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.I am a Vietnam Veteran who spent 38 years of living hell with PTSD and did not even know it. Going from job to job went through 4 marriages did not even enjoy my children or any body, would spend most of my time isolated away from every body and every thing, no friends and would only associate with people I worked with at work no where else would not go to company outings or even family outings broke most of the time allways woundering where the money was going to come from drinking instead of paying the bills being selfish in the fact that I would be drunk most of the time. That is not the way to live and what it did to my family and children I could not see not untill I had 5 pypases done on my heart in March of 2005 and all the nightmares and visions that I had fought off for so long all came back so strong that I could no longer controll them, So when I went to the VA to see a primary doctor and register for medical bennifits, he talked to me for only five minutes and told me I had a severe case of PTSD, I said what's that and he sent me to mental health for treatment and am still and will continue to go. The way I lived for 38 years and what my children and I went through I do not want any young combat Veteran to live through, there is help out there at the Vet Centers and at the VA mental health centers. Be a real soldier and get the help to live a real life. ___________________________________________________________T he diffrence in me before Vietnam and after Befor i joined the Navy I had a lot fo friends and we did almost every thing together hunting, fishing, high school ball games, drag racing, on the street and at the track, dating and just being teenagers, during boot camp the same thing, with new friends at my duty station in Beeville Texas, and when I went to Port Hueneme, and joind NMCB 11. When I got back in 1967 I stayed isolated from every one, when I would go to the chow hall I would sit where I could see the whole chow hall and by my self, people must of thought that I thought that they were not good enough for me but that was not the case. I did not relise what I was doing it all the rest of my life would be in isolation, the woman that I married would want to go out and I would say go with your friends when they would have their friends over I would not be there got fired from one job because I did not show up for a presentation thas was manditory it was a award for me and I told where to stick it, every where I worked I would make sure I worked by my self never had any friends sence 1967 and the only friends that I have are the ones on my space and that is because I dont have to be around thiem, In a croud it does not make feel very good because I am on the look out for the enemy still. I can not enjoy the 4th of July or New Years because of the flash backs the explosions cause, The only time I get a good nights sleep is during a thunder storm or a Huricane, the rolling thunder remindes me of the B52.s dropping their bombs on the NVA & VC a 1/4 mile away. I would love to be my old self and enjoy being around people when ever I have to be around people I get sick and cant hold any thing down and they say its a anxiety well Im working on that, A normal life is what I gave up by going to Vietnam and I would do it again for my country so when you see a combat veteran that has no fisical looking injurys just ask your self just how bad is he or she hurting on the inside, I will tell you it hurts more than any can imagine, If I could cry I would but that ability was taken away as well, so my famlly has thought I was a cold hearted SOB now they know what it is and like me they find it hard to understand and why it cannot be fixed it can only be worked on with many mistakes on the road to recovery a road that will never end I hope those of you that read this will look at your Combat Veteran or Rape victim in a diffrent light. ____________________________________________________________ "It is illogical to put a cap on VA funding when it is impossible to put a cap on the number of those wounded and injured in service to their country."Veteran Support Task Force Initiative LaunchedUnder the auspices of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and the Vietnam Veterans Assistance Fund (VVAF), a Designate Support Task Force was organized in January for the purpose of connecting VVA and VVAF with American corporations and communities throughout the nation to make them aware of the plight of returnees from Afghanistan and Iraq.The Support Task Force is working with the (VVAF) and (VVA) in this endeavor. VVAF has an established record of supporting programs that provide direct services and representation to veterans seeking benefits and services they earned through their sacrifices. These veterans now include those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who need medical and mental health support, homeless services, career counseling and job placement and special services for the disabled.Support Task Force President Adrian Guglielmo was chosen because of her extensive background working for corporations on diversity programs and the many awards she has received, including Wells Fargo’s Marketing Woman of the Year and New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s Woman CEO of the Year.The Support Task Force hopes to raise $5 to $20 million for VVA and VVAF programs for returning veterans. The mission is to raise corporate and public awareness about the needs of veterans and to do this through marketing programs that benefit veterans and corporations. Some of the initiatives in the works include a National Coin Can Donation Program, Send a message to a Veteran, and a Diseases of Warfare program.All of the Support Task Force programs are national-awareness campaigns designed to get businesses and individuals involved in, as Adrian Guglielmo said, “honoring the sacrifice of returning veterans who fought for their country and now would like to join you in enjoying the American freedoms they fought to preserve.”To get involved and for additional information, call Adrian Guglielmo at 917-968-1357.WHERE I WAS IN VIETNAM Febuary 1966 to December 1966 Danang/ Marble Mountan Forward Combase Camp Adenir China Beach Monkey Mounten My Thi My Kni My Thi My Khe and of course Dog PatchFebuary 1967 to October 1967 Dong Ha forward Combat Base Camp Barnes, Camp Carrol,Quan Tri. Khe Sahn, Con Thien, Hills 861, 881n, 950, & 1015 Rock Pile, Cam Lo, Liberty Bridge