Veterans Day: John C. Seaman

A vets perspective…

It starts before boot camp. Some had to make choices before the draft got them. Regardless, a step was taken. Papers were signed. The first day was at an indoctrination center for day long physicals with hundreds of others. A medical folder and underwear were the two parts of the uniform of the day. There were multicolored lines on the floor everywhere. By the end of the day, after all the lines were followed and every part of every “body and mind” was examined, the clothes were returned, and in a room with dozens of others, an oath was given. (Look up the military oath on Google.)

Sometime later, in a very different location, boot camp began. They took it all. Family and identity were boxed up and sent home to parents or loved ones. By the end of the next day, everything that was identified with the previous civilian life was taken away. New work clothes, no hair, not even time to think about the amount of abuse that was going to make life so much different from here on out. In many ways, it will make life better. For the next 2 or 3 months, there was a re-education about what family, teamwork and brotherhood really meant. It was now time to be part of a large group of “brothers” that would watch each other’s backs. Their lives were most important. Re-education meant a willingness to die for the oath, the brothers, the country, and even the lives of everyone at home so that they could live within the guidelines of the Constitution.

Years pass….

One day, it is time to leave the service. Some suffer from the trauma of war, most suffer from the trauma of leaving the service. At the time, it might even be looked forward to, but as time passes, it becomes plain that there is no brotherhood to offer support anymore. Family and friends can’t understand that empty feeling that undermines confidence, undermines life. There is a longing to be part of what protects the brotherhood. A longing to be protected by the brotherhood. The indoctrination and training into the brotherhood was long and painful and it was undeniably beneficial. But when it was time to go and rejoin the civilians, there was no equal amount of help or training. Family and friends help, to some extent, and for many vets that was enough.

For some vets, even ex-military members might not understand. Not too long ago, vets would come home to a country that despised them. Where being a vet was shameful. It’s not that bad today, but the understanding still isn’t there. For some vets, they have a hard time talking about it. For some vets, they have orders not to talk about it.

Personal…

I don’t know if there is a solution for the suffering of vets. Some never re-enter into a normal life. Vets suffer from a high rate of divorce, unemployment, suicide and homelessness. They don’t want sympathy, charity or pity. I would guess they themselves don’t know what they want. While the “thank you”s on days like Veteran’s Day are warm and grateful, perhaps finding a little peace is what is really needed.