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Thread: My PTSD Story

  1. #1
    I come in peace, seeking gold and slaves. Goodyear420's Avatar
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    Default My PTSD Story

    Part of my PTSD counselling involves sharing my story, so I figured some of the more appreciative would be among my own clan, knowing what some of you have also been through. My story begins early in 2013, and keep in mind certain details are with-held for the sake of national security. Operation KOBOLD: the deployment of up to 10 Canadian Armed Forces members to Pristina, Kosovo, to serve with the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). We were in charge of mentorship and had a movement detachment. I had been assigned my position after the Russo-Georgian war of 2008, as the situation in Eastern Europe began to escalate again. Recently, Ukraine has been having problems with Russian loyal citizens wishing for less NATO association, and want to go back to the Warsaw PACT era. The unfortunate thing is, they've been dealing with things like this for centuries. Before Russia was even Russia, there was Muscovy, Crimea was it's own independent nation, Austria and Hungary were world powers, etc., but the people have always been the people, separate from their governments. You may have heard of the suicide bombing of the train station just prior to the 2014 winter Olympics, performed by a woman, or that Russian military were on the lookout for what they called Beliye Kolgotki, the White Tights. Google them, they're a pretty cool "urban legend" that may or may not exist, but I digress.

    The biggest thing we were unprepared for was the bombings and how they were performed. We learned our lessons from Vietnam: the enemy doesn't always wear a uniform. We learned our lesson from the second Gulf War: our enemy doesn't always fight in conventional ways, and has a different idea of self-sacrifice. What we weren't prepared for were women, and children aged 8 to 16 to be involved. Even with my worldly experience, I didn't think there was a people outside of Africa that raised their kids as warriors, but after speaking to some KFOR members who were in the same situation at their age, I found out it wasn't a matter of being raised that way. Eastern Europeans that live in war torn areas grew up in that sort of situation, and had to fight to survive. Some people saw no other way for their loved ones to survive than to sacrifice themselves.

    It was almost afternoon, when we had reached our outpost to do a routine survey of the troops and equipment. This particular outpost was on the edge of the disputed border with Serbia, just north of Podujevo, so it saw a decent amount of traffic. A car pulled up to the checkpoint as I was in the guard station right adjacent. I saw the driver, a young mother of two kids, whom she had with her in the back seat. Pretty standard procedure, the KFOR was lenient with these types due to the number of families that had been separated by the military action. After she was cleared, I heard her car roll by maybe 10 feet, when time itself slowed to a crawl. Anyone that has had this misfortune of being around a car thats been turned into an IED knows there's a particular sound you usually hear. She hit the ignition switch again, making her engine sputter, and activating the bomb. I heard another member of my unit cry something out before the explosion, but at this point all I can recall is him yelling.

    Some paneling from the car smashed through the plywood piece of crap guard station, destroying the entire left side of my body, but thankfully blocking any potential shrapnel from hitting me. After the blast, I was on my side, then back, then stomach, as I was extremely disoriented, the concussion from the blast messing with my equilibrium, making my ears ring louder than thunder. In situations like that, however, you're taught to collect yourself as quickly as possible in order to brace for counter-attack. Usually an IED blast like that is followed up with an armed insurgent skirmish. Thankfully there was none though, but they managed to kill 2 KFOR, fatally wound a Task Force Pristina agent, and caused 13 civillian wounded casualties, along with the irreparable damages caused to a LAV.

    I share what I can at any given time, the details aren't always the clearest in my mind when I talk about it. I've been told I distract myself and beat around the bush, but if anyone's got any question, don't be afraid to ask, I don't bite.

  2. #2
    Save your breath. You'll need it to blow up your date! Siegmier's Avatar
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    wow goodyear, I never knew youd seen action, let alone were in the army...

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    I come in peace, seeking gold and slaves. Goodyear420's Avatar
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    I was in the Canadian Navy, and yeh, I've seen a few engagements, mostly within my last few years.

  4. #4
    If you choke a smurf, what color does it turn? Redd_slayer's Avatar
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    Wow man.

    Thank you for sharing that with us. I know it takes a lot.

    You should chat with syphen if you ever see him around.

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    If you choke a smurf, what color does it turn? GridNoDC's Avatar
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    yeh, I remember talking about this with you goodyear. Thank you for sharing, I hope everything is going well.

  6. #6
    I come in peace, seeking gold and slaves. Goodyear420's Avatar
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    Thanks to everyone who took the time to read, if anyone has any similar stories, I implore you to share, even if you aren't military. Doctors, nurses, police, paramedics, firefighters, even the unfortunate civilian that experienced something acutely traumatic in their lives, it helps to share.

  7. #7
    Boycott shampoo! Demand the REAL poo! Fire_Eclipse's Avatar
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    Thanks for serving Goodyear and all others in AOD who do.

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    ID-10-T Maggoty's Avatar
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    Great job on that post, I know how much it takes to share that kind of stuff. Keep up the good fight.

  9. #9
    I took an IQ test and the results were negative lil8up's Avatar
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    Thanks for sharing man.
    Respect.

  10. #10
    Save your breath. You'll need it to blow up your date! Siegmier's Avatar
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    Well since noone else has said it, and it really must be mentioned
    WHAT CANADA HAS A MILITARY FORCE?!?!?!

    Ahem now that thats over,
    once more still shocked goodyear, I never would have guessed...

  11. #11
    I come in peace, seeking gold and slaves. Goodyear420's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AOD_Siegmier View Post
    Well since noone else has said it, and it really must be mentioned
    WHAT CANADA HAS A MILITARY FORCE?!?!?!
    Aha ha, our naval flagship is a canoe :)

  12. #12
    Banned from Forums Shadai's Avatar
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    I read this over on Tuesday, this is a unfortunate experience to discuss. But at least you shared it with us.

    Thank you for the Read Goodyear, thanks for serving too!

    ~ Gift

  13. #13
    I come in peace, seeking gold and slaves. Goodyear420's Avatar
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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUzdXoRH2H8

    For anyone interested in what it was I was doing in Kosovo, this is the biggest factor.

  14. #14
    AOD for life AOD Member AOD_Kharior's Avatar
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    Thank you for sharing Goodyear. I've been in the American Marine Corps for almost 4 years and know how difficult it is to talk about these things. Know that the people in the area really do appreciate you and the efforts of your troops in the area. You came out alive. Don't forget that. If you ever need someone to talk to, there are plenty of vets in AOD.
    Kill the meat, save the metal
    -DraigUK


 

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