Comments on: Another Perspective on War http://www.tearsofawarrior.com/another-perspective-on-war/ A Family's Story of Combat and Living with PTSD... by Anthony & Janet Seahorn Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:01:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Robert L. "Doc" Baty http://www.tearsofawarrior.com/another-perspective-on-war/#comment-88 Robert L. "Doc" Baty Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:29:19 +0000 http://tearsofawarrior.com/?p=1004#comment-88 I was a Navy Corpsman attached to Alpha Co., 1st Bn., 1st Marines in Vietnam during 1966 and 1967. I stayed in the medical field for forty years after returning home. When I finally had total burnout iiin the medical field and retired all of the things that happened in Vietnam came streaming back and nearly ruined my life and that of my family. I had known for many years that there was an underlying reason for my bad temper and my unwillingness to accept less that there best from other people, but I didn't know why. With all of the frustration that this brought on July 2, 2005 I nearly ended my life. I had my 9mm pistol loaded and at my temple with my finger pressing on the trigger. I suddenly realized that if my number had not come up during the many times I heard bullets come whistleing so close to my head when I was tring to save the life of one of my fallen Marines that it wasn't my time yet. I immediately went to the nearest VA Hospital and asked to see a doctor. I hadn't spent five minutes with him when he said that I had PTSD and he could get me the help I needed. He immediately made a phone call and within minutes I was sitting with a psychiatrist and telling him what was happening to my life through the tears that were flowing. It was hard for me to accept the things that he told me, but with his help and an entire team of professionals in the field I finally received the help that I needed. I am still getting treatment and attend two PTSD groups one with your brother John. I feel that things are improving ,but the demons are still there and often try to come to the surface. Life is like a roller coaster with many ups and downs, but I am learning to control them. I have read and re-read your book and it would be great if every citizen of this country would read it. Sincerely, Robert L. Baty Custer, SD 57730 I was a Navy Corpsman attached to Alpha Co., 1st Bn., 1st Marines in Vietnam during 1966 and 1967. I stayed in the medical field for forty years after returning home. When I finally had total burnout iiin the medical field and retired all of the things that happened in Vietnam came streaming back and nearly ruined my life and that of my family.

I had known for many years that there was an underlying reason for my bad temper and my unwillingness to accept less that there best from other people, but I didn’t know why. With all of the frustration that this brought on July 2, 2005 I nearly ended my life. I had my 9mm pistol loaded and at my temple with my finger pressing on the trigger. I suddenly realized that if my number had not come up during the many times I heard bullets come whistleing
so close to my head when I was tring to save the life of one of my fallen Marines that it wasn’t my time yet.

I immediately went to the nearest VA Hospital and asked to see a doctor. I hadn’t spent five minutes with him when he said that I had PTSD and he could get me the help I needed. He immediately made a phone call and within minutes I was sitting with a psychiatrist and telling him what was happening to my life through the tears that were flowing. It was hard for me to accept the things that he told me, but with his help and an entire team of professionals in the field I finally received the help that I needed. I am still getting treatment and attend two PTSD groups one with your brother John. I feel that things are improving ,but the demons are still there and often try to come to the surface. Life is like a roller coaster with many ups and downs, but I am learning to control them.

I have read and re-read your book and it would be great if every citizen of this country would read it.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Baty
Custer, SD 57730

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