To anyone else that has been deployed to OIF/OEF did all of the fire works going off remind you of your deployment? As I was waiting for our cities main firework show to begin I was brought back a little to Ramadi. I swear some of the pops and explosions sounded exactly like the cackle of AKs firing and IEDs and mortars exploding. In my head I was telling myself that I should be hearing a loud base announcement for people with A- and O+ blood to report to the medical facility any time now. It was kind of weird. This is my first Fourth of July back home since being deployed.
Interesting. I was on top of Mt Helix for the fireworks and I could see the whole city. They were doing a foreworks show simultaneously throught the whole county. I tell you it was eerily similar to watching mortars fall all over the place. A tiny part of me wanted to get the hell our of town as fast as I could.
This is my second. It does remind you of the war. I think it does everybody. I don't see how it couldn't. The worst for me was driving. It took a while for me to be able to stay calm behind the wheel. I also couldn't handle large crowds for a while, but that went away.
Just a heads up, though: war memories tend to get stronger as time passes. Just the opposite of what I thought. The weird thing to me is how much I want to go back. I didn't expect that.
You'll be alright. If it gets too crazy for ya, talk to some vets. That's helped me alot.
Yeah, that's exactly how it is. I try not to think about it cuz it really messes with my head. I'm just looking forward to our next tour, and taking advantage of this time to prepare as best I can.
Vesuvius I had trouble driving as well. My "problem" however was that I was driving extremely cautiously. To the point I probably could have caused an accident for not moving with the regular flow of traffic.
I also had the same problem with crowded areas to, especially malls. I felt like I was going to explode inside when I first walked through a mall.
I got out of the Guards in May (honorable). But again, like you two I often think about re-enlisting just to be deployed again. People think I'm crazy when I tell them I actually enjoyed being a hummvee gunner in Ramadi. Of course that was the first half of our deployment. The second half we got stuck doing Detainee Ops in Southern Iraq...that was the worst damn job I have ever had. I went through a phase there that lasted about 2 weeks where I had a huge amount of rage built up - more than I have ever experienced. I talked to a guy who said he was experiencing the same thing and simply talking about it and knowing I wasn't the only one really helped to alleviate it. That two weeks was one of the toughest times in my life. Its late and Im blabbering, time to stop.
hey Run, I am getting the feeling afghanistan is in your future. I was in a company that is supposed to go with you guys over to Kosovo and everyone seems to think that they are going to get shifted over there. I am gonna be ****ed if that happens, since i am going to iraq with another unit.
Good Idea...sorry wasn't trying to start any crap or rumors....I will just be mad if I got pulled for Iraq from my original unit and wouldnt be able to go to Afghanistan with guys i have already spent a lot of time with. Run Pm with your ideas if you want..I have a few myself.
