There is a Right, and a Wrong
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Mark Bieger with Farah
04 April 2011
In war, the closer you get to blood, the closer you get to truth. One day in Iraq there was a car bomb. It was like any other day at that time. Several American Soldiers were wounded.
In addition to hitting American Soldiers, this bomb hit children. Their parents, instead of hiding away with their children, collected them and rushed frantically screaming and wailing to the American Soldiers. There were flames and smoke and the crackling of fire and the smell of fuel and flesh. More children were brought to the Soldiers. One little girl named Farah was badly wounded. Several Soldiers huddled around Farah treating her, and then Major Mark Bieger wrapped Farah in a blanket to get her to a hospital.
For Farah it was over before it began
The Soldiers loaded Farah into a fighting vehicle and rushed her away but she died. This was one day of many like it. On the scale of the war, it was small: only three people killed if you include the attacker.
The Iraq war is over for the people who were never in it, but it will never be over for those who were. Of these experiences, little will remain other than the marble stones, the wounds, and the stories, most of which will go untold and will disappear nearly as quickly as they were lived. Our people are coming home.
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P O Box 5553
Winter Haven, FL 33880-5553
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Comments
Adam,
Yes, it did.
Michae
Adam,
You know how much was going on at the time. It was an open-air insane asylum of daily violence.
It will be okay Brother. If you are having issues please seek help. It's normal, as you well know. There are ameliorates.
Michael
http://www.facebook.com/MichaelYonFanPage
I have no right to think that I have any idea what you went through, or are going through, because I wasn't there. I did, though, read about a soldier in group therapy who heard something he said helped him a lot. Another guy told him -- or maybe it was the counselor -- that he was having the reactions of a normal person who was injured by a totally abnormal situation.
This man will never forget the sacrifices you have made for whatever the reason!
My son did 3 tours 2 OIF; 1 AFPAK as a Marine attack helo pilot.
I can only imagine the images that have burned into your psyches.
Lord have mercy,
Dick
I was in Anbar Province -- Ramadi and Taqaddum -- from SEP03-SEP04, and northern Iraq from JUL08-OCT09. I have so little time 'forward,' but I do my job for the folks who are there all the time.
@Adam: God bless you. I hope, and literally pray, you're able to find peace. Please hang in there, and please get help. And if you're talking to someone who doesn't help, find someone who does. You guys had one heckuva mission, and you did it well. I'm cheering for you!
Psychiatry cannot help . . . but Jesus can! It take one who have been through the depth of insanity and understands it in spades on how to heal this kind of problem.
Jer
"Don't ask those in the midst of the revolution if it was 'worth it.' Ask their grandchildren." ~BC
To those of you who serve: Thank you, and please know that your fight will be long remembered by those who eventually reap the rewards of your efforts.
Adam....not a day goes by that I don't think about "that day". I read Michael's account, and saw the picture of MAJ. Bieger and Farah.....it has never left my mind.
And neither have you!
Every single day, I think of YOU....and all of your brother/sister Warriors who stepped into that maelstrom and stepped out changed forever... How in the world do I even begin to say "THANK YOU" ??!!!
I love you brother. I pray that you will somehow find rest from your demons. As long as me and mine are alive, you have a true friend, and we are only too happy to do whatever we can do to help you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
GOD bless you Adam, and never, ever doubt this: Me and mine WILL NEVER FORGET!!!
Be well,
Joe Norman
http://www.inhealthnw.com/story.php?id=210
Here is Dr. Fly's website: http://www.flyconsulting.com/about.html
He is a kind, knowledgeable and compassionate man who has helped a lot of people.
Also, according to the article, there is a long list providers who offer neuro for free to vets:
Homecoming4vete rans is a national
outreach organization offering free neurofeedback services to veterans. Information on participating providers is available at their website, homecoming4vete rans.org. (Dr. Fly is on that list of free providers.)
Please pass this info on to any vet who may need it. God bless -- hope this helps...
Lord bless you.
War is hell but many times it's a necessesity to help conquer evil & protect the innocent, but there is always a price. And it's the memories that may haunt you in your soul.
As a Soldiers' Angels volunteer, let me please suggest a place that can help.
It's the PTSD Program at the Menlo Park Veterans Hospital in Calif.
I have witnessed hundreds of our Vets receive the crucial help that they need & deserve.
You Veterans have paid a high price and you do deserve all of the support that is available. I have witnessed these Vets who have seen the worst of war, smile & laugh and most of them have come to grip with their memories of war & have found so much peace.
I strongly recommend this program for those who bravely served & fought and then came back home to realize that they are a different man.
My heart & prayers go out to you.
God bless you all
They only care about their own power madness.
When the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq started I cried for what our troops would be going through and thought of the old saying, “Freedom isn’t Free”. Our troops pay the ultimate price for what we have today while our politicians piss away our freedoms just so “they” can stay in power.
Our troops work hard to bring freedom and democracy to far off lands and are call butchers, but Muslim extremist kill thousands upon thousands more Muslim people yet they are still call heroes.
Many Christians have been publicly speaking out against the burning of the Koran, but I haven’t heard even one Muslim speak out in protest against the burning of the Holy Bible.
I think it is time that we let the Muslim world police their fellow Muslims around the world. We’ve paid enough in money and blood to bring them freedom and money; too much money to line the pockets of their corrupt and power hungry Muslim leaders.
Muslims wonder why there is so much Muslim bashing going on in the world. Muslims will never gain respect in the eyes of the world until they themselves show respect for others.
Lachrymosa http://bit.ly/2RmW72
I am using a laptop with Vista Home and a mouse with two buttons and a center "wheel". To re-size type all you need to do is press and hold the CTRL key while rotating the wheel. You can set the type to be whatever size you want - it stays re-sized until you change it again or turn off your PC.
A mouse like mine can be found for just a few dollars on-line or any computer store.
Hope this helps.
II Chron. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
For what it's worth - you and everyone with you who suffers are loved dearly by your country. You cannot begin to imagine how grateful we are not just for your service, but also for your sacrifice. How we wish you could have your peace of mind back. Please please please fight just as hard for yourself as you did for us. Please. You deserve no less. As someone else said, if the counselor you have now isn't helping, find another who can. God loves you.
Amen! It took me years to not feel pain after Nam, but the memories never go away. Try to remind yourself of the good you were able to do and how it was worth it. I had to rework my way of looking at life back then. One day at a time sir. You, along with your fellow soldiers, did the best you could, given the circumstances.
I'm forever grateful you were there to help where you could.
May God bless you and help guide you in your quest for answers. Some questions do not have reasonable answers. We just have to let them be and move on to the next phase of your life. I hope you will find your fair share of peace and joy.
God bless you and all who serve.
Sincerely,
Ken
RVN 69-70
4th Inf Div.
Pleiku
Thanks. I can resize type as I said. Still have very light typeface.
I continue to follow your great work and although it pains me to relive such a sad story I'm grateful that you were there to share it with us. It gives us a tiny glimpse into the darkness of war. May Farah's little soul continue to rest in peace as her country continues to fight for it's basic freedoms.
As always, God speed to you.
Randall
@ All: There are many many treatment approaches to PTSD and what one person finds helpful, another may not. If after a reasonable trial, something is not working, try something else.
@ All military PTSD folks: You have been through a completely abnormal situation and many of your reactions that served you well for survival, do not work back at home. Keep seeking help. Know that there are a ton of people out there who want to support you and assist you! Thank you one and all for your service!!
Thanks
Thanks
WM
I am adding you to a prayer chain I run through our church. Please get in touch with Michael and listen to him, he knows so much about this whole mess.
We will be praying for you as we do Michael.
You can get help, take advantage of what is available for you.
God Bless,
This is so you will NOT isolate yourself & internalize it ...BECAUSE if you do, in time, something WILL trigger it and a meltdown is likely to occur.
When you start to trust again, the walls will come down and tears will come, but that's OK.....you will start feeling "human" again.
And I will add, like when your car breaks down, you take it back to the car mechanic, WELL, when We break down, our Heavenly Mechanic can heal us too. So as much as I am ALL FOR the PTSD programs, it's Jesus' amazing love and compassion that helps put the broken pieces together again. With all of the help the VA gives, please, don't leave out God's power & love of the process.
Stewed Sights 2-1
1811
USMC 80-83
Thank you webmaster. Was it just me? Aging is a bitch!
I am now wrestling with the security code!
Mental Health and Behavior Resources - http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/MentalHealthAndBehavior/Resources
Getting Care - http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/MentalHealthAndBehavior/GettingHelp
Adam there are a lot of people out there who care about you & are praying for you. The things our troops see, experience & have to do are beyond what us civvies can imagine. I so VERY MUCH APPRECIATE your service & the service of all other vets/soldiers. YOU ARE APPRECIATED. OU ARE CARED FOR. Thank you for being on that front line in my place. So very sorry you and other vets and soldiers have to shoulder these kinds of burdens on my behalf.
Michael - do you remember in which street or which area in Mosul this happened?
Let farah rest in peace and let peace finally descend upon all the countries that are currently in turmoil.
Sap, it really is as you describe. My apologies that I don't remember the street, but I think some Deuce Four soldiers might remember. I will email one of my buddies now who was there. He probably hasn't seen this post so I will ask him to post if he remembers.
It is as you describe.
My apologies that I don't remember the street, but I think some Deuce Four soldiers might remember. I will email one of my buddies now who was there. He probably hasn't seen this post so I will ask him to post if he remembers.
As for the person asking what street this happened on , I cannot remember the name but I do remember it was a road just to the northeast of the yarmook traffic circle in the yarmook neighborhood.
Adam seek help, I did and it helps. What you need to know is we will have those demons fOr the rest of our lives they will never go away but we can learn to understand why we have them.
Q
God bless you for your efforts. I'm sure, as a mother, that her mother is so grateful that you tried. Hopefully, she is in a better place. You are a hero, but you are not a god--you can only do so much. Be whole for yourself and your family.
I hope all is well with you now. The sheer torment of having to go through all this. Peace and prayers.
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