Mike Dorning, writer for the Chicago Tribune, has written an excellent piece called "Families Endure Private War," on the struggle of returning vets to adjust to life at home. [registration required] Here's an excerpt:
There were welcoming banners and cheering families that brilliant sunny Southern California morning when the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment arrived home in September after seven harrowing months of roadside bombs, mortar barrages and sniper attacks mounted by a roiling Iraqi insurgency.
But their return from war has been more complex than the familiar television images of hugs and kisses on the tarmac or homecomings portrayed in Hollywood movies. In the two months since the men--and in this combat battalion, they are all men--returned to their wives, loved ones and families, there also have been shouting matches in the kitchen and tears in the bedroom.
The sad fact about this article is that no one will read it, and worse no one will take action to remedy the situation.
...40% of America still believes there are WMDs in Iraq, and that Saddam Hussein attacked us on 9/11, why wouldn't they believe that our soldiers, veterans and military families are getting everything that they need?
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