From a member: I wrote this today for the vets/military on this page. Tomorrow Im heading to Arlington Cemetery, like I did last year, to take photos and visit the resting places of my loved ones brothers and sisters in arms. In honor of Memorial Day, this is for the Vets who lost someone. My grandfather was in WWII but, due to a strange turn of events, he never “saw action”. I’m a little fuzzy on the details (awaiting confirmation from my sister), but I believe he ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and was in a coma for 3 months while his platoon pursued their mission. I do know that none survived. Gramps always mentioned that he never saw action, regretting it. I believe part of that was rooted in a desire to be seen as having done his part, having been “useful” in a war that shook the world and regretting being sidelined for the only chance he would have had. I believe part of it was rooted in survivor’s guilt. A stupid thing kept him from fighting alongside his brothers. And now they were gone. I wish I had had this insight when he was still alive and lucid so I could talk to him about it. Had he not lived, he wouldn’t have had two daughters. My sister and brother and I wouldn’t be here. My brother is an Army veteran and served a year in Afghanistan. My sister gave my grandfather great-grandchildren and adopted a little girl who may have ended up lost in the system. And here I am, writing this for you. Maybe my words will have an impact. In two years I will get my Masters of Social Work and will be licensed as a clinical social worker, specializing in combat PTSD and TBI. Who knows the lives I may touch, all because he survived 70 years ago. For those of you experiencing survivors guilt…you are not wrong to grieve and to question why him/her/them and not you. It’s ok if you never get over it. Hold their memories close. Never let them go. Honor them by living the life they can’t. Give your all to your spouse and kids, or your future spouse and kids if youre single now. If you struggle to connect because of your PTSD or TBI, please talk to a counselor who can help you. You just never know the impact you’ll have on those around you, and generations after you, and the effect they’ll have on those around them. Like Grampa, all because you survived.
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 04:22:42 +0000
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