Going Through the Military Gas Chamber of Life is Hard at Best

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Military news…

Traumatic Brain Injury Classifications Are Leading to Preventable Deaths, Report Says

The terms “mild,” “moderate,” and “severe” used by doctors to annually categorize head injuries in roughly two million Americans, are outdated and imprecise, and treatments based on those terms are leading to increased medical costs and preventable deaths, according to a report published Feb. 1.

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Documents Reveal U.S. Military’s Frustration With White House, Diplomats Over Afghanistan Evacuation

Senior White House and State Department officials ignored intelligence on the Taliban’s advance on Kabul and resisted efforts by U.S. military leaders to start evacuating embassy personnel and Afghan allies weeks before the capital’s collapse.

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Judge drops all charges against Navy corpsman accused of killing former Green Beret

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_Americans were promised an ‘orderly and safe’ withdrawal from Afghanistan. US troops say it was anything but.

“The crowd there was crushing women and children up against the barricade

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Here is another excerpt from my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

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I’ve Been Gased!

One of the parts of basic training was to learn about chemical warfare. They taught us about what the gases were, and what effect they had on people.

The hardest part of this training is that you had to go through their “gas chamber,” yourself. You could carry your gas mask, but you couldn’t put it on in the chamber until you shouted your military serial number you were assigned, and then on some occasions they might ask you other questions.

This is while your eyes feel like they are coming out of your head, and tears are so thick in your eyes you can’t see at all. You are coughing and spitting out words that may seem nonsensical to others, but for you it was desperation to literally feel like you you’re just trying to stay alive.

19658538….No it’s 19768538…No it’s….19635854. You keep trying to get your serial number right. It is hard because your brain is being fried.

You finally get through the maze, and you are out the other side. You can barely see the other men lying on the grass, all coughing and sneezing just like you are. You take several deep breaths, and you begin to feel better.

You have been through a “gas chamber,” in your life. The day you went to find out you were going to be deployed to Iraq, or Afghanistan. For us older guys it would be Korea, or Vietnam. To a few good men and women that are still with us, it was WWII.

It is a time of a sudden crash of everything you thought was OK. It stops your heart for a second, and you sense instant fear of the unknown.

This is the time we find out what our true character is. Like when I was on a plane ready to be shipped to the Bay of Pigs. I was in fear, but in my heart I was ready to do whatever it took to defend those who needed help. I am sure you felt the same way.

Fear is not a bad thing, as I have said before. It keeps us on the right track to being alert, and ready.

We can also face this fear by knowing that we have a God that is right there with us each step we take. He is there to guide us and keep us out of harm’s way, if that is His will.

Be proud that you have, or are now serving your country. Don’t let the tear gases of life get you down. Always remain strong, and be a good example for all those around you.

IWILL

I may be pushing the thought of facing fear in the military a little hard in this book, but I think that is one of the overwhelming factors that cause us to go through depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects that haunt in while serving our country.

Fear is, sometimes, not a bad thing. It can get us in an alert mood that keeps us keen on the task ahead. 

Think About This

Isn’t it funny that sometimes fear gives us more strength and courage?

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There will be more excerpts coming so come back aften. Better yet… go to the top of this page and click on “Subscribe.” When you do all future posts will come directly to you in box.

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Checking in on you…How are you doing? Are you struggling with memories?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 13,825 fellow veterans here who have your back.

If you are battling mentally, because of your love for others, but it isn’t working, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will no hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

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Stop Sitting in the Negative Ruts of Life

Do you go through each day lacking the courage to take on the daily routine of life? I have been there. I know what you are going through.

Here are some thoughts on how to bring courage back into your life, and help you to defeat the negative thoughts that haunt you each day.

  1. Stop feeling powerless over the environment around you. You are an important person who has self-worth. Don’t let the environment dictate your actions.
  2. Life for the present moments in your life. Tomorrow will come with its problems, but you don’t have them to face yet. The past is already gone, and there is nothing that can change what happened. Live for today. Today you can make positive things happen.
  3. Keep positive people around you. Having a good foundation of friends, will help you cope with the trials of life.
  4. Use selective thinking in your mind. Keep out all the negatives thoughts, and concentrate on the positive things around you.
  5. Get out of that rut you have been walking in and climb onto the smooth path that God has in mind for you.
  6. Never let the past come back to haunt you. That is why the call it the past. It is gone.
  7. Start choosing to remember the good things you have done, and the good things others have done for you. Build one these each day.
  8. The most important thing is that you are free to change. You do not have to remain in the funk you are in. You just need to decide that you have had enough of this kind of pity party, and move on with your life.

You will develop courage as you concentrate on each one of these.

Remember that God is with you. His is on your team. With Him on your side, who can be against you? Some silly misguided angel? I don’t think so! I have read the end of the book, and he loses!

Get up off of the ground. Stand tall, and know that you are a person of worth, and you have a gift that God has given you. Pray for Him to let you know what path He has chosen for you, and go down that path knowing  that you are a strong, solid, warrior for God.

I have been down in the ruts of life myself. I was afraid to get up each day and face life. I didn’t like the daily rush of negative thoughts that kept coming at me.

I finally reached the end of my rope and was holding on for dear life. That is when I realized it was the hem of God’s robe I was hanging on to.

He rescued me, and showed a way to fight back and be strong. I hope you will turn to Him and let Him do it for you too.