Christ! They are not, any more,
Save in the soul where exiled beauty dwells.

But who has heard within thy vaulted gloom
That old divine insistence of the sea,
When music flows along the sculptured stone
In tides of prayer, for him thy windows bloom
Like faithful sunset, warm immortally!
Thy bells live on, and Heaven is in their tone!

1:21AM - Another Newbie!

Firstly my deepest sympathy goes out to the families of all 13 people that died at fort Hood and to the 5 British servicemen and the Afgan soldiers and policemen. All brutally slain by those they entrusted to help them to serve and protect. Also my best wishes to all the servicemen and women injured in these attacks that only go to highlight the times we live in today.

It's strange how things lead from one to another. Earlier today I was listening to an essay by a man speaking on the radio about PTSD, tracing it all the way back to pre WW1 and 'Soldiers Heart' and now here I am. First time on LiveJournal and I find this. I am not a soldier. My father was, his father before him was also. My grandmother spent some of her life as a 'Guest' of the Japanese in a POW camp in WWII and naturally I was disuaded from signing up! But I do have the utmost respect and admiration for the men and women who put their lives on the line for our countries (I am a british citizen) and regardless of what our individual beliefs are, we should all support their efforts and wish them speedy and safe passage home again.

6:47PM - Hello!

I been watching this community since the spotlight appeared.

I am a wife of a Army branch soldier. He is currently stationed at Fort hood. I know! The base that had the shooting today. It is scary.

I live off base in Copperas Cove, so I am safe. I do worry for my husband, who is in the field, and for his friend. Currently his friend's unit is on lockdown.

I still give my prayers to anyone that may have lost a family member in this shocking event.

Update Edit: Everything seems to be well! I talked to my husband's buddy, but he can't get ahold of him either because his phone is off. But it all sounds positive!