listen to the words
Thank you for your service Phoenix76.I am so sorry for the way you guys were treated when you came home.My uncle Lance Corporal Phillip (knuckles)Mcdonell 2RAR,struggled with PTSD until his passing in 2014 aged 72.Phoenix76 said:Ya know, when I came home in late '68, I felt like a fugitive in my own country. Mates were spat on, called baby killers, rapists. You sort of crept back into civvy street so no one knew about you.
I just went home to my missus and held her tight. She worked for Dept of Defence and was the first person to see that daily cas reports. Our first wedding anniversary was spent with me in 'Nam. So was my 22nd birthday. Not great times.
Why am I telling you this? Well it took 45 years before I would talk about it, and I still fight it to this day. It helps when I can talk about things. Not necessarily detailed things, although that has helped too. Every little bit of accepting what happened helps me cope with the memories. I'm pretty good these days, mostly, but when I think back about dust off when my mates are laying on stretches, all covered up except their bloody boots, waiting for the dust off chopper. Well, it still gets you where it hurts.
Thanks for the post 7.62, memorable.
Cheers from the memory of Coral & Balmoral.
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