You mention WWII vets leads me to a speculation:
In my neighborhood there were 4 WWII vets, 1 Korean era Vet and 3 Vietnam Vets (including me)

2 of the WWII vets have died of old age and 2 of the Vietnam Vets have died - both from cancer.

Oh, and I'm a cancer survivor.

It makes you wonder WTF is it about Vietnam that's killing all of us.

This last post has a lot of meaning to it. There indeed is, "something," about Vietnam that just won't go away.

The first person who comes up with an answer to this question is going to be very popular in a hurry!

I get lost and confused on these forums and I'm thankful that members don't slam me for being dysfunctional. I know my posts aren't as 'clear' as I would like them to be.

I am 61 and ambulatory, but people have told me I don't look that old and they can hardly believe the unexplainable physical problems I've survived over the years. People that know me didn't think I would live this long. These problems weren't from self-destructive behavior and there is no family history of any of them. AO is the cause. They started in '70 and '72 when my wife suffered two painful pregnancies that ended in grossly deformed still born babies. Thank God I fathered 2 healthy children before I went to Nam.

Ten years ago,I was told that the life expectancy of the Vietnam veteran was 55 years of age. Sure enough, some of the vets in my group at my VAH died at that age 4-7 years ago from heart attacks, cancer and diabetes.

In the mid 90's we had a very large group and vets started dying at the rate of one a month. A buddy was keeping track of these deaths and gave up counting at 22 dead(more than half) after a couple of years. We were going to funerals every month for two years....and then more died, as I stated, 4-6 years ago. There's only a handful of us left from the original Nam group that goes back to the mid 80's. Most of us are survivors of cancer and heart disease. I'm in congestive heart failure and have to exersize daily to be able to get around and to keep my heart and vital organs functioning and I'm also a borderline heart transplant candidate.

My father was a WWII vet that fought in the Pacific theater and most of his war buddies died young also. He outlived all his friends and passed at 84 years of age four years ago and now rests at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, second in size only to Arlington. I've walked around there to look at all the tombstones and it's unbelievable how many Vietnam vets there died at age 55. There are some that died at 54 and 56 years of age, but the majority were 55....And of course, there are Nam vets that passed on at all different ages too, but the majority, from what I could see, were 55. This summer I got over problems with water retention and extreme fatigue , but then another problem developed that I won't discuss until there is a definite diagnosis..Tomorrow I go for CT scans and hopefully if there is a problem, it can be cured.

I'm not sayin' this is the answer, but If PTSD doesn't kill the Nam Vet....., Agent Orange might. Knowing that Col. Hackworth and Tiger Wood's father died of AO related cancer in their senior years just shows that the threat will never go away.

I live in a very rural area and my closest neighbor runs a farm across the road. He was in the Army, was too young to go to Nam, but seems to understand how I feel. There are other Nam vets that live around here in seclusion also but they have wives they send to town to get groceries and supplies. I should be so lucky.. But after 20 years out here, people in the store and gas station seem friendlier to me. I think originally they were afraid I was dangerous but time proved that I wasn't. An old girlfriend from town told me a while back that they thought I was crazy, but I didn't care what they thought. If they didn't ignore me in town, I was always polite to them if any approached me. But glad to get away from them.

I currently have an on going problem with our apt. manager. It is over dog poop. I have told her nicely that I have PTSD and arthritis of my lumbar spine. The VA asked her to help us because of our disabilities. She has no goal to get along with me. She does not talk to Mike, my husband , about the dog poop situation. Sunday, she posted a note on everyone door that it will be $50.00 per dog poop not picked up. I avoid her because of my anger and I do not want to lose control. I am on medications so that I appear " normal" and can function in public and with my family. When my " triggers" and/or buttons are pushed to far I have blacked out and throw things and hit people. I do yell back and tell people to shut up and or walk away. There are some people that I do not get along with. I am a female veteran, Army 1971-1974( Stateside). I still have panic attacks, water pouring off and shaking. I go home or find a place that I feel safe and lay down.

HAHAHAHAHAHA..............

My neighbors across the hall are taking me to court tomorrow for repeat (VERBAL) violence! LMFAO!

WOOHOO!

Makes me want to stand in the breeze way and sing a symphony of explicative words!

Don't start what you can't finish.

To sum it up, this is going to be real awkward Wednesday afternoon and there on.

Shizers

Update on my apt. manager problem.: Today my apt. manager and a male black staff member were waiting for us to check the mail. The mail boxes are by the office. She handed me a white envelope that was open.Inside was a letter from an lawyer dated today. The letter mentioned listening to voice mail between the manager and myself. I did not respond except to take the envelope. It was a comply or be evicted. I called the management group that owns the apt. complex. I was crying because my PTSD was high level of stress. I managed to get the Vice President's email. I explained the problem and requested a meeting to deal with this issue. After reading the letter from the lawyer it looks like a fake. This woman also wants us to get rid of our feeders for wildlife. I do not know what she has against me. The apt. complex is owned and operated by Riverstone . Riverstone is a national organization. When I called Riverstone about the manager's behavior they had no clue what is happening.

SallyArmyMedic, Guestions:
-1- What does your lease say about animals and their mess?
-2- What does the city/town/county laws have to say about animals and their mess? In this area is, pick it up or pay a fine. The community that I live in it's pick it up or be evicted.
-3- What does the color of staff have to do with the issue?

Finally, I strongly suggest that you seek solid counseling to help you deal with these types of situations. These things left to fester can result in bad things happening that can not be undone.

Those of us who suffer from PTSD can not do life without a strong support base even if it is one additional person.

Additionally IMN2BHO, we all need someone in our life who cares enough to say "No," "You can't do that," "You must get help, right now." If we have that person in our life, we must be committed to acting on their word. My wife is that person in my life.

Some suggestion to find a counseling would be the VA, the state/county/city or ministers.

Our best to you,

OAL

quote:

Originally posted by OldArmyLove:
SallyArmyMedic, Guestions:
-1- What does your lease say about animals and their mess?
-2- What does the city/town/county laws have to say about animals and their mess? In this area is, pick it up or pay a fine. The community that I live in it's pick it up or be evicted.
-3- What does the color of staff have to do with the issue?

Finally, I strongly suggest that you seek solid counseling to help you deal with these types of situations. These things left to fester can result in bad things happening that can not be undone.

Those of us who suffer from PTSD can not do life without a strong support base even if it is one additional person.

Additionally IMN2BHO, we all need someone in our life who cares enough to say "No," "You can't do that," "You must get help, right now." If we have that person in our life, we must be committed to acting on their word. My wife is that person in my life.

Some suggestion to find a counseling would be the VA, the state/county/city or ministers.

Our best to you,

OAL

While you make some good points. You also made some callous responses.

Sally comes on these forums to vent instead of leveling some one out in the real world.

Just let her vent.

I tried to be the person that tried to fix everything when people talked about their problems. It damn near cost me my marriage.

So just get over the "black" word. It is non offensive as it is not a racial slur.

Just remember YOU CANNOT BE THE FATHER OF THE UNIVERSE

I tried, the job was already filled ;-P

sometimes , 'features' of a person(s) is a trigger to PTSD patients in a stress situation....depending on details of their stressors

bluecoastlife, You also make some good points - thanks.

I never argue with a coasty. The two coasties that I talk to most often have me twisted around their little fingers and they will not let go. The same goes for this little fly girls I know.



I'm just loooooooove girls in blue.

Update time. Some situations trigger by PTSD responses. If some people are yelling at me or I fell trap , my PTSD acts up. I did not say anything to the apt. manager when she handed me the letter.I rea the letters. THe next day, I wrote a letter to Riverstone . Riverstone oversees the apt. coplex. I mailed the letter. Mike removed the wildlife feeders. We are going to pay the rent on the first of the month. I do not care what color a person is as long as they do not harm me. I went through a race riot on base at Ft. McClellan, Al. Another one of my stressors. I have been asked to be in the Veteran's Day parade, Nov. 7. A group, Pack Parachute.Org. is having veterans that have MST marching with them. This is the first time that I have gone public showingmy face about having PTSD/MST. Mike is my support system and my husband. He met me at my worst in Aug. 2003. I come to this forum to share and help others. Sometimes , I vent .